Amorim highlights Amad Diallo’s impact in Manchester United win

Amad (right): Photo courtesy of Manchester United.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has hailed Ivorian forward Amad Diallo’s impact in their 4-1 win over Athletic Club in the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg on Thursday, May 8.

Amad replaced Alejandro Garnacho in the second half of the UEFA Europa League match at Old Trafford, a decision the coach said worked in Manchester United’s favour.

The Ivorian came on soon after Moroccan Noussair Marzaoui was replaced by Mason Mount, who scored two goals. Casemiro and Rasmus Højlund scored the other goals for United to proceed to the UEFA Europa League final 7-1 on aggregate.

Reflecting on the substitutions, the coach said: “They changed the game and that is credit to the players. We needed a little bit more energy, and we had to keep the ball.”

Amorim added: “Bruno Fernandes is a really good player to drive the ball but also to start the play with long passes, and that can help us. Amad changed the game because I felt Garna was tired.”

The United manager has since called for caution on throwing Amad into the deep end, considering that the young forward has just returned from injury.

“It is going to be hard, players like Mason Mount, we have to be careful. Amad is still getting his momentum. Some players are not capable of doing that. Nous [Mazraoui], we rest, but you can feel Mazraoui does not have the energy at this moment, and we will try to help in that department,” he explained.

The 22-year-old Ivorian winger has just returned to United’s squad after recovering from an injury he suffered in training ahead of a Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur in February 2025.

He is now on course to help the Red Devils lift their first silverware of the season after beating the Spanish La Liga side. Athletic Club gave their fans false hopes by scoring first through Mikel Jauregizar before the hosts fought back with four goals.