WINNER Manchester United's Ivorian midfielder Amad Diallo shoots but fails to score during the English Premier League football match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 15, 2024. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP
Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP
France and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has given incredible insight to the stunning winner Manchester United’s Amad Diallo scored, against Manchester City over the weekend.
In the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium, United produced a comeback worthy of the Alex Ferguson era with their two goals coming in the final three minutes to beat their rivals 2-1 at the death in their Premier League encounter.
Diallo was first brought down in the City box, and United were awarded a penalty which captain Bruno Fernandes converted.
It was then the turn of Diallo to bag a score of his own, after a surging run and a dink over City keeper Ederson before slotting his shot into goal from a tight angle to complete a strike, and comeback, for the ages.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Henry provided some expert analysis.
“I didn't think United would score. [Diallo] goes early but he checks to see if he's offside, he's never going to be offside because Ruben Dias is covering,” said Henry.
“But he does something very important. When that ball goes over his head, if he carries on looking at the ball he will never get it but he stops looking at it and looks at where the ball is going to bounce that's the only way he could get the ball.
“He knows he will get it only after the bounce. If he looks at it he will lose it.”
Former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher echoed the sentiments of Henry.
"He's in mid-air there, to control that with the tip of the boot when he's actually in mid-air,' Carragher said.
“This is one of the best pieces of skill you'll see this season to make the run, follow the ball, the eye movement, to the bounce and then to control the ball round the goalkeeper.
“That eye contact and that stillness of waiting for the ball to come down in that pressure moment, last minute of a derby game.”