Erik ten Hag has broken his silence and revealed the reason why Manchester United wonderkid Amad Diallo has struggled for regular first-team minutes at Old Trafford this season.
Amad Diallo spent last season out on loan at Sunderland and impressed during a successful spell at the Stadium of Light before his return to Manchester United.
The 21-year-old Ivorian winger was included in United’s pre-season tour last summer and appeared to be part of Erik ten Hag’s plans for the current campaign.
But Diallo faced a major setback after he picked up an injury in a friendly match against Arsenal and missed the opening months of the Premier League season.
The Ivory Coast international returned before the end of 2023 and impressed with his cameo performance against Nottingham Forest in the 2-1 away defeat.
Despite his return from injury, Diallo has struggled for regular first-team minutes under United boss Ten Hag and has only managed sporadic appearances.
The United winger has made only four Premier League appearances this season, with all of his appearances coming as a substitute.
Ten Hag talks Man Utd talent Diallo
Amad Diallo has made three appearances in the FA Cup this season – all of them coming from the bench – and made his mark for Manchester United in one tie.
The United wonderkid scored a sensational extra-time winner in the 4-3 quarter-final win over Liverpool at Old Trafford before he was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Diallo has struggled to establish himself in the first team as a regular starter since his move from Serie A side Atalanta in 2021, with United paying an initial £19m fee.
Former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had high expectations for the ex-Atalanta man and tipped him as “one of the most exciting young prospects” in football.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Erik ten Hag has explained why Diallo has not made a single start for him this season at United.
“First of all, Amad had a very bad injury, so for a long period in this season he was out and wasn’t available,” he said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“But he returned and needed some time to get back [and] to get match fit. He needed training and, in some areas, he needed to catch up.
“So, it’s fair now that he gets his minutes.”
Ten Hag’s message to Diallo
Ten Hag has insisted that Diallo remains part of his plans at Old Trafford and sent a clear message to the United winger if he hopes to become a regular for him.
“He has to keep fighting, set his performances in the minutes he gets – not gets, but deserves, and from there, you get your position in the starting line-up,” he continued.
“Amad is doing really well, but we have a lot of competition in the front line and I know, with front players especially, you have to give them trust.”