Erik ten Hag hints Amad Diallo may finally get his first Man United start of the season… as Reds boss denies he favours misfiring duo Marcus Rashford and Antony too much
- Ivorian winger Amad has impressed from the bench but has not yet started this season
- Ten Hag denied any suggestion of favoritism towards Rashford and Antony
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Erik ten Hag has promised Amad Diallo his patience will be rewarded with a first Manchester United start of the season – while denying accusations he favors Marcus Rashford and Antony.
Winger Amad, 21, has impressed from the bench for United this season, most notably scoring the winner in the 4-3 FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool.
Ten Hag is yet to start the Ivorian, but that could change when United host Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Neither Rashford nor Antony have impressed this season, but Ten Hag denied he had been too loyal to the pair even when Amad returned to full fitness after a knee injury.
“First of all, Amad had a very serious injury, which meant he was out for a long time this season and could not be deployed,” said Ten Hag.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has hinted that Amad Diallo could get his first start of the season, possibly against Burnley on Saturday afternoon
The Ivorian produced one of United’s moments of the season when he scored a dramatic late winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals
Ten Hag believes that Amad deserves more chances after an injury disrupted his early season
‘But he came back and needed some time to get back and get match fit. He needed training and in some areas he needed to catch up. So it is fair that he now receives the minutes.
‘He has to keep fighting, tailor his performance to the minutes he gets – not gets, but earns, and from there you get your position in the starting line-up.
‘Amad is doing very well, but we have a lot of competition in the front line and I know that, especially with front players, you have to give them confidence.
“But they also have to prove it and there comes a certain point where things turn around and go against them.
‘If you judge it correctly, you say that Antony played a very good game against Chelsea, but from a low perspective I didn’t play him against Liverpool.
‘He also played very well against Newport, but I put him on the bench in the following match.
‘So there is always a fine line between giving confidence, but there comes a point where other players get more opportunities, that is clear.’
Ten Hag denied suggestions he is too loyal to the misfiring of wide forwards Marcus Rashford (left) and Antony (right)
Rashford has contributed eight goals and five assists this season, while Antony has produced two goals and two assists, although three of those four contributions came against League Two Newport in the FA Cup.
United fans on X called for Amad to be given a good chance in the team.
“Amad Diallo not getting minutes at Manchester United is absolutely CRIMINAL,” said one report.
Another fan wrote: ‘Amad deserves so many more minutes, he’s being ruined at this football club and I hate it.’
Ten Hag’s team, who defeated Sheffield United 4-2 in midweek, are 13 points away from fourth place in the Champions League, ahead of Burnley on Saturday.
