3 Key passes: Amorim lauds 'cult hero' of Man Utd who lost ball possession 18 times vs Southampton

Manchester United owe a debt of gratitude to Amad Diallo for his heroic performance against Southampton in the Premier League on Thursday.

The Red Devils were lacklustre and allowed the visitors to control much of the match.

Manuel Ugarte’s own goal gifted the Saints the lead for the majority of the game, but Diallo’s stunning 12-minute hat-trick rescued United from humiliation.

United manager Ruben Amorim praised Diallo after the game.

He said (via BBC Sport): “Even in the first half, every time Amad gets the ball he can push the ball.

“He pushed the other team into the final third – that is really important. We didn’t have a good game, but at this moment, winning is the most important thing.

“If he trains well, good things are going to happen. He has the same responsibility as every player who plays for Manchester United.

“He is in a great moment,t and he is having a very good season.”

Diallo is United’s new talisman

The Red Devils appeared destined to suffer an embarrassing defeat, but the Ivorian international had other ideas.

Like many of his teammates, Diallo struggled to make an impact early on. His deliveries lacked their usual quality, and he was frequently forced to drop back into a defensive role at right wing-back.

Amorim threw the kitchen sink with his substitutions, which gave Diallo the license to attack. His powerful driving runs paved the way for his first two goals.

After receiving the ball from Joshua Zirkzee, he unleashed a shot that was blocked.

However, the rebound fell kindly to him, and he calmly scored the equaliser with a finish on his weaker foot.

His second goal was a masterpiece, with Christian Eriksen as the architect.

The Denmark international delivered a sublime dinked pass to the 22-year-old who expertly guided his shot past Aaron Ramsdale.

Described as a ‘cult hero‘, Diallo nicked the ball from a Southampton defender to become the first United player to score a hat-trick since Cristiano Ronaldo (2022).

The attacker played three key passes and completed four dribbles. He lost possession 18 times, but his match-winning heroics saved the day.

Stats from Sofascore.com.

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .