Alejandro Garnacho is taking the role Jadon Sancho was expected to occupy upon his transfer to Man United and Erik ten Hag’s comments show what both players need to do next.
Football moves quickly. Alejandro Garnacho is the darling of Old Trafford right now, the youngster bursting back onto the scene to net his fifth goal of the season against Wolves having not played in two months.
He’s taking the spotlight that once shined on Jadon Sancho not too long ago. It’s easy to forget he’s been a Manchester United player for less than two years.
The England winger promised as much potential, as Garnacho does, but it is yet to fully click for the 23-year-old. He still has time to fulfil that and the mental resilience he showed to come back from his time away over the festive period deserved the rousing ovation Old Trafford gave him upon his return.
Now it’s about looking to the future. Erik ten Hag has entrusted his faith in him since his comeback. ”I think he can,” he said in March when asked if Sancho still has the ability to change matches.
The attacker scored on his Premier League return against Leeds before finding the net against Leicester 11 days later. However, he has netted and assisted one goal apiece since the start of March, in which time has played 16 times including 10 starts.
In the same period, Garnacho has scored two and grabbed an assist – having been sidelined for two months with his ankle injury. Sancho has done little to flatter and consequently has only seen out a full match twice since the turn of the new year.
His £73m switch from Borussia Dortmund in August 2021 brought a heavy weight of expectancy for a 21-year-old, whereas academy graduate Garnacho, 18, has nothing to lose and perhaps that is the difference.
The Argentine’s performances have earned him a new five-year contract and a bumper boost in wages. In a speech to Garnacho’s family upon the agreement, Ten Hag said: “At the end of a career, you want to look back and say I won the Premier League, Champions League, World Cup.
“I think he has the talent to do it but talent has to work because talent that doesn’t work will not go far. So this is a new start.”
And his goal against Wolves got that new beginning off to a flier. Speaking after the match, Ten Hag set Garnacho a new United goal: “Hopefully, he can progress so quickly he can compete for a starting XI position because that is his next challenge.”
On current form, the teenager ranks ahead of Sancho in the pecking order. Garnacho has the tough and unlikely task of usurping Marcus Rashford on the left wing, but he is arguably first in line to fill the spot when Rashford is chosen to lead the line.
If Garnacho achieves the goal of becoming a regular starter, it should come as a warning to Sancho, who by now should have nailed down that spot for himself. And with Garnacho is the new and upcoming generation.
Amad and Facundo Pellistri are tipped for bright futures while Anthony Elanga is still only 21, albeit may exit United this summer. But if Garnacho achieves the objective Ten Hag wants him to, it means little game time for Sancho.
Next season is crucial for Sancho and it is the time where it has to click for him. Losing that starting place to his South American junior may call for a reassessment of his options.
Or better still, he should use it as motivation to make sure that crossroads never comes.
Source: manchestereveningnews
