Garnacho spoke to the press on Wednesday
Garnacho spoke to the press on Wednesday
It was three years ago last week that the Garnachos were reduced to tears in the Old Trafford directors' box. Alejandro, wearing the number 47, crossed the white line for his Manchester United debut against Chelsea.
Ralf Rangnick recognised Garnacho's qualities as a 17-year-old who had inspired the academy to the FA Youth Cup final. Back at Old Trafford two weeks after Garnacho's senior bow, he decided the final against Nottingham Forest with two goals.
United have been naturally reluctant to make Garnacho available to the media. Four-and-a-half years after he touched down in Manchester with the Covid-19 pandemic impinging on the public's freedom, Garnacho attended his first press engagement at Carrington on Wednesday.
Usually, there are a handful of questions for the player as the focus is on the coach. It was different with Garnacho. He was the academy poster boy of not just Erik ten Hag's reign but United's future.
That was in doubt in January. Napoli had a £40million offer knocked back. Chelsea have stockpiled almost enough youngsters to fill Stamford Bridge but also expressed interest.
Garnacho was developed as a winger by Atletico Madrid and United only to now be coached by a man wedded to a 3-4-2-1 system. He admitted his first weeks under Ruben Amorim were "difficult".
Amorim omitted Garnacho and Marcus Rashford from the Manchester derby squad on account of their attitude in mid-December. Rashford has not played for United and may never do so again. Garnacho has played in every match since.
He has started in 13 successive matches and it will be a 14th against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening. Amorim has spoken about him in such glowing terms he was not actually asked about Garnacho, sat to his right, at the pre-match press conference.
United's interest in Matheus Cunha is now so advanced it would be a surprise if the deal does not materialise. United need a new No.10 and a specialist, which threatens Garnacho's starting status.
But this is a winger who barged ahead of Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Anthonys Martial and Elanga in the left-wing pecking order. Garnacho has survived them all.
Garnacho arrives in the Jimmy Murphy Centre at Carrington
Teammates as far back as Jose Mourinho's tenure noticed Rashford did not react well to criticism. Garnacho was self-critical during his sit-down at Carrington.
"I think it’s difficult for everyone when, in the middle of the season, a new manager comes in and we change the formation," Garnacho explained. "But we just need to follow the rules and I try to improve every day.
"Obviously, the manager knows the characteristics of the players. You see the games, too many times I play, for example, wide on the wing and the wing back is coming inside. What we try to do depends on the players we have and we are improving as a team also.
Garnacho has played 140 times for United
"It’s a little bit hard but it’s just the mentality. My first two months, November and December were very difficult for me but my mentality is to keep working, to keep trying and show to the manager and staff I have to play."
United chose Harry Maguire to flank Amorim ahead of the quarter-final second leg against Lyon as they wanted a "leader" to address the press. That was Maguire's second media attendance in the Europa League this term and United were running out of willing talkers.
Garnacho has conducted some rights-holder chats with Kobbie Mainoo and an impromptu post-match debrief on the Old Trafford pitch after the 2-0 victory over Everton last season. His English was like some of his wing play - fluent and swift. It was difficult to keep up with the transcribing.
Amorim has started Garnacho in 13 successive games
Club sources say Garnacho wanted to do it himself as he recognised he had never sat in for pre-match duties before. There was no specific message to get across. Garnacho has played 140 times for United and his presence at the top table with Amorim reflected his growing maturity and experience.
For someone who mimicked Cristiano Ronaldo's celebrations at youth and senior level, Garnacho downplayed comparisons between the wingers. He is one goal away from matching the 27 Ronaldo tallied in his first three seasons at United.
Ronaldo turned 21 in his third campaign in 2005-06. Garnacho celebrates his coming of age in July. His form last season, in particular, would suggest he was two years ahead of schedule.
"I’m not focused on the numbers," he shrugged. "I think when Cristiano played here he's a different footballer and different types of games, I just try to help the team and win games.
"Obviously, missing chances, we are training really hard, me, Rasmus (Hojlund), all the strikers in the team, so I think we are improving and trying to do better."
In Bilbao last week, four members of the Garnacho family sat in the United executives' section, all with 'Garnacho 17' on the back of their shirt. If Garnacho stays long enough at United, his squad number might be upgraded again to a standalone '7'.