Wayne Rooney agrees with Erik ten Hag’s “brilliant” Man United star assessment

Wayne Rooney has agreed with Erik ten Hag’s assessment of “brilliant” Amad Diallo following Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Newcastle on Wednesday evening.

Manchester United returned to winning ways on Wednesday evening with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Newcastle United at Old Trafford, securing three crucial Premier League points and ending a rough patch.

Kobbie Mainoo opened the scoring for United, showcasing his talent and giving the home fans, who has seen many poor performances at Old Trafford this season, something to cheer about early on. Amad Diallo added to the tally with a well-taken goal, demonstrating his growing influence in the team. Rasmus Højlund sealed the win with a clinical finish, ensuring Erik ten Hag‘s side ended their home campaign on a high note.

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Despite the win, it wasn’t a flawless performance from United. Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall both found the back of the net, making the hosts work hard for their victory. Defensive lapses that allowed these goals highlighted areas needing improvement.

This win was particularly significant following back-to-back defeats against Crystal Palace and Arsenal, which had put pressure on the team and management. The resilience and attacking prowess shown in this match will be a confidence booster as they prepare for the season’s final stretch.

Ten Hag’s “brilliant” Amad

Amad’s brilliant goal in the second half was the pick of the bunch for United, and Ten Hag has rightfully praised the “brilliant” strike.

“It was a brilliant goal by Amad,” Ten Hag told reporters after the game. “You see how young players are developing, like Amad, and I was really pleased with his performance, and it was a great goal. He is very good. He has high potential.”

Amad has struggled for game time this season, with the Ivorian winger spending the first half of the campaign sidelined through a knee injury. Once he returned at the end of 2023, he had to wait almost five months for his first start back at United, and he has now started back-to-back fixtures.

“He is a symbol for the season as he had a bad injury,” Ten Hag said. “He fought himself back and had to wait long for his chance and, against Arsenal, and also against Newcastle, he was very good.”

“This was a very important win, no question,” Ten Hag said. “We want to give the fans also something and I’m very pleased with that. I was pleased with the performance of the team, we matched Newcastle’s physicality and also played some good football.”

Rooney agrees

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Rooney agreed with Ten Hag’s assessment, stating that Amad has done well when he has played this season, especially in the last two fixtures against Arsenal and Newcastle.

“I think he’s done well when he’s come into the team,” United’s all-time top scorer explained to the panel. “The young players have to look at the squad and their future at Manchester United.

“There’s an opportunity for them there which maybe they might not have got years ago. There’s an opportunity for them to really stake a claim in the team, and a few of them are starting to take their chance.”

Manchester United’s campaign concludes with an away fixture against Brighton, a team known for its strong home performances. Following that, United faces a monumental challenge in the FA Cup final against rivals Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. This match not only offers a chance for silverware but also an opportunity to end the season on a triumphant note and qualify for the Europa League.