Amad Diallo’s late heroics were the saving grace for Manchester United in their 3-1 comeback victory over bottom-of-the-table Southampton at Old Trafford on Thursday. The Red Devils were facing a potential fourth straight home defeat, a run that would have marked their worst performance in over 80 years, after a first-half own goal from Manuel Ugarte had put them in a precarious position.
Despite a lackluster overall performance from the team, it was Amad who rose to the occasion with a stunning 12-minute hat-trick, pulling United out of danger and securing three much-needed points. This incredible performance came at a time when the team seemed to be spiraling, having previously struggled at home with back-to-back defeats to Newcastle, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest.
Following the game, United manager Ruben Amorim was asked about his conversation with Amad after his remarkable display. Amorim, while acknowledging the young forward’s contribution, emphasized the importance of staying grounded and looking forward to the next match. He mentioned that he hadn’t yet spoken to Amad after the game but planned to do so, reminding him to rest, focus on his recovery, and prepare for the upcoming fixture.
Amorim’s words to the press reflected a pragmatic approach: “I will tell him tomorrow he has to rest, eat good food, and prepare for Sunday – we need him again. It’s a great moment for a young kid to score a hat-trick for a club like this, but he needs to focus on the next match. This is already in the past.”
The United coach also praised Amad’s development, acknowledging the impact of his performance while maintaining the need for continued improvement: “He did a great job today, but he has a lot to improve. Congratulations to him and to the team, but tomorrow we are going to recover and prepare for the next game.”
On the team’s performance as a whole, Amorim shared a candid reflection on the match, acknowledging the difficult moments throughout the game but highlighting the importance of getting the win. Despite Antony’s missed opportunity and the team’s overall lack of fluency, Amorim remained focused on the positive aspects: “You always believe. I have to believe, but with the chance Antony misses, you have that feeling… let’s go again. It was a difficult night with our fans, everything is so fresh from the three losses we’ve had at home. But we managed to turn things around. In the end, we didn’t play a good game, but if you look at all the opportunities, I think we deserved the win, though we have to improve a lot.”
Amorim’s comments highlight the pressure on the team to bounce back from recent struggles while also providing a measured assessment of Amad’s growth, the team’s performance, and the challenges ahead for United.