Former Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy has shed light on why Erik ten Hag favoured Antony over Amad Diallo during his tenure at Old Trafford. McCarthy, who worked as a forwards coach under Ten Hag, has revealed that the Dutch tactician’s decision to persist with Antony was largely due to his familiarity with the player from their time together at Ajax.
“Tactically, when we set up, the manager [Ten Hag] felt that Antony was the best, better player for the job that he wanted because he knew Antony from Ajax,” McCarthy explained in an interview with the Podcast and Chill Network. “He was his player, so he invested in him, and the club supported him. So, of course, he had to support the player that he bought.”
McCarthy acknowledged that Amad Diallo’s opportunities were limited under Ten Hag, who instead opted to play Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, and Rasmus Hojlund. However, the arrival of new manager Ruben Amorim has seen Amad given more chances to impress, and the Ivorian youngster has responded with five goals and seven assists.
Amorim has praised Amad’s versatility, noting that he can play in various positions, including as a wide forward or wing-back. The Manchester United boss has also cautioned against putting too much pressure on the 22-year-old, saying: “We have to be very careful with Amad because sometimes in our club we put young players in a special place. Let’s stay calm with Amad.”
Amad will be hoping to continue his impressive form when Manchester United take on Wolves on Boxing Day, as the Red Devils seek to bounce back from successive defeats.
Image Credit: Getty/GOAL