Erik ten Hag names Man Utd star who must step up after ‘bad times’ despite goal against Rangers in pre-season win

Erik ten Hag wants to see more from Amad Diallo in 2024-25 (Picture: Getty)

Erik ten Hag has urged Amad Diallo to improve and step up this season after his ‘bad times’ at the club, following his goal in the 2-0 win over Rangers.

Diallo opened the scoring for the Red Devils as they defeated their Glasgow opponents on Saturday in a pre-season friendly ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

The 22-year-old Ivory Coast international has only played 21 competitive games for United since he joined the club three years ago from Atalanta.

Diallo has spent time out on loan at Rangers and Sunderland and is now hoping to break into United XI after making nine Premier League appearances last term.

Ten Hag has told his player that it is very much his time to shine and he now needs to grasp the opportunity with both hands.

‘We have to see Amad in a different way, Ten Hag told MUTV after the victory over Rangers. ‘Of course, he is still young, but he is not inexperienced anymore.

‘Last season, he had bad times with bad injuries, before that he was in the Championship, he had a great season.

Amad Diallo has played just 21 games for Man Utd over three years (Picture: Getty)

‘At the end of last season, he had a very good time with our first team. Played some very good games, now this season, this has to be the year.

‘It is great that he starts like this, on Monday he could not play, he was not allowed to go into Norway but today he could play and he played a very good game.’

Diallo’s biggest moment in a United shirt came last season when he scored a dramatic extra-time winner to knock Liverpool out of the FA Cup.

‘I’m so happy for him,’ Ten Hag said after that match. ‘He is one of the players with a huge setback this season, a bad injury, returning from it, but returning to a team where there is a lot of competition for his position.

‘He does not always get the time to play he deserves by his training performances but then he is coming on, then he shows his contribution, scoring a goal.

‘But we know he can do it, we know he has the key moments where he can decide a game. I am very pleased he got the winner.’

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