Marcus Rashford, Garnacho and Antony all scored in Manchester United's 7-0 Carabao Cup third-round win over Barnsley, but substitute · Diallo was firmly seated on the Diaoyutai platform. The vast majority of the starters in this game against League One were substitutes, and the 40 million euro man sitting on the bench showed that he is now in the most secure position.
€100 million Mr. Antony needs to fight for his future, and €80 million superstar Jadon Sancho has been loaned out to Chelsea and will almost certainly move permanently next summer. And the 22-year-old Diallo has become a key figure in Manchester United's attack, and it can even be said that it is indispensable.
The stats show that the Ivory Coast international is now the Reds' main attacking threat, and although Marcus Rashford and Garnacho have scored more goals, neither has as much creativity up front as Diallo. Diallo started three Premier League games and created 10 chances, at least twice as many as all his team-mates, with Garnacho second with five.
In addition, Diallo's 23 dribbles also rank first in the team and almost double that of second-placed Bruno · Fernandes, with only 12 for B Fee. In addition, Diallo was also the most effective in pressing up front, making three tackles in the final third.
So, barring any surprises, Diallo will continue to start at Manchester United's trip to Crystal Palace, with Marcus Rashford and Garnacho battling for the left winger on the other flank, with Antony returning to the bench.
Diallo has only one year left on his contract with Manchester United and Ten Hag will have to give him fair playing time if he wants to keep him. Otherwise, "Atalanta Messi" has reason to refuse to renew his contract.
Manchester United veteran Dimitar Berbatov is very impressed with Diallo: "Ahmad is still very young and has a lot of games to play. I think it's good for him to go on loan to Sunderland because you can see he wasn't ready to play regularly for the first team at the time. Now, the way he plays has improved and grown, and I remember Ten Hag saying that this season would belong to Ahmad and he was ready to make a change and get more playing opportunities, but the competition was going to be fierce. You need to concentrate on the training pitch and during the game and when you're preparing for the game."
Beba also encouraged Diallo not to worry about the obstacles ahead: "Don't be discouraged when you don't play, professional football is brutal at times, you have to keep fighting and do your best in training. I think he's going to get his chances this season and he has to take his chances, but not just on the right, sometimes he might have to play on the left or in the number 10 position. Maybe the coach needs you to play in different positions, you will find something in yourself that you don't know, maybe you can play in different positions. It will be interesting to see how Ten Hag manages the many options he has."
Beba is very optimistic about Diallo and Garnacho: "Garnacho is the kind of player with childlike enthusiasm who just wants to play and enjoy the game, not be a tactician. Give him the ball, especially in the final third, and let him destroy the defenders. Ahmad is very similar to Garnacho, fast, quick, skillful, accurate shots."
United currently have three in-form wingers and Antony could argue that it is four, which is a competition that Ten Hag wants to push all wingers to be at their best if they want to be a consistent place in the starting line-up.