Ruben Amorim made a bold decision ahead of the Manchester Derby by leaving Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho out of the squad. According to the Portuguese tactician, this was based on a number of factors, including form in matches and training.
The match at the Etihad took place with a surprising scenario when Mason Mount left the field early due to injury, making way for Bruno Fernandes to play in the attacking midfield position. The duo of Amad and Bruno showed their effectiveness when shining to help Man United come back to defeat their arch-rivals Man City.
In particular, Amad continued to affirm his impressive form when he earned a penalty for Bruno to equalize. Moreover, the Ivorian striker directly scored the goal to seal the 2-1 score for the "Red Devils". Thus, under the leadership of Ruben Amorim, the star born in 2002 contributed 1 goal and 4 assists.
Immediately after the Derby, Marcus Rashford spoke publicly for the first time about his decision to be dropped. In an interview, the England striker admitted his disappointment and left open the possibility of leaving the club. He also said that adapting to Amorim's system was not easy. The "left-sided number 10" role in a 4-2-3-1 formation required Rashford to change his playing style.
To understand what Amorim expects from Rashford and Garnacho, look at how Amad stands out not only in his decisive plays but also in his versatility and intelligence in his play.
In the past, when facing teams from the Big Six, Man United often increased the speed of attack after falling behind, making the team easily stretched and giving opponents more opportunities to counterattack. However, under Amorim, the Old Trafford team has changed the way they react.
Against Man City, Man United kept the ball patiently, forcing their opponents to lose patience and press high. Amad was a key part of this approach, as the Ivorian moved constantly, carefully scanning his teammates and opponents, while also utilising his close partnership with Noussair Mazraoui. The pair developed an impressive link-up on the right flank, allowing Amad to not only create chances but also maintain control in difficult situations.
Ruben Amorim’s system requires attacking players to operate in tight spaces, hold up the ball, combine and stay in good positions even without the ball. While Amad does these things very well, Rashford and Garnacho are less effective.
Statistically, only 18% of Amad's dribbles were towards the backline (6/34), compared to 27% for Garnacho and 26% for Rashford. This reflects the difference in style, with Amad often thinking carefully before making a decision, while the other two tend to rely on speed to overcome opponents.
While pace is an important weapon, especially when United need to break down opposition defences, to succeed in the new system, both Rashford and Garnacho need to learn to keep the ball more securely and make fewer mistakes.
Notably, Amad Diallo has initiated 77 attacks from midfield in his five Premier League games under Amorim, twice as many as Garnacho (39) and three times as many as Rashford (23). This demonstrates his superior adaptability to the No. 10 role. Defensively, the Ivorian star is also superior, with a higher success rate in challenges, ball recoveries and tackles than both of his teammates.
Rashford has shown inconsistent pressing in many games, while Garnacho has often lost focus when the opposition moves in behind. While the Argentine has shown potential in some games, he has often performed well in the first half and then faltered in the second.
In contrast, Amad is calm and knows how to read situations, which helps him make effective moves that lead to goals. This explains why he has been Amorim's first choice since he arrived at Old Trafford.
With a busy schedule in four competitions, Rashford and Garnacho still have the chance to show their talent. However, to truly shine under Amorim, they need to learn how to control the tempo of the game, keep the ball firmly in their possession and increase the accuracy of their combinations. Meanwhile, Amad continues to demonstrate his adaptability and suitability to the new system.
