The Ivorian is treating every current moment as an opportunity to keep building – an attitude which drew high praise from interim gaffer Ruud van Nistelrooy last month. “He’s constantly focused on learning and getting better, living in a professional way and he’s very motivated to get the best out of his career,” said the Dutchman.
It was under van Nistelrooy’s temporary charge that Amad netted the first brace of his Reds career during November’s Europa League win over PAOK at Old Trafford, looping home a precise header before curling in a clinching second which showcased an invaluable facet of his game: aggressive pressing. The Ivorian hassled left-back Abdul Rahman Baba out of possession, wriggled away from his opponent and fired home, underlining not only his ability to conjure something from nothing, but also showcasing his worth in a more front-foot, aggressive attacking doctrine.
Of the 21 goals scored prior to Erik ten Hag’s departure in late October, only one – Rasmus Hojlund’s winner against Brentford, stemming from an under-hit clearance – could be loosely attributed to a turnover in opposition territory. When van Nistelrooy temporarily stepped up to interim charge, that trend began to change; Amad’s second against PAOK preceded similarly successful pressing against Leicester in the Dutchman’s fourth and final game.
Though the Ivorian notched an assist for his adroit backheel to tee up Bruno Fernandes’s fine curler, the goal was traceable entirely to his work 20 seconds earlier. As a Foxes corner was thundered clear by Hojlund, visiting defender Victor Kristiansen ill-advisedly allowed the ball to bounce near the halfway line, prompting Amad to rapidly close him down, head the ball forward for himself and carry possession upfield into the Leicester area. Just 10 seconds after ending that run by winning a throw-in, the forward’s backheel to Fernandes resulted in the deadlock being broken.