“He’s the only good player in the whole Man United team now… If Erik ten Hag don’t want to be sacked, he should make the mistake he made last season”: Erik ten Hag told to avoid benching ONE Man United’s player if he really want to keep his job

Rio Ferdinand has voiced his belief that Amad Diallo is making a compelling case to be a regular starter for Manchester United after another impressive performance, even though the team suffered a defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Manchester United lost 2-1 at the Amex Stadium, with Brighton’s goals coming from Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro, which ultimately deprived United of any points from the match. Amad Diallo, however, managed to score United’s only goal during the second half. The 22-year-old winger made an exceptional play by cutting in from the right side and firing a powerful shot into the net, demonstrating his skill and composure.

This goal was particularly poignant, as it came less than 24 hours after Amad had announced the tragic news of his stepmother’s death. The young Ivorian dedicated his goal to her, adding an emotional layer to his achievement. Despite the difficult circumstances, Amad has been in impressive form, having started in United’s recent Premier League matches against Fulham and Brighton. Ferdinand believes that, given his current form, Amad should continue to be a fixture in the starting lineup.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Ferdinand expressed his admiration for Amad, stating, “I’m really happy for him. He’s had a rough week with the passing of his stepmother, but his performance today was outstanding. He showed resilience and brilliance, particularly with that goal, which is a trademark Amad move—drawing the defender out, cutting inside, and then delivering a composed, powerful finish. He’s definitely playing his way into a regular starting role.”

Ferdinand also touched on Manchester United’s defensive struggles, particularly highlighting the circumstances leading to Pedro’s late goal, which was the result of poor defending. United’s backline allowed Pedro too much space and time, leaving him unmarked at the back post.

United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, criticized the team’s organization during that critical moment, and Ferdinand suggested that the situation might have been different if Harry Maguire had remained on the field. Maguire was substituted and replaced by the newly signed Matthijs de Ligt, a decision that Ferdinand found surprising.

“I thought Harry Maguire grew into the game and performed well. In fact, I think he was United’s best defender today,” Ferdinand said. “I was a bit puzzled when he was taken off. If he had stayed on, perhaps he would have been the one to organize and prevent that second goal.”

He further commented on the substitution, saying, “When a center-back is taken off during a match without an injury, it’s always a bit confusing. It wasn’t something that happened in our era. But with the depth of the squad, the manager has a lot of players to keep content.”

Regarding Matthijs de Ligt, Ferdinand acknowledged that the Dutch defender looked comfortable after coming on, but reiterated that Maguire had not played poorly, describing his performance as solid for most of the game.