Erik ten Hag praised Alejandro Garnacho as an exceptional young talent after the Manchester United teenager came off the bench to secure a crucial victory against Wolves.
Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag heaped praise on Alejandro Garnacho, describing him as a “promising talent,” following the teenage star’s impressive display that helped secure a crucial victory over Wolves at Old Trafford.
With United clinging to a narrow one-goal lead, the anticipation among the home crowd was palpable when Garnacho replaced Jadon Sancho in the 82nd minute. Making his first appearance in two months after recovering from an ankle injury, the 18-year-old Argentine winger did not disappoint, delivering a decisive blow eight minutes later with his fifth goal of the breakthrough season.
Looking ahead to the remaining four games as United aim to secure a top-four finish and face Manchester City in the upcoming FA Cup final, Ten Hag expressed hope that Garnacho would be brimming with confidence.
“Garna scored a fantastic goal and displayed an overall impressive performance. This will undoubtedly boost his belief and prove beneficial for the team in the remaining matches of the season,” said the United boss.
“He has made a significant impact in numerous games, whether as a starter or coming off the bench. His readiness and ability to seamlessly integrate into the game is invaluable to the squad. I hope he continues to progress rapidly and competes for a starting position. That will be his ultimate challenge.”
When asked about areas of improvement for Garnacho, Ten Hag emphasized the importance of decision-making and situational awareness.
“It’s crucial for young players to develop the ability to make the right decisions on the pitch, such as when to take on opponents in one-on-one situations, when to provide an assist rather than going for personal success, or when to go for goal. These decisions separate good players from top players,” explained Ten Hag.
Concluding his remarks, the United manager lauded Garnacho’s immense talent and courage.
“When you observe his overall performance, it becomes apparent that he possesses exceptional talent and shows great bravery. He has already displayed his match-winning abilities against Fulham and provided an assist against City earlier this season, and now he has added another goal to his tally.”