“I know Cole Palmer is better Amad Diallo but there are two things he does perfectly better than Cole”: Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca has names TWO things Amad Diallo does perfectly better than Cole Palmer

Amad Diallo has been praised for having an attitude and mentality beyond his years after his late hat-trick saved Manchester United against bottom side Southampton.

The Red Devils were staring down the barrel of an embarrassing defeat as the Saints led for the majority of the game, before Diallo stole the show by scoring three goals in 12 minutes.

It is not the first time he has had a transformational impact on a Manchester United match – he won a penalty and scored the winner late on in the Manchester derby, and scored against Liverpool; Manchester United legend Owen Hargreaves was blown away by how the youngster approaches big games and pressure moments.

“Amad showed up right at the end in the big moments. And he’s only 22, but for for such a young man he has a feel for the big moments,” Hargreaves said on Goal Rush on Optus Sport.

“He just grabbed the game. He’s got the ball, and he’s kept running up, people, committing people. Okay, at times you get a little bit of good fortune – like he did with the little ricochet [off] Walker-Peters – but he makes things happen.

“Man United fans are used to seeing wingers get on the ball and make things happen, and Amad does that!”

Despite many experienced players being in the Manchester United squad, Hargreaves says the reaction of Diallo’s teammates after the match showed they already understand his ability and importance to a struggling Manchester United side.

“No wonder everyone’s going to Amad Diallo and saying thank you, He literally just saved everyone!” he said. “I mean, what a performance from a young man! He’s the only one who plays with a bit of urgency. He’s creative and positive, he’s always running forward.

“The way that the players were hugging him every time he scored was like, he’s the guy that they look to.”

Each goal was different in nature: his first goal saw him take the ball on the right, dribble past defenders and finish coolly past Aaron Ramsdale, his second saw him latch onto a pinpoint Christian Eriksen pass and execute a fantastic first time finish on the stretch, whilst his third showed his awareness and pressing ability as he forced a mistake from Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

He became the second youngest scorer of a hat-trick in the Premier League for Manchester United since Wayne Rooney; Aston Villa and Scotland captain Rachel Corsie said she was slightly frustrated at the fact Diallo’s brilliance covered up a sub-standard performance from Ruben Amorim’s side in many ways.

“He was probably the only spark,” she said. “It’s almost frustrating to see the smiles at other United players, because for the most part, the performance was well below par. I mean, there wasn’t really anyone you could have said, did their job particularly well across the night.

“[But] they found a way and and he [Diallo] was the difference in it. He does try and make things happen. And so for that, you have to give him credit, because he never gave up.”

Diallo’s magical performance comes the same week he signed a new deal at Manchester United, which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2029-30 season.

He unsurprisingly received the man of the match award and called on his side to have belief after positive results to begin 2025.

“We believed until the end. We are very happy to win this game because we drew against Liverpool and Arsenal so the confidence was there,” he said after the match.

“We know we have quality players in this team. We need sometimes to be more hungry in the final third. Today we showed at the end we were the best team on the pitch.”

Corsie says his post-match interview indicates he is the type of player Manchester United need if they are to finally rebuild and become one of the best sides in the Premier League once again.

“He’s a confident player, and I think even just listening to his interview, he’s got an attitude and a charisma about him that I think is exactly what Man United need a little more of,” she said.

Diallo now has six goals and six assists in the Premier League for Manchester United, who move up to 12th after the win.

Whilst the mental impact of a late win will be huge, Corsie said the result cannot overshadow what was a unconvincing performance from Amorim’s side for much of the match.

“You score late goals, you get an extra buzz too. I mean, Amorim looked sort of beside himself for most of the game, and then you see him at the end, and there’s sort of the big smirk, a lot of that’s relief,” she said.

“It does continue the good momentum, but I do think there will be a lot of questions asked in the coming days before the weekend.

“Because Southampton were the better team for the most part.”