Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has a really tough decision to make in attack for the FA Cup final.
The story of Manchester United’s season has been one of injuries. At times, Erik ten Hag has barely been able to put a team together, and has frequently had to select players out of position, see Casemiro at centre-back and Sofyan Amrabat at left-back.
Finally, heading into the FA Cup Final, Erik ten Hag has a positive selection dilemma, the kind which will keep him up at night for all the right reasons.
What he does know, is who will start up front. Rasmus Hojlund. Who will start alongside him on either wing is another question entirely.
Two from Amad, Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford
Amad Diallo‘s excellent performances over the past two games have sent his stock soaring. He is the in-form player right now.
Amad scored one goal and produced an assist in the 3-2 win over Newcastle, praised for causing ‘absolute carnage’ down the right-hand side.
It was the type of exciting performance Manchester United fans hoped he was capable of at this level, and he’s finally showing it.
Now he’s clicking, how can he possibly be left out? Former captain Steve Bruce told Amad he should go and knock on Erik ten Hag’s door and demand to start the final.
Amad has the X-factor Manchester United’s attack has been missing. He is the spark the team has been waiting for, and it is hard to argue he does not deserve to start at Wembley.
But if Amad starts, somebody has to miss out. That couldn’t possibly be Alejandro Garnacho, a regular this season, only to suddenly miss out on the biggest game of all?
Or what about Marcus Rashford, who returned from injury as a substitute against Newcastle. Last season’s top scorer, he has one goal against City to his name this season already and scored the winner in the league against them at Old Trafford last season.
If Ten Hag wants experience, Rashford will get the nod on reputation. If he wants to go with form, Amad gets in. If he chooses both, Garnacho misses out.
It’s a real dilemma, and even though Amad could provide his spark as a substitute, it might be a blown opportunity to leave him out. It felt like he played himself into the starting XI last night.
The manager doesn’t mind the dilemma. He told hispress conference: “That is what I need, what I was waiting for, for so long. Actually, what I was waiting for the whole season, such a luxury problem. We need a squad to win.!
Antony well down the pecking order
It is an indictment of how low his stock has fallen that Antony is not in this conversation. He now has fewer goal contributions in the Premier League this season than Amad.
Of course, it’s possible the Brazilian could get the nod, but he seems to have lost Erik ten Hag’s trust this season, most recently dropped since being hooked 60 minutes into the 4-0 loss at Palace.
And all this is with Jadon Sancho out on loan, possibly to never return. United’s two young starlets, Amad and Alejandro Garnacho, are really making waves, and showing huge investment in Antony was misplaced.
There is one league game remaining against Brighton, where Ten Hag could rotate a bit, give Rashford and Antony much-needed starts, and last-minute chances to stake their claims.
If he picks Amad at the Amex, and the Ivorian seizes his opportunity, then it will be even tougher to leave him out at Wembley.
