Rio Ferdinand strongly disagrees with Gary Lineker's complaint about Amad at Man Utd

Rio Ferdinand Disagrees with Gary Lineker on Amad's Role at Manchester United

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand offered a strong counterpoint to Gary Lineker’s criticism of Amad Diallo’s position following the club’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

Lineker’s View

“And Amad was probably a really good example of that [the problems with the system]. You could see the positives of his game, but also the fact that he’s not a defender and he’s been asked to play as a wing-back; he’s a winger or a forward.”

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker suggested that Amad’s use as a wing-back exposed Manchester United’s tactical limitations under Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation.

Ferdinand’s Response

Addressing the matter on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand Presents, the former captain expressed a more optimistic view of Amad’s adaptation and performances.

“I think we get too caught up in what players can’t do. He is giving us so much going forward. His partnership and telepathy with Bryan Mbeumo are impressive.”
“For what he’s providing in attack and how he forces opposition wingers to chase him, that’s the kind of pressure you want. I just think he’s a wonderful footballer.”
“Would he be better as a right winger? Probably. But that doesn’t take away from what he’s offering now. He’s exactly what this team needs in that position at the moment.”

Summary

While Lineker highlighted tactical mismatches, Ferdinand emphasized Amad’s attacking value and the importance of focusing on player contribution rather than limitations.

Author’s Summary

Rio Ferdinand rejected Gary Lineker’s tactical critique of Amad, arguing that the young winger’s attacking impact outweighs positional concerns in Manchester United’s system.

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United In Focus United In Focus — 2025-11-04

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