Erik ten Hag names the ‘very sharp’ Manchester United youngster who impressed him against Fulham

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was a disappointed man after the team’s poor performance against Fulham.

The 2-1 defeat to Fulham was a bitter blow for Manchester United, with the team suffering a first defeat of 2024.

United were depleted through injury, however, the team should still have had enough to win at home to Marco Silva’s men.

It was a flat display, similar to other Saturday 3pm kick-offs we have seen this season against Crystal Palace, Brentford and Brighton.

Erik ten Hag looks for one positive and praises Amad

Manchester United must learn from this defeat but not dwell on it. The team have two big away games in the coming week, against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup and then Manchester City in the Premier League.

Ten Hag was looking for positives after the Fulham loss that he can take into the week ahead, and he picked out Amad, a second half substitute.

The manager explained: “Amad looks very sharp. I think it was a good sub [performance] from him. I think that’s good for the future.”

Amad did not make it on until the 80th minute – although he did get nine minutes of stoppage time.

It wasn’t enough for him really, he was overlooked for an earlier substitute appearance, and as a starter, with Omari Forson preferred.

Ten Hag praised Forson, and said both players would be needed. United fans also had positive words about Forson.

Ten Hag on Omari Forson

Erik ten Hag did not go overboard with praise for Omari Forson, who he withdrew in the 53rd minute. Wes Brown pointed out this was tactical, rather than a reflection on the youngster, making his first ever start.

Ten Hag said he was very pleased with his defensive attributes, commenting: “I think it was reasonable. He had some good actions. He was reliable in defending and had some good actions in possession. I saw, for his first time, he did well.”

So while Ten Hag made clear Amad was behind Forson in the pecking order with his initial selection, his post-game comments do bode well for the Ivory Coast youngster.

The manager said he plans to utilise both of them, commenting: “We need them because we have our problems in the frontline. So it’s about them, to show they can contribute to this team, that they can have an end product.”

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