How Amad Diallo has become crucial to Ruben Amorim and why he is tailor-made for his system at Manchester United… and where he can still improve – THE SHARPE END

Ruben Amorim summed Amad Diallo up perfectly: ‘Big in talent, small in size.’

The 5ft 8in Ivorian winger has forged himself into an undroppable part of Amorim’s Manchester United side and was rewarded this week with a new bumper contract.

One thing is for sure, he’s earned it.

Diallo has provided United fans with three moments worthy of carving anyone’s name into cult hero status: his 121st-minute winner (and subsequent red card) in United’s FA Cup quarter-final against old rivals Liverpool last season en route to lifting the trophy, another late winner at the Etihad in December to vanquish Manchester City and then the equaliser at Anfield last time out.

Who would write him off from conjuring up some more magic in the FA Cup third round clash at Arsenal on Sunday.

Diallo has provided three cult-hero moments and will look for more magic against Arsenal

But Amorim has looked to play down expectations around the tricky winger

RUBEN’S CROWN JEWEL

He’s had to bide his time at United. Diallo joined from Atalanta in 2021 for £19million, with another £18.2m in add-ons but it’s only taken until now for him to really make his mark.

When he started for Erik ten Hag against Arsenal in May last year, it was 10 days shy of three years since he’d previously started a Premier League game. He scored against Newcastle three days later.

He had loans at Rangers, which didn’t go well, and a far more impressive spell at Sunderland, where he scored 14 goals for the north-east outfit.

Ten Hag just didn’t fancy him. Ruud van Nistelrooy rated him, but he’s crucial to Amorim. He’s played in every league game under the new boss. The only match he didn’t start, in the defeat to Arsenal, Amorim brought him on at half-time.

Only Diogo Dalot and goalkeeper Andre Onana have played more league minutes for United since Amorim’s arrival.

No one has combined for more goals and assists in that time than Diallo. Only Bruno Fernandes has been involved in more open play sequences for United under Amorim, either taking the shot or creating the chance or playing a pass in the build-up, than Diallo.

It’s no surprise then, even before Amorim, that when he starts, United score more goals, concede fewer and win more games.

No one has combined for more goals and assists since Amorim’s arrival than Diallo

HE CAN DO THE LOT

Diallo has proved tailor-made for Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system. He’s played at right wing back and, more recently, as one of the right-sided forward in the two behind the striker.

His influence spreads far beyond scoring goals and setting them up. He does the lot.

He wins the ball back, he carries it and he passes it. He runs for days. He creates chances. He shoots. He wins his duels. He presses. He tracks back and he gets into the box.

Diallo ranks at the top, or near the top, in almost every key metric for United under Amorim. He controls the game from both sides of the ball. His energy is infectious. There’s a reason, perhaps, why Diallo has become a key man for Amorim while Marcus Rashford has been frozen out.

Diallo has proven tailor-made for Amorim’s system and his influence spreads beyond scoring

Since Amorim’s first game, only Dalot has run more miles. Only Bruno Fernandes has played more passes in the final third and created more chances. Only four players in the Premier League have made more sprints.

Diallo has attempted the most shots and provided the most assists for United yet he’s also won the ball more often in the final third than any other Manchester United player. In fact, no one in the entire division has won possession in the final third in that time more than Diallo. No one for United has won as many duels.

He’s had double the number of touches in the box of any United player under Amorim and twice as many dribbles. No one in the Premier League has attempted more dribbles at a higher success rate than Diallo. He’s only had five fewer touches in the box since Amorim took over than Erling Haaland.

Is it any surprise Amorim is hanging his hat and scarf on the potential of this young lad from the Ivory Coast?

And he’s still only 22.

Another key attribute that helps suit Amorim’s system, either from wing-back or the inside forward is Diallo’s ability to make diagonal runs from wide. He did just that on his way to scoring his winner at the Etihad.

Diallo made a brilliant diagonal run before rounding Ederson and scoring the winner at Man City

ROOM TO IMPROVE

Diallo has made himself one of the most crucial cogs in Amorim’s United but he’s still got a lot to learn. The biggest lesson of those is making the right decision more often when he finds himself in promising positions. He already seized big moments in his United career but he has the potential to create even more.

He’s had the most shots of any United player under the new manager but only six of his 20 have been on target. Half of them have been blocked. Too often when he gets on the ball in the area, as he often does, he attempts to shoot when it would be better to keep possession or find a team-mate.

‘Let’s be careful with Amad,’ said Amorim after a recent game. ‘Don’t do the same mistakes that we did in the past with younger guys. Let’s push him down a little bit, praise him, but the next game is a new story so he must continue to work hard.’

Amorim summed it up perfectly once again.