Manchester United were beaten on Tuesday night at the City Ground despite positive signs during the performance.
After the 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, Ruben Amorim admitted to being pleased with his side and the display they put in on the night. It was, however, yet another outing in which Amorim will be frustrated by the finishing his team put in.
Manchester United led the stats in shots, chances, possession and any other key area apart from the one stat that really mattered, which was how many goals each side scored.
After the game, there was a justifiable frustration within the fanbase, with Alejandro Garnacho slammed by fans for his underwhelming display. The Argentine struggled in front of goal as each of his six shots flew off target.
As well as poor form in front of goal, Garnacho was also criticised for not stopping Anthony Elanga from scoring his goal, with many suggesting he should have committed a foul.
The defeat has seen Garnacho become the scapegoat for many, as some fans suggested Elanga would be a better option and that United should never have sold him.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Anthony Elanga once frustrated Manchester United fans like Alejandro Garnacho
On Tuesday night, United’s defence was terrorised by Elanga while Garnacho struggled. Both are Carrington graduates, with the Swedish international sold for £15m in 2024.
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Rio Ferdinand praised Elanga as being “wonderful” after the game; however, comparing him with Garnacho and suggesting the 20-year-old should be sold is ridiculous.
Before Elanga joined Forest and subsequently has become a real danger man for the Champions League contenders, with Ryan Yates telling the BBC that he is a “midfielders dream”, he was leaving United supporters frustrated at Old Trafford.
Elanga went his entire last season at United without scoring in 26 appearances. Which suggests why Amorim suggested Elanga couldn’t handle playing for United, with the pressure being far greater than at Forest.
Garnacho is more than two years younger than Elanga, which many seem to forget when launching into attacks on the youngster rather unfairly after a bad game.
Before the international break, Garnacho had been finding form for United, but this shows his lack of consistency, something that should come with time.
Manchester United must give Alejandro Garnacho patience
As talented as Garnacho is, not every talent is a Lamine Yamal, and most develop into their final quality in their mid-20s. Mohamed Salah is an excellent example of this.
Garnacho is still so young in his footballing career, with two seasons as an established United player under his belt, in which he has shown more than enough quality to warrant a chance and patience.
This season, despite his troubles and clear teething pains in a new system, Garnacho has scored nine and assisted eight in 46 appearances, which is not a bad total.
The real problem with Garnacho and also with Elanga at the time was something Raphael Varane has since pointed out, with an over reliance on youngsters putting too much pressure on them.
In an ideal world, this summer, United will keep Garnacho and use him as a rotational option with an established winger ahead of him in the pecking order.