Thierry Henry’s analysis of Amad Diallo’s match-winning goal against Manchester City during Manchester United’s thrilling derby victory on Sunday has garnered significant attention. In particular, Henry noticed a subtle detail that many viewers missed when he broke down the 22-year-old’s brilliant strike, which came in the 90th minute to secure United’s 2-1 win.
Amad’s goal was the highlight of a standout performance. He had earlier earned a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes converted, before producing a moment of individual brilliance. Amad rounded City’s goalkeeper Ederson and, despite the acute angle, slotted the ball into the net. While the skill and composure shown by Amad were widely praised, Henry’s insight was unique. He observed that Amad, as the ball came over his shoulder, didn’t focus directly on it. Instead, he gauged where it would land and adjusted his positioning accordingly. Henry emphasized that this ability to read the ball’s trajectory and react swiftly in such a pressured moment was crucial to his success, saying, “That’s the only way he can get it.”
Further praise came from Jamie Carragher, who was equally impressed with Amad’s skill in that decisive moment. Carragher called it “one of the best pieces of skill you’ll probably see this season,” highlighting the pressure Amad was under, given that the goal came in the final moments of a high-stakes Manchester derby. Carragher’s words underlined the magnitude of the achievement, particularly in a game with such intensity and importance.
Gary Neville, speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, also singled out Amad for special praise, saying the winger was the standout performer in a match where many of his teammates had less influence. Neville mentioned that while players like Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez, and Matthijs de Ligt did well defensively, the victory was largely down to Amad’s brilliance. Neville noted that Amad’s energy, enthusiasm, and belief set him apart, describing him as the only player on the pitch truly playing with the kind of “freedom and tenacity” expected of a Premier League footballer representing a club like Manchester United.
This collective admiration from football pundits and commentators underlines just how impactful Amad Diallo was in one of Manchester United’s most iconic derby victories in recent memory.