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Man Utd warned not to make 'huge mistake' & 'underestimate' Atalanta by Diallo

  /  autty

Manchester United have been warned not to make a 'huge mistake' and 'underestimate' Atalanta by Amad Diallo, ahead of the youngster's current club facing his old side in the Champions League.

United are in desperate need of a positive result in their next crunch clash tomorrow after their struggles in the Premier League and Europe - with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer under pressure due to his team's torrid start to the season.

It is unlikely that Amad will feature against Atalanta at Old Trafford as United bid to leapfrog their opponents at the top of Group F, but the tricky winger has insisted that Gian Piero Gasperini and his men will pose a stern test.

Amad, who joined United in January for £37million, told United's official club website: 'First of all, we must not underestimate Atalanta.

'If you underestimate Atalanta, you are making a huge mistake. They have got a great coach, a great team and they have got good fans.

'They press high, they don't let you play and they put you in difficulty.

'The wingers, [Robin] Gosens and [Ruslan] Malinovsky, are strengths of theirs, they will give you a difficult game.

'Even when they don't have the ball, they will run a lot, especially those two. If you lose the ball, then you're in trouble because they run so much and they'll get it.'

In the same interview, Amad has also spoken about his former boss Gasperini in glowing terms, after being handed senior debut by him back in 2019.

'Gasperini helped me very, very much indeed,' he added. 'Against Udinese [for his debut] in Serie A, that was a big one.

'He's a fantastic person. He's been fundamental for my growth and I really thank him a lot for all the years I was with him.

'I am still in touch with some of my team-mates and I can't wait to see them. I think it will be a very, very good day.'

Tipped for a bright future at an elite level, Amad is yet to be handed his maiden Champions League appearance at United - but is keen to make the step up.

'It will be cool, it's such a big team with such a great history,' he said. 'You know, to represent the team in the Champions League is a dream.

'We're talking about Manchester United, we're not talking about a small team, we're talking a team that's won so much.'

Amad was set to join Feyenoord in the summer on a loan deal, but an unfortunate training injury saw him remain at United for rehabilitation instead.

Last season, the 19-year-old netted for the Red Devils in the Europa League, flicking home a clever header in their last-16 tie against AC Milan.