“He was the only player we were all scared of. Many coaches have talked a lot about him, but Erik ten Hag puts him on the bench. We were really surprised. We couldn’t believe it. This guy would work in any team in the world and become a superstar.” – Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce staff were shocked by Erik ten Hag’s treatment of a certain Man Utd player who is not happy with Erik ten Hag.
Manchester United’s recent 1-1 draw against Fenerbahce in the Europa League left fans and analysts examining Erik ten Hag’s strategic choices as the club remains without a victory in the competition. The match saw a tense back-and-forth with Christian Eriksen giving United an early lead, only for Youssef En-Nesyri to level the score, securing a point for the home side.
A reunion with former United manager Jose Mourinho added drama, especially as Mourinho’s evening ended in frustration when he was ejected in the second half. His anger was mainly directed at the referee’s refusal to award a penalty after Manuel Ugarte’s challenge on Bright Osayi-Samuel, a decision Mourinho clearly disagreed with.
Ten Hag’s tactical decisions raised eyebrows, particularly in his selection of Noussair Mazraoui as a central attacking midfielder in place of the injured Bruno Fernandes. Meanwhile, his choice to bench Amad Diallo reportedly caught Fenerbahce’s staff off-guard. According to The Athletic, Mourinho’s team was “stunned” when Amad finally came on late in the game. He made an immediate impact, drawing a foul from defender Mert Muldur with his first touch, which only intensified fans’ questions about his delayed entry.
Across social media, United supporters voiced their displeasure at Amad’s limited role. In a post-match interview, Ten Hag defended his decision, explaining his preference for Antony based on his training consistency. “Amad has been performing well,” Ten Hag stated, “but Antony’s form in practice sessions has been hard to ignore. I felt he could be the one to make a difference in this match.”
However, Ten Hag’s plan took an unfortunate turn when Antony, brought on only moments earlier, left the field on crutches due to an injury, adding to an already challenging season of injuries for United.
United’s next fixture is an away match against West Ham on October 27. Fans are eager to see if Amad will earn a starting position as the 22-year-old has been solid in the Premier League, scoring once and assisting another in his four starts so far this season.
