Sunderland have been credited for the brilliant showing from Amad Diallo against Man City.
The Black Cats took on Man United loanee Amad Diallo at the start of the 2022/23 Championship season, where he lit up Wearside on several occasions during his brilliant spell at the club.
It was always going to be difficult for Diallo to acclimatise to Championship level, especially after struggling with Rangers in the 2021/22 campaign, however he weathered the storm and managed to tally an impeccable 13 goals in the second tier with Sunderland.
After showing his worth in the Championship, it was expected that he would burst into the Manchester United side, however it took a change in management for his potential to be met, with Ruben Amorim getting the very best out of the Ivorian early on.
His recent showing for the Red Devils against Manchester City was an example of him playing at the pinnacle of his powers, and Sunderland have rightfully been credited for helping him reach such a level.
Micah Richards name drops Sunderland as factor in Amad Diallo success at Man United
Former Sunderland ace Diallo certainly made the difference for Manchester United against their rivals after drawing in the foul for the penalty, whilst also notching his own goal only minutes later.
He showed plenty of promise down the left flank for the Red Devils, something that was very reminiscent of his time in Wearside, and there is no doubt that his spell at Sunderland really morphed him into the player that shone at the Etihad Stadium.
Even Micah Richards recognised Sunderland for laying the foundations for the 22-year-old attacker, where he said, via Sky Sports on X: “He’s [Diallo] also versatile as well, he can play in a front three, he can play wing-back, I think he’s the best player for Man United.
“Taking it all into consideration, the new manager, how young he is, he’s just 22-years-of-age, he was very good at Sunderland, scored a lot of goals, clearly made the step up.
“I just enjoy watching him in terms of his endeavour, his workrate, the way he runs in behind, the way he’s not afraid to go at somebody.”
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Amad Diallo characteristics all originated from one Black Cats figure
There is no doubt that Diallo had raw talent when he arrived on Wearside, but there was still plenty of man-management needed by one man to make him the player he is today, and that is former Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray.
The former Black Cats boss utilised the Ivorian perfectly in his set-up, but also helped fill him with confidence in order to get him into goalscoring form.
Ultimately, Sunderland is the club where Diallo finally began to find his feet and thrive at a club, and there is no doubt that the player that Man United fans are finally recognising for his talents has been at this level for the last few years.