Erik ten Hag was delighted by Alejandro Garnacho’s ‘huge contribution’ to Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Everton as the winger broke a record for Premier League giants Manchester United.
Never before – at least, not since the advent of the Premier League in 1992 – had a Manchester United player won two penalties in the same game.
That was, of course, until Alejandro Garnacho forced James Tarkowski and Ben Godfrey into fouls, the awesome Argentine making history in the space of just 24 first-half minutes at Old Trafford.
In a game which exposed United’s weaknesses rather than shining a light on their strengths, Garnacho’s breezy ball-carrying proved to be the difference between three invaluable points and another damaging result which will have done nothing to strengthen Erik ten Hag’s position in the dugout.
Erik ten Hag hails Alejandro Garnacho
“Every game we have to win, so every game is a must-need,” Ten Hag told TNT Sport at full-time.
“(Garnacho) is progressing very well, and we are very pleased with this. His contribution today was huge. His runs, his dribbles…
“It’s attractive as well for the audience. Obviously we want to show (the fans) something. I think (Garnacho won two) well-deserved penalties.”
From Andrei Kanchelskis and Ryan Giggs to Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani, Old Trafford has long been home to deliciously direct widemen. And Garnacho certainly feels like a continuation of that trend, a player who joined from Atletico Madrid for less than £500,000 producing the sort of terrorising displays United expected from Jadon Sancho when they splashed out £73 million on the now-Dortmund loanee.
“We lost the last two games. We want to be in the Champions League next season, so I am very happy (to get back on track),” smiles Garnacho, the teenager closing in on 30 successive starts in all competitions for the Red Devils
“Now every game, the manager said, is a final. We have to win every single game. We’re Manchester United. The job is done.”
History maker Garnacho
Garnacho also opened up on the role Ten Hag played in his performance. The embattled Man United boss instructing the 19-year-old to do what he does best. The inspired inclusion of Bruno Fernandes as something of a ‘false nine’ also helped bring the best out of Garnacho, who really should have improved on his tally of seven goals this term while squandering a pair of excellent one-v-one chances either side of the interval.
“The manager wants me to go one v one, to shoot, to dribble. I won two penalties. It’s important,” Garnacho adds.
“(To play for Man United every game is) like a dream, with my age. A full Old Trafford stadium chanting my name is incredible. I am very proud and happy.”
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