Man Utd ace taking superstar leap, it was summed up by one moment vs Barnsley

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Manchester United made it two wins in two and progressed to the next round of Carabao Cup this season with a comfortable win vs Barnsley.

Playing against a team that had already been beaten by Manchester United U21s this season, the pressure was on.

However, Erik ten Hag‘s men quickly stamped their authority on the game as the difference in quality shone through as they went into halftime with the game done and dusted already, leading 3-0.

The game finished 5-0 in a display of utter ruthlessness that has long been missing from this team.

In a game where many impressed, one player in the Man United squad had one moment which summed up his superstar leap this season.

Alejandro Garnacho’s moment vs Barnsley

Manchester United were threatening regularly but they had been unable to break through as Barnsley defended with last-ditch blocks and tackles.

Antony wasn’t having much joy on the right while Marcus Rashford was full of confidence but missing that goal that his efforts deserved.

In the 16th minute, Garnacho received the ball in transition during a phase of play where the Garnacho of old would have ran straight at the defence.

Barnsley were retreating too, fully aware of the threat he possessed with his direct running and dribbling.

However, Garnacho bucked convention, put his head up, and picked out Rashford running in acres of space on the far side.

The Argentine picked him out with a beautiful crossfield pass that Rashford could take without breaking stride and full of confidence, beat two players and hammered it into the roof of the net.

The lid was finally off and soon after Antony won, and converted his penalty to give United a two-goal cushion.

Garnacho would then go on to add a goal for himself with a poacher’s instinct to pounce on a loose ball and score United’s third, before showcasing his creative skills to set up Rashford’s second and United’s fifth.

Garnacho becoming a complete player

Garnacho is already a world removed from the player who broke through at Old Trafford. He burst onto the scene as a super sub who terrified tired legs.

As he started becoming a regular starter, he first learned to break down deep defences, that is where his dribbling more than his pace came to the fore.

Playing on the right forced him to diversify his game instead of just cutting inside and shooting or laying it off every time.

This season, he started as a sub but against Barnsley, even accounting for the strength of the opposition, showed two things that have been missing from his arsenal.

Creativity with progressive passing, and a poacher’s instinct combined with pace and dribbling makes the complete forward and is a skillset that superstars have.

Garnacho will have tougher opponents to follow, but the skillset is definitely taking a superstar leap.