Ruud van Nistelrooy might have had only four games in charge of Manchester United, but it couldn’t have gone any better for the Dutchman.
Of course, on paper, there was one draw but considering the circumstances in which he took over the team, what he has done in just four games is remarkable.
He has revived the careers of players like Manuel Ugarte, who couldn’t get a look in under Erik ten Hag. Instilled confidence in someone like Matthijs de Ligt, who was struggling, and Amad has come in from the cold to be the key man in attack.
Most importantly, he has set up a good foundation for Ruben Amorim, making sure that the team Amorim takes over is much better placed than the one he did.
In the process, he has gifted Amorim a player who will start as an undroppable after just four games under Van Nistelrooy.
Amad is Man Utd’s new undroppable
It is a sign of how quickly things change in football as less than a month ago, Antony was coming on ahead of Amad, let alone the Ivorian starting games.
Turns out, a change of manager is all that was needed to unlock Amad as Ruud van Nistelrooy didn’t only trust him with minutes, but gave him the confidence to make the most of those minutes.
Amad already said after the PAOK win how important Van Nistelrooy has been and his eagerness to repay that trust has been clear to see.
Against Leicester, he build on that mercurial PAOK display and was an example display for other wingers at the club on how to play for United.
His slick backheel assist will make the highlight reel packages but it is what he does when things aren’t going for him is what makes him undroppable.
He chased after lost causes like a demon, making something out of nothing, he threw himself into duels despite his slight frame, proving that duels are as much about desire as they are about strength.
Most importantly, his two-footedness means he can pop up on either wing, flummoxing the defence and making him a nightmare to defend against as he can cut inside or go outside at his whim.
His skills on the ball, combined with his determination and work rate off it means regardless of the formation Amorim starts his tenure with, one place in the team has to be reserved for Amad.
How does Amad fit into Ruben Amorim’s side?
Being an undroppable is well and good and Amad has certainly earned that tag after his recent performances, but using a player correctly is more important than using him just for the sake of it.
After all, it is hard to forget Erik ten Hag using Noussair Mazraoui as the No 10 or his midfield setup that exposed Casemiro and others.
If Amorim brings his 3-4-3 to Old Trafford, there’s a clear role for Amad as one of the two No. 10 who drift wide and cut inside to make space for wingbacks.
With Fernandes in the left half-space and Amad in the right, Amorim can replicate his system of playing the two No. 10s on their ‘wrong’ foot.
In fact, Amad’s two-footedness means he can be accommodated in either of those channels but him being the only left-footed attacker, at least until Antony recovers, means he’s likely to start on the right.
In Amorim is feeling adventurous, he can use him as the left-wingback but putting a player with Amad’s gifts on the ball that further back will be waste of opportunity, regardless of how attack-minded that position is.
There’s a clear case of Amad being one of the first names on the teamsheet, and there’s a clear space in the XI in Amorim’s system for him.
Manchester United have a new undroppable, thanks to Ruud van Nistelrooy doing it in four games which Ten Hag refused to in more than two years.
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