Erik ten Hag has called on Amad Diallo to enhance his performance and step up this season following his ‘bad times’ at the club, especially after his goal in the 2-0 victory over Rangers.
Diallo scored the first goal for the Red Devils as they triumphed over their Glasgow opponents in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, gearing up for the 2024-25 season.
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The 22-year-old Ivory Coast international has only featured in 21 competitive matches for United since his transfer from Atalanta three years ago.
Diallo has had loan spells at Rangers and Sunderland and now aims to secure a spot in United’s starting XI after making nine Premier League appearances last season.
Ten Hag has emphasized to Diallo that this is his moment to excel and he must seize the opportunity.
‘We have to see Amad in a different way,’ Ten Hag told MUTV after the win over Rangers. ‘Of course, he is still young, but he is not inexperienced anymore.
‘Last season, he had bad times with bad injuries. Before that, he was in the Championship and had a great season.
‘At the end of last season, he had a very good time with our first team. Played some very good games, now this season, this has to be the year.
‘It is great that he starts like this. On Monday, he could not play; he was not allowed to go into Norway, but today he could play and he played a very good game.’
Diallo’s standout moment in a United jersey came last season when he scored a dramatic extra-time winner to eliminate Liverpool from the FA Cup.
‘I’m so happy for him,’ Ten Hag said after that match. ‘He is one of the players with a huge setback this season, a bad injury, returning from it, but returning to a team where there is a lot of competition for his position.
‘He does not always get the time to play he deserves by his training performances but then he is coming on, then he shows his contribution, scoring a goal.
‘But we know he can do it. We know he has the key moments where he can decide a game. I am very pleased he got the winner.’
