Manchester United legends Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand were full of praise for the ‘special talent’ Alejandro Garnacho as the Argentine won two penalties during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Premier League strugglers Everton.
In a game which will not live too long in the memory – Manchester United largely ponderous and uninspired at home to a relegation-threatened Everton side who have not won a top-flight game since December 16th – at least Alejandro Garnacho gave the supporters a reason to get out of their seats for reasons over than a quick toilet break or a boredom-reducing pint or two.
The Argentina international wriggled and slalomed his way through a sluggish Everton backline to win not one but two first half spot-kicks, United’s electric eel drawing dopey fouls from James Tarkowski and Ben Godfrey as Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford both fired past Jordan Pickford.
Alejandro Garnacho inspires Manchester United win
“It is refreshing to see,” Ferdinand said during TNT Sport’s live coverage, the bargain signing from Atletico Madrid continuing United’s proud tradition of rampaging widemen. “You have to credit Garnacho. He’s so elusive in those situations and he’s hard to pin down
“Thats what I loved about him; on and off the ball, he’s one who doesn’t stop and admire. He drives and runs from deep. It’s a clumsy tackle but he invites that
“I don’t think any of the players the start of the season expected him to be the player he is now. I think they expected him to an impact player off the bench.
“The way he moves, he’s infectious. You look at Wayne, that was part of his game.”
While very different players, of course, Garnacho does appear to possess a few of the attributes that made a teenage Rooney such a fearsome prospect at Old Trafford. The personality and the confidence to grab a game by the scruff of the neck and take responsibility.
Garnacho, who has reached double figures for goals and assists in 2023/24 and is closing in on 30 successive starts in all competitions, becomes the first ever Man United player to win two penalties in the same game.
‘Special talent’
“Rashford is a matchwinner, Bruno always comes up with something,” Rooney adds. “And Garnacho, as we saw today, created with the two goals.
“With young players, that is what you find. He’s direct. Today, Garnacho was the one who was going to make things happen. He was certainly the best player of the pitch.”
It is not only Garnacho’s creativity and speed that has earned him the respect of Man United’s all-time top scorer, but his willingness to contribute at the other end of the pitch too. With Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund, the future looks bright at Old Trafford, even if performances in the present continue to test the patience.
“His work-rate off the ball as well is fantastic,” Rooney adds. “He is going to make mistakes, he’s still learning. But he has got that drive and hunger which any fan wants to see.
“I’ve been really pleased with him, and I think he will be a special talent going forward. He has probably been Man United’s best player this season.”
Rooney, however, believe Garnacho can still improve in one key area. He squandered two excellent one-v-one opportunities, with his goal tally still stuck on a respectable-but-hardly-prolific seven.
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