He Deserved A Chance After Better Attitude – Erik ten Hag Hails Man United Youngster Following Emphatic Europa League Show

Manchester United didn’t just bless the audience with one of the greatest on Thursday night but also an impressing show from one of the fastest rising youngsters thrilled the audience who will go home rejoicing over the right choice they made by paying for the tickets.

18-year-old Alejandro Garnacho made his first start for the senior team on Thursday night and the trust Erik ten Hag put in him was rewarded with a performance that saw the audience standing to applaud the youngster.

The Dutch manager didn’t fail to commend Alejandro Garnacho’s performances as he stated that the player deserved the opportunity he got.

“I think it was a good performance from him,” Erik ten Hag said. “He did what I expect him to do.

“First, he deserved the chance after the last weeks. The start was difficult for him in the season.

“I was not happy with him but the last weeks I was happy with him – he got a better attitude, more resilience, more determination and what you see he is a talent.

“To deal with the ball in tight areas, to run behind, and especially also his tempo dribbles, he can take players on and that’s a good capability in football nowadays, especially against opponents who are defending that compact like this opponent.

“I’m happy with that. I hope for him it’s a stimulus, this first game, and that he knows ‘yeah, I have to do better to get into the team’, to create more but don’t forget the other things. You are playing in a team.”

Asked what Garnacho may have had wrong, Ten Hag continued: “Not wrong. It’s young kids, eh?

“They have to grow and to raise their personality, and they have to know what are the laws and demands in football, in top football.

“It’s not only about a trick or about scoring one goal. No, we have to win football games and that demands a lot and then you have to fulfil every day the highest standards.

“That is what we have to teach – and not only to him but all the players, especially the young players.”