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Five things Ruben Amorim learned as Amad Diallo rescues Man Utd from humiliation

Manchester United have Amad Diallo to thank for rescuing them three points from the jaws of defeat as the hosts escaped humiliation against bottom-of-the-league Southampton.

Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim endured a rollercoaster evening

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim have Amad Diallo to thank for saving their blushes.

United welcomed bottom-of-the-table Southampton to Old Trafford in a game that on paper, looked the perfect chance for the Red Devils to kick on from their positive performances against Liverpool and Arsenal. But it was far from in reality.

Following chance after chance that saw Andre Onana incredibly keep United in the game in the first-half, the deadlock was finally, and deservedly broken by the visitors. A touch of good fortune saw Manuel Ugarte turn a Southampton corner into his own goal as United eventually got what their performance warranted.

But a late Amad hat-trick saved the day on what was heading for another awful evening for United. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at just five things Amorim would have learned from the 3-1 victory, we haven’t got all night either.

The shape

Amorim’s system is the reason why he is at United after turning Sporting Lisbon into the best team in Portugal. He has understandably stuck with the foundation, and rightly so - the last thing United need is a manager to abandon their philosophy.

While against the so-called bigger clubs, including vastly improved performances against Liverpool and Arsenal, United have looked in control and settled. Amorim’s system was exposed brutally again by teams that United are expected to beat.

The defence was left one on one on countless occasions, leaving Southampton to carve out chance after chance. And the frontline looked incredibly disconnected from anyone else, seeing hopeful long balls looking the only way to reach the attacking players until the Amad show rolled into town.

Manuel Ugarte
Manuel Ugarte put through his own goal before he was hooked

Substitutions

The only surprise about Amorim’s half-time change was that he hadn’t made any substitutions earlier, and there was only one. Kobbie Mainoo was poor again in the engine room, as he was hooked at half-time for Antony, who missed a complete sitter to level the score.

Rasmus Hojlund and Ugarte were very swiftly replaced five minutes into the second half for Joshua Zirkzee and Toby Collyer. Those changes appeared to add life into United’s play, but anything was an improvement. Zirkzee’s positive performance was by far one of very few positives from an individual aspect.

Harry Maguire and Christian Eriksen entered the fray with 10 minutes of normal time to play with the former sparing Yoro while the veteran midfielder delivered an clipped incredible assist for Amad's winning goal

Yoro nightmare

After Amorim lauded the 19-year-old as “the future of this club”, the Frenchman endured a torrid time up against Kamaldeen Sulemana.

An incredibly difficult start saw him bailed out by Andre Onana with one of his several key saves in the first-half. While the torment continued in the second half. Yoro’s evening was about as tortuous as was possible to be before his misery was ended by Harry Maguire's introduction.

Garnacho dilemma

Considering Marcus Rashford has found himself completely out of Amorim’s plans as speculation surrounding his exit from Old Trafford grows, it was telling that Alejandro Garnacho was involved, and from the off, as he becomes Napoli’s ideal replacement for the outgoing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

The Argentine missed a golden chance from Hojlund’s cut back as he steered the ball wide. For all his running and endeavour, Garnacho was frustrating again. Surely even as terrible as United’s recruitment has been, a reported £59million asking fee would sign an improvement.

Amad Diallo
Amad Diallo was once again United's saviour

Amad at wing-back

Due to Diogo Dalot’s one game suspension following his red card against Arsenal, United’s brightest spark under Amorim had to move into a wing-back role on the right-hand side.

Amad’s obvious defensive flaws were found out while he struggled to impact the game from his deep position in the first half. While injuries have left Amorim with little alternative, moving Amad from his thriving role backfired. It’s no surprise United’s saviour was the Ivorian who stepped up again.

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