Alejandro Garnacho: ‘Huge talent’ can play key role in Man Utd’s Premier League run-in

Following Manchester United’s 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, manager Erik ten Hag approached 18-year-old Alejandro Garnacho and embraced him. Ten Hag has a reputation for developing young talent, and he undoubtedly sees exceptional potential in Garnacho. The teenager made a triumphant return to the field after being out with an injury for two months, scoring a fantastic goal in the 94th minute to secure Manchester United’s hard-earned win at Old Trafford.

It was a relief for the home fans who had been understandably worried about their team’s chances of winning without their injured 16-goal striker, Marcus Rashford, who was absent from the match. However, the win puts Manchester United four points ahead of Liverpool in fifth place with only two more victories needed in their final three games to guarantee a top-four finish. Ten Hag believes that Garnacho can help the team reach their goal, saying, “He did almost everything good, and that will give him belief, and that is good for the rest of the season. He is back, it will give him confidence, and he can have an impact.”

Since his debut in April of last year, Garnacho has had an impressive first full season with Manchester United, scoring five goals and making a significant impact when coming off the bench. In January, he assisted Marcus Rashford in scoring the winner against Manchester City. Unfortunately, his progress was halted by an ankle ligament injury he sustained during a draw with Southampton in March, causing him to miss the next 12 games. However, the fans eagerly awaited his return and chanted his name even before he was substituted into the game in the 82nd minute.

Ten Hag wants Garnacho to move beyond being just an impact substitute, challenging him to compete for a starting XI position. This season, Garnacho has made 10 goal contributions, including five assists, but has only started four Premier League games. According to midfielder Bruno Fernandes, “To play for Manchester United, you have to be special, especially at a young age. It’s really important to have him back. He can create, go on one-on-ones, score goals, create assists. It is important for us.”

Ten Hag sees Garnacho’s potential but acknowledges that he has room for improvement, particularly in his defensive transition and pressing. Nonetheless, he believes that the teenager is a huge talent who is brave and capable of stepping up when needed. With three games remaining in the season and Champions League football within reach, Garnacho has a golden opportunity to prove that he is ready to make an impact from the outset.