A virtuoso display from Amad Diallo spared Manchester United’s blushes as they came from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 at Old Trafford this evening.
The 22-year-old scored a 12-minute hat-trick to salvage three points from a largely woeful display from Ruben Amorim’s side.
It was Amad’s first senior hat-trick, and came less than a week into his new contract with the Red Devils. When asked how he was feeling, he told TNT Sports after the final whistle that this is “maybe one of the best weeks of my life.”
But the self-effacing Ivorian immediately followed this comment by adding “I’m happy for this win because this team deserved to win this game.”
That is a fairly bold claim given United’s turgid performance against the team sitting rock-bottom of the Premier League, but the exciting forward was understandably radiating confidence and positivity after the blockbuster ending to the game.
When asked why it took some 70 minutes for United to turn up, Amad said: “We know we have quality players in this team, we need some time to be more hungry.
“Today we showed at the end we were the best team on the pitch and I’m so happy for the team today because this team deserved it.”
But, keen to press the point that the youngster has been a talismanic figure for Amorim’s team of late, the interviewer asked if he felt a responsibility to dig the side out of holes like the one they found themselves in today.
“I’m ready to play every position, I’m ready to play right wing-back, number 10, wherever the manager likes to put me. I’m ready to fight for this club.
“I’m so happy to play where the manager wants me to play, I’m so happy to score a hat-trick, but the most important thing is the win for the club.”
The overall performance halted the momentum built from thrilling results against Liverpool and Arsenal, but Amad’s late heroics certainly restored some feelgood factor.
It undoubtedly papered over some gaping cracks, and United’s clash with Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday is crucial to see how the team kick on.
Featured image by Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Joe Ponting
Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.
