Benni McCarthy, a former member of Manchester United’s coaching staff, has shed light on why Amad Diallo struggled to secure a prominent role under Erik ten Hag, despite his recent standout performances.
The 22-year-old Ivorian has been a bright spot in an otherwise challenging season for the club. With 13 goal contributions across all competitions—11 of which have come in his last 11 appearances since early November—Amad has become a key figure in Ruben Amorim’s starting XI. Amorim, the current manager, has credited interim predecessor Ruud van Nistelrooy for giving Amad the initial opportunity to shine.
Under Ten Hag, however, Amad’s prospects were less promising. While he started in the Community Shield against Manchester City, he found himself out of favor as the season progressed. By the time Ten Hag’s tenure ended in late October, Amad had made limited impact. Last season, injuries sidelined him in the first half of the campaign, and even after regaining fitness, he waited four months to start a match.
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Speaking on South Africa’s popular Podcast and Chill Network, McCarthy suggested that Ten Hag’s preference for other players, particularly Antony, played a significant role in Amad’s limited opportunities.
“Tactically, the manager felt Antony was the best fit for the role he wanted,” McCarthy explained. “Ten Hag knew Antony well from Ajax, invested in him, and the club backed that decision. Naturally, he persisted with Antony because of his capabilities at his best.”
McCarthy also highlighted competition from other players: “[Alejandro] Garnacho was performing well, scoring goals, and [Marcus] Rashford could dominate on any given day. Plus, when you spend £70 million on a striker like [Rasmus] Højlund, he has to play.”
Ultimately, McCarthy noted that tough decisions had to be made: “Someone has to miss out, and unfortunately for Amad, the manager prioritized players he felt were more suited to the tactical demands.”
With hindsight, Amad’s impressive resurgence has raised questions about Ten Hag’s decision to overlook him, especially as several of those preferred players struggled to deliver consistent performances.