Starting Alejandro Garnacho over Anthony Elanga would be a risk worth taking for Erik ten Hag

Add as preferred source on Google

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has a very big decision to make against Real Sociedad.

A triple fitness blow saw Anthony Martial, Jadon Sancho and Antony all fail to make the travelling squad. This leaves United with a conundrum, to find the best possible front three.

Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo are likely to take two spots. With United needing goals, it makes sense to pick both players, especially considering the lack of options.

And then there is one more place available. Anthony Elanga could get the nod as he did against West Ham. He did not have a particularly strong game, but Erik ten Hag said he was pleased with his display.

Alejandro Garnacho should start

The more exciting option is to go with 18-year-old wonderkid Alejandro Garnacho, Manchester United’s man of the match against Sheriff Tiraspol a week ago.

Elanga has been struggling for confidence in front of goal, failing to score since February. This was at Atletico Madrid – proof he can step up and score in a big game in Spain if needed.

Garnacho is just a totally different option, one who is full of confidence and fearlessness, traits Manchester United need right now. Especially on a night where United have to win.

He was excellent on his first start for the club last week, playing with energy, tricks, and linking up well with his teammates. If he was overawed by the occasion he didn’t show it.

Having grown up in Spain, Garnacho would relish the opportunity to play at Real Sociedad. He would pose a real unpredictability to the attack which United may need in Thursday night’s big game.

It truly would be a bold call for Ten Hag to pick Garnacho as the starter in this must-win game. He’s still young, raw as a talent, yet to score his first goal for the club. But sometimes you shouldn’t overthink it.

Football can be about picking the best 11 players to go and win a match, and Garnacho really proved himself last week. United would stand a better chance of winning against Sociedad if he lines up, rather than Elanga.

It may be considered more of a risk to start the teenaged in a game of this magnitude, but fortune favours the brave. It would be a risk worth taking.