Amad snubs: Man Utd fans all saying the same thing about Ten Hag

Tom Weber

Updated: 25 Oct 2024 10:39 BST
4 min read

Manchester United supporters can't understand why Erik ten Hag has used Amad Diallo so sparingly in recent games.

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The Ivorian winger finally looked to have arrived at Man Utd earlier this season. After several stints out on loan and a 2023/24 campaign disrupted by injury, Amad became a regular in the early stages of 2024/25.

While his finishing left a lot to be desired, the 22-year-old nevertheless impressed with his overall play and cemented his status as a fan favourite. In recent games, however, manager Erik ten Hag has barely utilised him.

Amad was an unused substitute against both Aston Villa and Brentford and, in fact, he hasn't started a Premier League game since the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on September 21.

Ten Hag's decision to snub Diallo against Fenerbahce in the Europa League raised even more eyebrows than his omissions in league football.

Fans baffled by Ten Hag

Man Utd turned up in Istanbul (once again) decimated by injuries, so Ten Hag felt he had to get creative with his starting line-up. Much-maligned striker Joshua Zirkzee started up top, flanked by Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford.

In the No.10 position, Ten Hag utilised right-back Noussair Mazraoui rather than Christian Eriksen, who would have been a more natural option for that position. Amad was once again left on the bench.

The Mazraoui experiment lasted just 55 minutes, but despite Man Utd having once again surrendered a lead, Amad still was not brought on. In the 73rd minute, Rashford came off and was replaced by Antony, who had played a grand total of 137 minutes of football at that point.

In minute 87, the Brazilian signalled to the bench that he was unable to continue and Amad did get his chance. The visibly annoyed youngster was subbed on for a seven-minute cameo as Man Utd limped to their third successive Europa League draw.

Supporters were left completely baffled by Ten Hag's decisions. Diallo previously played as a No.10 on loan at Sunderland, so he would have been capable of starting the game over Mazraoui, while fans also, naturally, believed that he would have been a better option over Antony.

One supporter on social media succinctly summed up the mood, writing: "Antony coming on before Amad was absolutely unbelievable and a disgrace!"

Ten Hag justified his decisions thus: "For Amad, he is doing well but we have to reward the performances of Antony in training. He is a threat almost every training so I felt in that moment to bring him, to decide the game.

"I think away from home in Europe in a hectic ambience, to start with four attackers is too much. So I know Nous is very capable to play in that position. I made a full back of him when before [Ajax] he was always a No.10, especially from the left, I knew he had abilities to fill in that role."

The Man Utd faithful, however, didn't take kindly to Ten Hag's assessment. Indeed, as one fan put it, many are wondering, "What is this clown doing to the team?"