Manchester United secured a much-needed 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford, a result that brought relief to fans and eased pressure on their shaky campaign. The game itself was packed with drama from the very first whistle. Chelsea were reduced to 10 men after goalkeeper Robert Sánchez’s early dismissal, and United quickly capitalized through Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro. But Casemiro’s own red card before halftime swung the momentum, giving Chelsea hope. The Blues clawed back with a late Trevoh Chalobah goal, but despite relentless pressure, United held firm to collect three vital points that lifted them to mid-table stability.
However, what happened after the final whistle stole much of the post-match attention. United winger Amad Diallo sparked a heated online debate when he posted a photo with his close friend Alejandro Garnacho, who left Old Trafford in the summer for a move to Chelsea. The picture showed the two smiling and holding each other’s shirts—a gesture meant to highlight mutual respect and friendship. Yet, in the eyes of some Manchester United supporters, the timing was disastrous. The image quickly spread on social media, triggering a flood of mixed reactions.
A section of fans heavily criticized Amad for the post, with some insisting that moments of camaraderie should be kept private after such a heated clash. “No friends before or after the game,” one supporter wrote, while another commented, “This is not a good look for Amad, especially after such a tense match.” A few even went as far as to suggest United should send him to Chelsea next, mocking the friendly exchange as a sign of misplaced loyalty. The backlash highlighted just how sensitive fans can be when it comes to rivalry optics, particularly against a Premier League heavyweight like Chelsea.
On the other side of the debate, several fans rushed to defend Amad’s gesture. They argued that football is more than just tribal rivalries and that players are entitled to friendships beyond the pitch. “You all need to relax, it’s not that deep,” one fan commented. “They’ve been close friends for years—it doesn’t mean he’s disloyal to United.” This more sympathetic camp emphasized that the photo was a human moment between two young players navigating high-pressure careers.
The story took another twist by Sunday morning when Amad decided to delete the Garnacho post entirely. Not only that, but he went as far as wiping all content from his Instagram account. The drastic move only fueled speculation, with many fans interpreting it as a sign that the criticism had gotten to him. Others wondered if it was a calculated decision to reset his social media presence. Either way, what should have been a weekend of celebration for Amad—helping his side to victory—turned into a storm of online controversy about perception, loyalty, and the blurred line between professionalism and friendship in modern football.
