Ahmad: The feeling of beating Liverpool was so crazy and I was a little nervous when I made my debut for Manchester United

Manchester United forward Amad accepted an exclusive interview at the Adidas headquarters. He talked about the upcoming World Cup, his experience growing up in Italy, his experience playing for Manchester United, and the special significance of scoring the winning goal against Liverpool.

Q: Ahmad, welcome to Adidas headquarters. Are you OK?

Ahmad: Thank you. I'm fine thank you.

Q: Okay. This is the new adidas World Cup match ball. Can you talk about your first impression?

Ahmad: Yes, it’s a beautiful ball. I hope I can use it to score goals in the next African Cup of Nations.

Q: What do you think of this design? It has the names of all the host countries printed on it. Do you like brightly colored balls?

Ahmad: Yes. Yes, it's really beautiful. Really beautiful.

Q: Looking forward to the 2026 World Cup, what is your dream?

Ahmad: In the United States, you have been to the United States with the team. How exciting is it to look ahead to the World Cup? Well, first of all, I hope we can qualify in the next two final games. So, that's what I'd say first, and then assuming that when we get to the United States, we can do better.

Q: What does it mean to you personally to step into the World Cup and represent Cote d'Ivoire?

Ahmad: Yes, it means a lot. Well, because you grow up watching an icon like Drogba, it means a lot to play for your country. So I hope to achieve that dream.

Q: Okay, let’s talk a little bit about you and your past. I have a little gift to start today's topic. Some pasta for your “indulgence day.” Food for your "indulgence day". Is this from Garbanyat? , you were playing in Atalanta and a little boy from Ivory Coast came to Italy. Can you tell us a little bit about that experience and what that journey was like for you?

Ahmad: Yes. Well, let's say um, I grew up in Italy. I started playing in Atlanta from the age of 10 to 18 and then moved to Manchester. But I can say that my journey in Italy was wonderful. Well, living with my family. I kind of miss Italy because of the food.

Q: Yeah, food, um, pasta, pizza, everything.

Ahmad: Yeah, well, I had a great childhood in Italy.

Q: What do you think is the most important lesson you learned from playing in Italy?

Ahmad: I think you learn something every day. You learn every day, playing in Italy and then coming to England and playing for different countries, you learn different languages, you know. So learn English, and then you learn Italian, and you also speak French. So you can speak different languages.

Q: You talked about your journey from growing up in Italy to now coming to Manchester. This is your new home. I wanted to show you something that might jog some memories. Do you remember this jersey? It's your debut.

Ahmad: Yes.

Q: 2021. Tell us about that debut. You walk onto the field. Very nice jersey.

Ahmad: Yes. good. good. good.

Q: What was your debut like for you? Are you nervous?

Ahmad: This is a memory. Oh, of course. I was a little nervous because, well, it was my dream to play for Manchester United. So I had just moved here for a year and was very young, 18, with no experience of first-team football. So it meant a lot to me to play for Manchester United at that moment, but I was a little bit stressed because I didn't know how to play, you know.

Q: When you walked off the court, it felt better than you expected. You feel good.

Ahmad: Yes, you feel good. You feel relaxed because I have no experience.

Q: To this day, when you wear this team logo, do you still feel pressure?

Ahmad: Yes, this team logo.

Q: I like the way you smile when you look at it, as if you are recalling that memory. You've come a long way in your time here.

Ahmad: Yes, of course. Yes. So, um, I'm in Manchester now because I've worked really hard. So, um, I'm going to continue to work very hard to be here for a long time.

Q: I like this answer. Okay, we have another important jersey. Are you familiar with this? You scored a winning goal.

Ahmad: Liverpool.

Q: I scored a winning goal against your rival Liverpool. What does this mean to you? You love to celebrate. We all love it, no matter who you support, we love seeing you happy and celebrating. What was that moment like for you wearing a Manchester United shirt?

Ahmad: So um, that moment was a big step for me and a big step for my career because um, scoring against Liverpool and you score the winning goal. It meant a lot to me, but in that moment, I think it meant even more to the team because we needed to win as a team because it was a difficult time and it was just crazy to feel that way in that moment. Then celebrate with your family. So I'm very happy.

Q: When the ball left your feet, did you know it was going to be a goal? Do you get a special feeling when you hit the ball?

Ahmad: Yes. Yes, a little. I was a little bit like emotional. I was kind of... Even if you saw my celebration, I didn't do anything crazy, but because the emotion was there, but, yeah, after that, after that game, when I got home, I was so happy.

Q: You talked about some very important moments at Manchester United and how that not only helped you and the team. But I want you to rank us. So, you scored a hat-trick against Southampton last season, a very, very nice hat-trick. You scored the winning goal against another rival Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. If you want to compare that goal to the winner against Liverpool, one, two or three. Which of these three games was the best?

Ahmad: I would choose the goal against Liverpool because in the end we won the FA Cup. So that was a key ball. He was a key figure in the game and that cup. But um, that goal against Manchester City I also thought was very beautiful because it was a derby and it means a lot to (the city of Manchester?) so if I had to rank, I would say Liverpool's goal first, then Manchester City and then Southampton.

Q: By the way, you like to score buzzer-beating goals. You like to step up at critical moments. Do you like that feeling when you come on as a substitute, especially in the final minutes of a game? Do you get an extra sense of "I can impact this game"?

Ahmad: I think it's natural. Naturally, this is um, something I haven't learned. But I can say that every time I'm on the court, I'm very focused and then I try to do my best every time. So if I score a last-minute goal, I'll be happy, and if my team-mate scores (I'll be happy too). So it was a natural thing for me.

Q: Do you think you are very much a Mancunian now? Do you feel like this is your home?

Ahmad: Yes, because I have been at this club for a long time and I want to be here for a long, long time. So, yes.

Q: Of course, we talked about that ball before. Next year we have the World Cup and we have another jersey. This is the first World Cup held in Africa. You are from Cote d'Ivoire, and Spain won the trophy in 2010. But how important do you think moments like that are for Africa? We love football so much and bring such a global event to Africa...

Ahmad: Yes. Yes. I think it's very important and then the next World Cup in Africa is in Morocco. So the Africa Cup of Nations and then the World Cup in Africa, I think so. Yes. One of the World Cups. So, yes, it's very important for African countries to, you know, be able to prepare for the World Cup.

Q: Of course, for many young people across Africa who love the Premier League and love Manchester United (Manchester United is also a big club in Côte d'Ivoire), how important do you think it is to see players like you playing and thriving and being a great role model? What does this mean to you?

Ahmad: For me?

Q: Yes. You are a role model to many children, even though you are very young yourself.

Ahmad: No. um I think um it's a great thing um I would say thank God because it's not um the dream for some of them in Africa is to play for Manchester United and then you, you're very lucky to play for Manchester United. So um I would say everything is fine and that's all I can say.