Fans stunned by what Thierry Henry points out about Amad Diallo’s winner for Man United against Man City as most supporters didn’t see ‘one of the best pieces of skill this season’
Thierry Henry was capable of magic on the football field that others could only dream of, but it turns out his understanding of the game is just as exquisite.
The former Arsenal striker stunned fans tuning into Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football by discovering an aspect of Amad Diallo’s goal for Manchester United against Man City that only a man who has produced similar moments of genius could recognise.
In the final seconds of Sunday’s derby, Amad grabbed a long air ball before lobbed City goalkeeper Ederson and fired home just as the ball landed.
The wonder goal sealed a last-minute comeback that had begun a few minutes earlier when captain Bruno Fernandes scored the equalizer.
Matheus Nunes had delivered a back pass straight to Amad in the 87th minute. Then – in a desperate attempt to atone – he chopped his opponent to the ground. Fernandes put away the penalty.
But it was the Ivorian’s injury-time winner that stole the headlines and now Premier League icon Henry has shown a similar level of vision and skill to show how he did it.
Thierry Henry has impressed football fans with his insight into Amad Diallo’s fine strike
Diallo won a penalty and scored a late winner against Man City in Sunday’s derby
The former Arsenal star paid close attention to where Amad was looking during the move
He said: ‘I didn’t think United would score. [Diallo] goes early, but he checks if he’s offside. He will never be offside because Ruben Dias provides cover.
‘But he is doing something very important. If the ball goes over his head and he keeps looking at the ball, he will never get it, but he stops looking at it and looks at where the ball will bounce, that is the only way he can get the ball.
“He knows he won’t get it until after the rebound. If he looks at it, he will lose it.”
After he and Jamie Carragher played the clip in slow motion to show the position Amad had found himself in and his decision to watch the ball bounce rather than let it fly, the former Liverpool captain joined Henry to to wax poetic about the finish line.
“He’s up there in the air, you can check that with the toe of the boot while he’s actually in the air,” Carragher said.
‘This is one of the best skills you will see this season: running, tracking the ball, the eye movements, bouncing and then controlling the ball around the goalkeeper.
‘That eye contact and that silence of waiting for the ball to drop at that moment of pressure, the last minute of a derby match.’
Social media users reacted with amazement to Henry’s insight as the former France Under-21 manager pulled off a perfect audition for a future coaching role on the programme.
Jamie Carragher also praised the Ivorian and his calmness under pressure
United are closing in on the Champions League spot, now just six points clear of Nottingham Forest
Bruno Fernandes had taken a penalty won by Amad to get United back into the match
One said: ‘How on earth did Henry see that at the Amad target, what on earth? Wow, incredible.’
Another wrote: ‘Unbelievable. The focus on where the ball will land. maybe because he’s HENRY, a man who can do these things in his sleep.’
A third added: ‘The analysis on MNF is the best I’ve seen yet. I can listen to Thierry Henry talk about football and never be bored by the details he finds in the game.
Another user said: ‘Thierry Henry is without a doubt the best football expert out there. You always learn something when he speaks and that’s how football should be.’
The former Gunners ace wasn’t the only one to praise Amad. Fernandes praised his ‘unstoppable’ form after the match as the Ivorian has now scored two goals and provided six assists in the Premier League this season.
“He has done great things and there is much more to come. He is always active, always alive and that is why he gets the penalty and his goal,” he told BBC Sport.
“He’s been brilliant but I don’t have to say much because we need to keep him going because we need him at this level. He can’t be stopped like that.’
Only Bukayo Saka (10) and Mohamed Salah (nine) have provided more assists than Diallo in the league this season.
Social media was awash with posts highlighting Henry’s big turn to Sky Sports
The 22-year-old has started just four league games under Erik ten Hag this season, and has already scored more (five) since his departure.
‘He wants more. If you do the right things, you get your chances, you get goals, you get momentum,” Fernandes added.
‘He’s been very good to us. I want to keep him under the radar so that he plays more and more, because I want Amad to do this every match.
‘We know we have a quality team, but not everyone has shown their quality at their best.’