Amad Diallo’s sudden lack of first-team chances is infuriating Manchester United fans who cannot understand Erik ten Hag’s reason for dropping the youngster.
After an impressive pre-season, the Ivory Coast international started four of United’s opening five Premier League matches, registering a goal and assist in that run.
Things have changed, however, with the winger left out and remaining among the substitutes in United’s last three league games.
He was again on the bench on Thursday night for the Europa League showdown against Fenerbahce – even with Bruno Fernandes suspended with Noussair Mazraoui deployed in an unusual role in attack.
To add more salt to the wounds, Amad was overlooked again in the second-half when Antony was thrown on instead of him as United chased a winner.
Antony’s cameo was cut short, stretchered off in the 89th minute with Amad belatedly giving his chance. His wonderful first touch drew the foul that gave United a late opportunity to steal the winner but the resulting free kick from Christian Eriksen was ultimately wasted.
Explaining Amad’s situation after the game, Ten Hag told reporters: ‘Away from Europe to start with four attackers is too much. I made him (Mazraoui) a full-back.
‘He was always a number 10. I knew he could fill in with that role, He had a big role in the goal. You can always move him back. Antony is training very good. Amad had some good actions.’
Neither explanation did little to ease the frustration of some United supporters however with the decision to start Mazraoui ahead of him described as a ‘slap in the face’ by one X user.
@Ronaldobrown wrote: ‘Whether you think Amad Diallo is good enough, that’s totally fine, but a right back starting over you in your position is a massive slap in the face.’
@AliceTalksFooty said: ‘Antony coming on over Amad again. The way Amad gets treated compared to other teammates is a joke.
‘0 mins in last three games despite starting the season well. Ten Hag will constantly play the same underperformers and the minute Amad has a quiet game he holds the bench for good. Gets treated differently to others and I do not like it.’
@AnnemarieDray added: ‘Doesn’t really matter just how good you think Amad is because putting on Antony on the pitch ahead of him is absolutely disrespectful.’
‘If Antony wasn’t (unfortunately) carried out on a stretcher, Amad wouldn’t have had that embarrassingly short cameo’, wrote @Oliveresuana.
‘The worst part of it is that the boy did absolutely nothing wrong.’
Ten Hag has stressed the importance of rotation in his squad this season, using it to explain Alejandro Garnacho’s lack of starts at the start of the campaign and on the occasions where he has hauled Marcus Rashford off.
United return to Premier League duty on Sunday against West Ham.
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