Alejandro Garnacho made the breakthrough for Manchester United against West Ham to book the team’s place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Fred extended United’s lead in the fifth minute of injury time, after Garnacho had done the damage, with the Red Devils winning 3-1.
This was Garnacho’s first goal for the first team at Old Trafford, with his three previous strikes coming away from home.
It is a moment he will remember, and one which has generated plenty of well earned praise, with Marcus Rashford hailing him after the game.
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Garnacho is the new role model for United’s youngsters
Marcus Rashford has been the role model for Manchester United’s academy players for years, ever since his 2016 breakthrough into the first team.
While great he is enjoying his best ever season, it’s just as satisfying to see another young star make the step up from the academy in 2023.
A year ago Garnacho was starring at Old Trafford in United’s FA Youth Cup winning run. Now he is starring against the likes of Barcelona, contributing to Carabao Cup success, and scoring decisive goals in the FA Cup. It is quite a rise.
It is no wonder then that Garnacho’s Instagram page was deluged with responses from Manchester United’s youngsters, who now see him as the role model to look up to.
Garnacho is more relatable to them than Rashford, because they have played alongside the Argentine at under-18s or under-21s level. That’s so important, giving them hope they can make it too.
Kobbie Mainoo was among those to reach out, along with young right-back Marc Jurado, who described Garnacho’s impact as ‘barbaric’.
Unused substitute Facundo Pellistri also responded, along with Charlie McNeill, Charlie Savage, Dan Gore, Joe Hugill, Mateo Mejia, Ethan Ennis and Sam Mather.
Garnacho’s quick rise to stardom is not easily replicated, and some young players have to take the loan route, and many don’t make it at all. But seeing the youngster make that step up, provides inspiration that others can too, whatever path they take.
Erik ten Hag is very impressed
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag spoke about Garnacho’s impact in his post-game interview, and said that he had talked him through it before the game.
He told the club website: “I said to him before the game, ‘It’s getting time you have an impact when you come on, but now you have to have an impact as a starter.’ I think he’s capable of it. So that is the next step he has to make.”
Garnacho delivered, and Ten Hag explained that he believes Garnacho has all the tools to become an elite player.
“There are not so many players in world football who can take players on or capable, they just go play and just outplay and out-dribble them. And that skill, he has. But he has more skills than only that, for example, finishing.
“But also, I see he has big energy, he is fast, he has speed, but he can keep running, for 90 minutes, for 120 minutes, it doesn’t matter how long, he can do it.”
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