Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes called match-winning Amad Diallo “unstoppable” after the youngster’s virtuoso performance sunk crosstown rivals Manchester City.
Amad won a late penalty, which was duly converted by Fernandes to level the score, before securing the three points with a delightful finish from a sweeping Lisandro Martinez pass.
The 22-year-old goalscorer told Sky Sports after the match that “we showed today that we can win any game.” He continued: “I want to thank god for this. Let’s enjoy it today and look forward to the next game.”
Amad was praised by Sky Sports co-commentator Gary Neville for his performance off the pitch as well as on it, and the youngster’s humble nature was clear to see from the interview.
Speaking to the same interviewer, Fernandes was glowing in his praise of the self-effacing youngster. He said: “He has been doing well, he has been doing great things and there is still a lot to come from him.
“He showed again today he is always alive, that is why gets the penalty, why he gets the goal. He has been brilliant, when he is like this he is unstoppable.”
Amad has consistently been a bright spark in a frustrating season for United, and he is impressing even more under Ruben Amorim.
His captain called for him to maintain this momentum: “I just want him to keep working, that is what he has been doing. It is great what he did today, but I am sure he can do this every week.
“We want this week in, week out. He is now getting his chances, deservedly.”
With the score at 1-0, Fernandes missed a great opportunity to equalise when a well-timed ball from Rasmus Hojlund left him one on one with the goalkeeper.
When asked whether the missed chance made the penalty all the more nerve-wracking, he said: “A penalty is a moment of nerves, they are a big part of games. I am ready to calm myself down in big moments.”
Tonight’s result is the best of Amorim’s Old Trafford reign so far, but it hasn’t all been plain sailing for the Portuguese. Fernandes explained that “it is a process, we know what he demands, what he wants.
“It doesn’t matter what happens, we stick to what we do.”
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
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.
