Man Utd's Amad Diallo scores the winning hat-trick against Southampton at Old Trafford | Football News

Man City winner. A tie at Liverpool. And now the winning hat-trick, a week after signing a new long-term contract with Man Utd.

Amad Diallo is the shining light of Ruben Amorim's reign so far.

“This might be one of the best weeks of my life,” he said TNT Sports after his 12-minute hat-trick transformed the narrative for United. It was the first senior hat-trick of his career, just seven days after he signed up a contract that keeps him at United until 2030.

They spent a terrible 75 minutes en route to defeat by the bottom club of the Premier League. Instead, United fans at Old Trafford went home singing Amad's name. “I am very happy for this victory,” Slonovaca added.

Only Wayne Rooney has scored a hat-trick in the Premier League at a young age for Manchester United. Still, even at just 22 years old, Amad is showing his more experienced teammates how to adapt and thrive in an unfamiliar system.

Whether playing as one of two strikers supporting the attacker or moving to wing-back – as was the case with his late hat-trick – Amad finds ways to influence play in Amorim's 3-4-2-1.

It is significant that of Amad's six league goals in this term, two were winners and three tied. In the big moments, Amad stepped up. Not bad for a player who was given only three starts in the top flight by Erik ten Haag last season.

Ironically, the man who ignited Amad's form is the one who belittles his achievements.

“He's having a very good season. And that's it,” Amorim said at the post-match press conference.

“We have to be careful with young children. It was a really good job today. He has a lot to improve. But this game is in the past. We have to prepare for the future. In football, life is like this.

“He did a great job. It's a great moment for a young kid to get a hat-trick for a club like this. But he has to focus on the next match because it's already in the past and prepare for the next game.”

Amorim obviously wants to keep the hype surrounding Amado under control. This is probably due to the weight of the wider task at hand. But for United supporters – who are enduring another challenging season – it's hard not to be excited by the potential of this rising star.

Analysis: Amad is improving again

Sky Sports' Adam Bate at Old Trafford:

“Tactically, United undid Southampton. Leny Yoro exposed Kamaldeen Suleman, the pressing – against a team notorious for mistakes at the back – was uncoordinated throughout, and there was an uncertainty in the team's play that was alarming.

“Some of these players are still uncomfortable with what Amorimo is asking of them, and the coach himself admits that the demands represent a complete change from what they were taught. Some may simply not be adapted to what is being asked.

“But in those circumstances, you learn even more about the players and the people. Amad stepped up again. As he did when he scored the winner away to Manchester City. As he scored at Liverpool recently. Here, that was a hat-trick… a trick to turn everything around.

“He didn't wait for it to happen, he made it happen. The first goal was forced home on a second look. The second came from a smart move inside the box, hoping to be found. The third came from a gamble on a defender mishandling the ball.

“He did it as a nominal full-back in Amorim's system, moved there to cover the absence of the suspended Diogo Dalot. How his coach would love it if everyone in his team could accept the challenges – mental and tactical – because he has this season.”

Analysis: Amad contract extension is Man Utd's best transfer deal

Sky Sports News' Anton Toloui at Old Trafford:

“There has been so much talk in this transfer window about the futures of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnac and Kobi Majnou, but locking Amado to a new deal looks like the best deal Man United will do.

“They needed someone to step up, take risks, push forward and take the game away from their opponents – the Ivorian did just that.

“Mainoo was sent off early, Garnacho missed key chances, Rashford is nowhere to be seen, but Amad stepped up.”

Amorim: We have so much to do

While Amad's heroics spared United blushes, Amorim is in no doubt about the scale of the task at hand.

“It feels like we have so much to do,” he said TNT Sports after the game. “I felt the team was really tired – Liverpool, Arsenal 120 minutes, it's not just the physical part, it's the mental part of the players. So it was a win, let's move on.”

He also pointed to the pressure his players felt playing in front of their fans. United have lost their last three at Old Trafford – the club have not suffered four consecutive defeats at home since 1934. Another problem was the team's struggle to press cohesively as a unit as Southampton cut in the first half.

“Playing in this stadium, we've lost the last three games here, the pressure is different,” he said. “We try to press the opponent in the build up and you feel the difficulty. Then they connect between the lines and cause us a lot of problems.

“We have difficulty pressing high at the moment. This team is not used to it and then it seems that there is a lack of enthusiasm. (Manuel) Ugarte is late, Kobbie Mainoo is late, Bruno (Fernandes) goes out and the ball is in and then (Leny) Yoro can't catch (Suleman).

“It's small things and then we get nervous without the ball. But then when you have one goal, one chance, you feel that the team can control the game better.

“I want to be fair to my players. There was no lack of enthusiasm today. There was a lack of speed and sometimes a lack of control of the game.”