Alejandro Garnacho made a statement in Manchester United’s victory over Everton, answering a challenge from his manager.
It wasn’t just the manner of Alejandro Garnacho‘s acrobatic goal against Everton that caught everybody’s eye, it was the timing.
Garnacho’s wondergoal was scored in just the third minute of the game, leaving the raucous Goodison Park stunned, while Manchester United’s away fans celebrated.
The goal set United on the way to victory, with the team going onto win 3-0. Garnacho certainly delivered, proving a point to his doubters.
Garnacho delivers as a starter
Alejandro Garnacho scored his first goal for Manchester United last year in a win over Real Sociedad, where he started, and was assisted by his idol Cristiano Ronaldo.
But his first ever Premier League goal came as a substitute against Fulham, and it was in this role as an impact player where he really shone.
Competing for a place with last season’s top scorer Marcus Rashford on the left wing, Garnacho was seen as a back-up, a player who could come on for the last 10-15 minutes of games and take advantage of tired defences.
It will be a perpetual challenge for Garnacho to prove he deserves to stay in Manchester United’s line-up, but this was clear evidence he is more than just an impact player – he is a footballer who can contribute from the first whistle, quite spectacularly.
There were so many aspects of United’s performance which were impressive at the weekend. Kobbie Mainoo‘s first league start, Andre Onana’s dominant goalkeeping performance, Luke Shaw‘s return, and Anthony Martial getting on the scoresheet. Yet it was Garnacho who stole the show with his acrobatic goal, and deservedly so.
Erik ten Hag wanted to be convinced
This was a big moment for Garnacho, his first league goal of the season, following an earlier strike in the Carabao Cup, which also came as a starter. That’s more from open play than Rashford has managed.
There was a little pressure on the Argentine, who started Manchester United’s first two league games of the season against Wolves and Tottenham, and did not bring his A-game.
Erik ten Hag made this point publicly in September, quoted by The MEN: “You have seen at the start of the season we played him, his contribution was not good enough,”
This was a frustrating element for Ten Hag, who wants Garnacho to step up. He relayed this in May, after the teenager came off the bench to score the second goal in Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Wolves.
Ten Hag told the Athletic at the time: “I am happy you can bring young players and hopefully he will progress so quickly that he can compete for a starting position because I think that is his next challenge.”
Challenge accepted, and challenge completed. Garnacho is not just knocking at his door, he knocked it down with that memorable goal.
The message is clear to his manager, ‘leave me out at your peril’. How can you leave a player on the bench who is capable of that kind of magic?
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