{"id":17520,"date":"2025-12-16T10:24:28","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T10:24:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/16\/amad-bids-farewell-to-man-utd-after-ruben-amorim-breaks-promise-in-old-trafford-turmoil\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T10:24:28","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T10:24:28","slug":"amad-bids-farewell-to-man-utd-after-ruben-amorim-breaks-promise-in-old-trafford-turmoil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/16\/amad-bids-farewell-to-man-utd-after-ruben-amorim-breaks-promise-in-old-trafford-turmoil\/","title":{"rendered":"Amad bids farewell to Man Utd after Ruben Amorim breaks promise in Old Trafford turmoil"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Manchester United will be without Amad for an extended period of time as they take part in the Africa Cup of Nations, but he showed exactly what they are missing in a thrilling game against Bournemouth<\/h2>\n
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December 16, 2025, 10:00<\/span>Updated December 16, 2025 10:07<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Manchester United’s Amad celebrates after scoring his first goal for the team in the Premier League against Bournemouth<\/span>(Image: 2025 Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n
Manchester United pair Amad and Brian Mbeumo had a very different night in a thrilling 4-on-4 match against Bournemouth, signing before departing for the African Cup of Nations. United manager Ruben Amorim may have been hoping for a simple home win before losing the trio and defender Nousser Mazraoui in a tournament in Morocco, but what he got was something even more grandiose.<\/p>\n
United took the lead three times against Andoni Iraola’s side at Old Trafford. Leading 2-1 at halftime, they were behind less than five minutes into the second half, putting their 41-year undefeated home record, which had been leading at halftime, in serious jeopardy. After Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha put them ahead, Junior Crupi equalized for the Cherries, who were denied a famous victory by two great saves from Senne Lamence in extra time.<\/p>\n
Amad was in the right place at the right time that night to score United’s first goal, curling home from close range into an empty net. Unfortunately for the 23-year-old, his attempted challenge accidentally sent the ball to Bournemouth’s late equalizer Crupi.<\/p>\n
read more: Ruben Amorim has made new demands of Manchester United stars after Bournemouth failure<\/span><\/span>read more: Gary Neville says Ruben Amorim ‘did the right thing’ for Man United despite ‘absolute mayhem’<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
But somewhere in between, he was perhaps the greatest embodiment of Amorim’s lifting of the shackles on his side. From his now familiar wing-back position, the Ivory Coast international looked menacing as he darted forward at will, teasing and troubling Bournemouth’s backline throughout a first period in which United largely dominated, created chances and appeared to have won.<\/p>\n
In the second period, with United in pursuit and Amorim switching to a back four, Amad was pushed higher into the right-wing position, perhaps the position he coveted above all as United moved to a more 4-2-4 shape, with Mbeumo linking up in attack with the returning Benjamin Sesco and Matheus Cunha playing on the left.<\/p>\n
Asked about the formation after the match, Amad admitted: “We work depending on the opponent. Sometimes we play 4-4-2, sometimes we play 3-4-3, sometimes we play 4-3-3. Maybe people on the outside can’t tell. As a team, we can change.”<\/p>\n
“But the system is not important to us. We are really disappointed because today (the focus) was to win this game. You can see right away in the dressing room that we can do more because as a team we know that everyone is very disappointed.”<\/p>\n
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\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Amado heads to AFCON<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Cunha, who scored United’s fourth goal, was probably the man of the match for his running ability and ability to break through the third. However, it was Amad who United consistently relied on to create chances, and his machinations caused Bournemouth untold trouble whether United were in front or behind them from the right flank. The problem is that he was at the top of his game and we lost that talent at AFCON.<\/p>\n
Losing Mbeumo, who has shone since his \u00a371 million move from Brentford, is also a problem. However, the Cameroon international was well below his personal best and ended his night with a charge from eight yards that sent the ball flying into the Stretford End instead of into the back of the net.<\/p>\n
When Joshua Zirkzee was called up, it was no surprise that he got carried away in the closing stages.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Manchester United’s Brian Mbeumo looks depressed after being substituted against Bournemouth<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Regardless of Mbeumo’s personal failures, Amorim’s tactical changes – moving to a back four, moving Mbeumo centrally and pushing Amadou higher up – caused Bournemouth’s problems. United fans chanted “attack, attack” and Amorim gave them what they wanted. Iraola admitted his team had been “struggling”, but Amorim was asked if United were playing with a back four at times, and Amorim said: “That’s for you to discuss, not for me to decide. You all know we’ve been practicing with a back four this week.”<\/p>\n
In September, after a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, Amorim insisted he would not change his philosophy, saying: “If they (United’s hierarchy) want to change it, you change the person.” But perhaps that promise has now been broken. Because this United were very different from the mediocre, close-knit group we usually see in the system that has reigned over the last 13 months.<\/p>\n
In the same press conference where he was defiant when questioned about his 3-4-3 formation, Amorim also insisted: “Until I want to change, I will play the way I do.”<\/p>\n
Perhaps that era has truly arrived. Unfortunately, even if that really happens, he’ll have to find a way to make it without his flexible friend Amado for the next month.<\/p>\n
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![\"Manchester](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36408076.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Amad-Diallo.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Amado](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36408097.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2252078141.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Manchester](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36408106.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2252093581.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"content](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article33374947.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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