Erik ten Hag described Alejandro Garnacho as possessing the “X factor” before handing the Manchester United teenager his full debut on Thursday night, but this was no reality show despite the prize of playing alongside his hero Cristiano Ronaldo.
“This pitch is not for learning,” Ten Hag insisted before kick-off against Sheriff. “This pitch is one where they have to deliver and they have to be aware of that. It’s not that I put him up for a learning moment, but he has the capabilities to show it.”
Some two hours later, a standing ovation in the 80th minute summed up what the Old Trafford faithful made of Garnacho’s display in the 3-0 win, while Ronaldo perhaps pointedly headed to speak with and put his arm around the 18-year-old after full-time to toast a job well done.
It was not perfect, with some wayward crosses, but more importantly there were flashes of brilliance and a lively intent throughout that serves as a warning to Jadon Sancho, who was dropped in place of the Spanish-born Argentine.
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“It was almost like a young Ronaldo actually,” said Paul Scholes on BT Sport. “I was impressed. Some wingers can only go one way, but he can do both which makes it so unpredictable. Exciting from an 18-year-old kid, certainly one for the future.”
Owen Hargreaves added: “He was exceptional, he had real quality, he was direct and ran at the defenders all the time. I thought he had everything. He was the most effective of the front three players, he’s one for the future, and for now actually.
“He didn’t disappoint. What a beautiful feeling, he knows he’s played well. The fans appreciated it.”
"He's putting in big performances for an 18-year-old!"
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 27, 2022
Paul Scholes sees a promising future for Alejandro Garnacho…#UEL pic.twitter.com/vZIqn6EIvp
With Sancho arguably his main competition for the wide left role, the question now turns to whether Garnacho can displace the England international going forward – starting with West Ham at home on Sunday.
“Difficult to say,” said Scholes. “He’s still very young, I’m not sure he’ll start but he’s an option and has given the manager something to think about. He could be more dangerous than the players that have been playing every week.
“When you come into the team, you have to take your chances. Tonight he hasn’t done himself any harm.”
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Hargreaves added that Garnacho is firmly in the “manager’s thoughts”, and it could be a welcome conundrum for Ten Hag after Sancho’s stop-start season.
Ten Hag may be slowly piecing this puzzle together – with Casemiro’s influence growing by the game and Ronaldo present, for now, to challenge Marcus Rashford up front – but wide left remains a position up for grabs.
Sancho will likely reclaim that place on Sunday, but from the bench on Thursday the 22-year-old will have witnessed this emerging competition.
As Hargreaves said, Garnacho is one for now.
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