(Credit: Imago)

Oliver Walton

Mon 18 August 2025 20:07, UK

Ruben Amorim will rue not starting Amad Diallo against Arsenal after his side slipped to a 1-0 loss in their first game of the new Premier League season on Sunday (17 August).

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That is according to Premier League legend Matt Le Tissier, who exclusively told Football Insider that he believed the Red Devils star was a threat when he came on, and that the Portuguese manager’s tactics must have played a part in his decision to leave him out from the off.

Man United were beaten 1-0 by their rivals at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the new campaign after Riccardo Calafiori headed home in the 13th minute.

The hosts came back into the game and looked the more likely team to score throughout as David Raya kept out efforts from new Red Devils Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.

Amad was introduced in the 55th minute for Diogo Dalot, and he impressed by driving his side forward in search of an equaliser, but it was to no avail as Arsenal emerged with the three points.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

This article contains exclusive comment from former Southampton and England striker Matt Le Tissier.

Amad was handed starts in all five of the Red Devils’ pre-season games prior to this campaign, and even played the full 90 minutes in the final two friendlies against Everton and Fiorentina.

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Amorim chose to oust him from the starting line-up against Arsenal, however, and instead started Dalot, but then brought the Ivorian winger on just before the hour mark after the 26-year-old struggled to make his mark.

Amad shone against the Gunners as he created completed both of his dribbles, won all seven of his duels and drew two fouls [Fotmob], while also testing Raya late on, and Le Tissier told Football Insider that he believes that Amorim will regret not handing him a starting berth after the loss.

“From Man United’s perspective, Amad Diallo made a big difference when he came on, and had played a lot of pre-season, but found himself on the bench,” he told Football Insider.

“I think, probably looking back on the game now, Ruben Amorim probably thinks that maybe he should have started, but perhaps he thought that with the formation that Man United were playing, the other players were suited more to that formation.

That’s the only thing that I can think of.”

Amad became a regular in United’s side in 2023/24 after loan spells with Rangers and Sunderland, and he impressed last season under Amorim by displaying his versatility at right-wing-back and registering eight goals and six assists in 26 league outings.

He is clearly set to be a big influence on any potential success they may have under the Portuguese boss, but arguably deserves more of a chance to prove himself in big games after this snub in favour of Dalot.

AppearancesGoalsAssists651412Amad’s Man United career stats

Dalot is much more defensive-minded than Amad, and lacks the same pace and attacking intent as the 23-year-old, which would be fine if he was playing as a traditional right-back, but Amorim sets up with three centre-backs and a defensive midfielder, so deploys wing-backs that need to get involved in the final third.

Amad has backed himself to win the Ballon d’Or in the years to come, and while he may be some way off competing at that kind of level yet, he is clearly deserving of more minutes than what Amorim may be planning for him, especially as United aim to return to the top six this season.

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