Fans stunned by what Thierry Henry points out about Amad Diallo’s winner for Man United against Man City as most supporters didn’t see ‘one of the best pieces of skill this season’

Thierry Henry was capable of magic on the football pitch that others could only dream of, but it turns out his insight into the game is just as exquisite.

The former Arsenal forward wowed fans tuning in for Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football by finding an aspect of Amad Diallo‘s goal for Manchester United against Man City that only a man who has produced similar moments of genius could spot. 

In the dying seconds of Sunday’s derby, Amad took down a long aerial ball before lobbing City goalkeeper Ederson and slotting home just as the ball was landing.

The wondergoal sealed a last-minute comeback which had begun a couple minutes prior when captain Bruno Fernandes scored an equaliser. 

Matheus Nunes had delivered a back pass straight to Amad in the 87th minute. Then – trying desperately to atone – he hacked his opponent to the floor. Fernandes put away the penalty.

But it was the Ivorian’s winner in stoppage time which stole the headlines and now Premier League icon Henry has shown similar levels of vision and skill to point out just how he did it.

Diallo won a penalty and scored a late winner against Man City in Sunday’s derby

The former Arsenal star paid close attention to where Amad was looking during the move

He said: ‘I didn’t think United would score. [Diallo] goes early but he checks to see if he’s offside, he’s never going to be offside because Ruben Dias is covering.  

‘But he does something very important. When that ball goes over his head, if he carries on looking at the ball he will never get it but he stops looking at it and looks at where the ball is going to bounce that’s the only way he could get the ball. 

‘He knows he will get it only after the bounce. If he looks at it he will lose it.’

After he and Jamie Carragher had played the clip in slow motion to show the position Amad had got himself into and his decision to watch the ball bounce rather than its flight, the former Liverpool captain joined Henry in waxing poetic about the finish. 

‘He’s in mid-air there, to control that with the tip of the boot when he’s actually in mid-air,’ Carragher said. 

‘This is one of the best pieces of skill you’ll see this season to make the run, follow the ball, the eye movement, to the bounce and then to control the ball round the goalkeeper.

‘That eye contact and that stillness of waiting for the ball to come down in that pressure moment, last minute of a derby game.’

Social media users reacted with amazement to Henry’s insight as the former France under-21 manager put in a perfect audition for a future coaching role on the programme.

Jamie Carragher also heaped praise on the Ivorian and his composure under pressure

United move closer to the Champions League spots, now just six points off Nottingham Forest

Bruno Fernandes had struck a penalty won by Amad to get United back into the game

One said: ‘How’s Henry spotted that on the Amad goal, what on earth? Wow, incredible.’

Another posted: ‘Incredible. The focus on where the ball will land. maybe because it’s HENRY – a guy who could do these kind of things in his sleep.’

A third added: ‘The analysis on MNF has been the best I’ve seen so far. I can actually listen to Thierry Henry talk about football and never get bored of the details he finds in the game.

Another user said: ‘Thierry Henry is hands down the best football pundit out there. You always learn something when he speaks & that’s how football is supposed to be.’

The former Gunners great was not alone in praising Amad, with Fernandes hailing his ‘unstoppable’ form after the game, as the Ivorian has now scored two goals and provided six assists in the Premier League this season. 

‘He’s been doing great things and there’s a lot more to come. He’s always active, always alive and this is why he gets the penalty and his goal,’ he told BBC Sport.

‘He’s been brilliant but I shouldn’t say much as we need to keep him going as we need him at this level. Like this he is unstoppable.’

Only Bukayo Saka (10) and Mohamed Salah (nine) have logged more assists than Diallo in the league this season.

Social media was awash with those highlighting Henry’s star turn on Sky Sports

The 22-year-old started just four league games under Erik ten Hag this campaign, and has already managed more since his departure (five).

‘He is eager for more. When you do the right things you get your chances, you get goals, you get momentum’, Fernandes added.

‘He has been really good for us. I want to keep him under the radar so that he goes still more and more because I want Amad to do this every game.

‘We know we have a quality team but not everyone has shown their quality at its best.’