Ten Hag says ‘great’ Manchester United star was so much better vs Palace

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Erik ten Hag was delighted with Alejandro Garnacho’s goalscoring return during Manchester United’s 3-0 Carabao Cup hammering of Crystal Palace, the teenager’s performances earlier in the season ‘not good enough’.

On a night of rare, almost uninterrupted positivity for Erik ten Hag and co, Alejandro Garnacho opened his account for the new campaign early on at Old Trafford, converting a Diogo Dalot cross in the first-half.

A clever cut-back slotted home on the penalty spot? Manchester United can score them, as well as concede them.

And Ten Hag was delighted not just with Garnacho’s well-taken finish but with his work off the ball too, the wonderkid winger tracking back, pressing well and showcasing another, more mature side of his game.

Alejandro Garnacho shines in Manchester United win

“You have seen in the start of the season, we played him, then his contribution was not good enough,” Ten Hag tells the Man United website, the Red Devils’ new number 17 struggling in starts against Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur.

“He had also then some good actions. You see always that he always is attracting the game even when he is not playing that well. And he has to learn; ‘When I do my job in defending, I will always have my moment.’

“And he will always be decisive, because he has great qualities.”

Garnacho now has 11 goals or assists in just 13 starts as a Manchester United player in all competitions. And, having only turned 19 in the summer, the newly-capped Argentina international has only scratched the surface of his potential.

A scary thought indeed.

First goal of the season for Garnacho

“As well, it’s not only off the ball (where Garnacho has to improve),” Ten Hag adds. “But also I want to see, like today, he’s entering the box, he was on the right spot to finish. But I think it’s quite normal, for a player of his age, that there is space for a lot of improvement.

“I think everyone likes him, the fans like him, the team like him. I like him. But also we have to demand him, and we have to push him, because he can act on a very high level.

“But he has to show it every day.”

Casemiro and Anthony Martial also scored against Crystal Palace as United cruised into the fourth round.