Amad Diallo was left to celebrate “one of the best weeks” of his life after his late hat-trick inspired Manchester United past Southampton.
Ruben Amorim's side looked set for a fourth straight home defeat in the Premier League after Manuel Ugarte's own goal in the first half on Thursday.
However, Diallo equalized with just eight minutes remaining before smashing Christian Eriksen's lob past Aaron Ramsdale in the 90th minute.
The Ivorian winger added a late third to seal his match-winning treble after a Taylor Harwood-Bellis error, capping a fine week that saw Diallo extend his United contract until 2030.
“Maybe one of the best weeks of my life,” Diallo told TNT Sports. “I'm very happy with this victory. This team deserved to win this match, so I'm very happy.”
Diallo became only the third player in Premier League history to score three times in the final ten minutes of a match, joining two other United greats.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer achieved this against Nottingham Forest in February 1999 before Wayne Rooney repeated the trick against Hull City in January 2010.
22-year-old Diallo may now be United's new hero, although he praised his teammates for the comeback.
“We know we have quality players in this team,” he added. “We have to be more hungry in the final third sometimes. We showed at the end that we were the best team.
“I'm so happy with the win today because this team deserves it. In football you have to believe in it.
“We believed until the end and we are very happy to have won this match. We drew against Arsenal and Liverpool, so the confidence was there. We are very happy.”
Tap, hold and load in 4k #MUFC || #MUNSOU pic.twitter.com/LUPfcOYZ5u
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 16, 2025
Unsurprisingly, Amorim pointed to Diallo as the key factor in coming back against the bottom of the league.
“Even in the first half, every time Amad gets the ball he can push the ball,” the United boss told TNT Sports.
“He pushes the other team into the final third, which is very important. We didn't play a good game, but at the moment winning is the most important thing.”
Amorim removed Kobbie Mainoo at half-time and withdrew Ugarte in the second half, although he insists United's players did not struggle due to a lack of enthusiasm.
“It seems like a lack of enthusiasm,” he said. “Ugarte is late and Mainoo is late, Bruno Fernandes goes out when the ball is in.
“It wasn't a lack of enthusiasm, it was a lack of control in the match.”
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