Manchester United and Erik ten Hag have given fans a reason to believe again even though it was only a narrow 2-1 win vs Brentford at Old Trafford.
With a tricky fixture list up ahead, the need for three points here was paramount and after a half-time tactical change by Erik ten Hag, the team came out empowered.
Alejandro Garnacho set things in motion before Rasmus Hojlund gave United the lead they would go on to protect for the whole game.
There were many heroes in the game but Alejandro Garnacho shone the brightest even beyond his contribution on the scoresheet.
Biggest winner- Alejandro Garnacho
Absolutely no prizes for guessing this one as the Argentine was a livewire throughout the game. He tormented Sepp van den Berg down the wings and the goal was a just reward for him.
In addition, his selfless defensive work rate, and ability to take his man on and just keep going regardless of the game state made him a standout player vs Brentford.
It is not the first time he has been United’s best player this season and it certainly won’t be the last.
Garnacho has clearly gained Erik ten Hag’s unconditional trust with his all-around game and as things stand, he’s probably right alongside Bruno Fernandes as the first name on the teamsheet among outfielders.
United have a gem on their hands and for all his faults, Ten Hag deserves credit for handling his development masterfully after some initial professional hiccups.
Fair to assume Garnacho’s name will pop up in the “Biggest Winner” section after quite a few games this season.
Biggest loser- Joshua Zirkzee
Rasmus Hojlund was always going to come in and play as the first-choice striker but Joshua Zirkzee had the chance to give Ten Hag a headache when the Dane was injured.
He started off well, with a debut goal vs Fulham but it has been all downhill since. His general level of play has been encouraging, especially in linking up with teammates but his skill set is not what the team needs right now.
Against Brentford, Hojlund was subbed off for him and he got the chance to make his mark when the team was in full flow.
A big chance fell to him but unfortunately, he missed it in an instance that is becoming increasingly familiar to Man Utd fans.
Zirkzee is clearly still adjusting to the pace and power of the Premier League and that has been obvious in some missed passes, some thoughtless dribbles, and not being on the same wavelength as his teammates.
Unlike Hojlund, who is more of a “plug and play” type of striker, Zirkzee needs a functional team around him where he can stitch it all together while contributing with the odd goal.
Neither of those things is happening right now. Maybe his time is better in Europe, starting with Fenerbahce midweek.
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