Sport

Garnacho must improve or risk Man Utd future

It took Alejandro Garnacho a matter of seconds to demonstrate the threat he would pose for Manchester United against Manchester City on Sunday. Released in behind the opposition defence, the Argentine won a freekick on the edge of the box, using his speed and directness to expose City’s vulnerability at the back.

That, however, was a moment that summed up Garnacho’s performance on derby day. He was a threat in quick transition over 90 minutes, but lacked the final product to truly influence the match. This is where Garnacho must quickly add more to his game or find his Manchester United career at risk.

Garnacho’s potential has been clear from the moment he broke into the United first team two seasons ago. He is a winger in the mould of some of the great Manchester United wide men. He wants to take on opposition defenders and burst into open space. This is something Garnacho has always been naturally adept at.

The best wide attackers, though, have an ability to make the difference when they get into good positions. Garnacho has scored just four times in the Premier League this season despite featuring 30 times. He has just one assist to his name too. Manchester United need more productivity from the youngster.

“I think he’s doing the right things,” said Ruben Amorim when recently asked to assess the development of Garnacho who is currently a first team figure for Manchester United. “Of course, like any player in our team, he has to choose better, especially in the last third. We have to improve, all the players have to improve.

“So we have to improve as a team to help Garnacho, but Garnacho is improving the way he defends, the way he runs, so he’s working hard. I see him as a young kid who wants to improve, is improving but is not in the great moment in that department, like the other guys on the team.”

It wasn’t so long ago that speculation was swirling around Garnacho and his future at Old Trafford. Chelsea and Napoli both registered an interest in the Argentine who was initially exiled from the Manchester United first team by Amorim following his arrival from Sporting CP. Marcus Rashford was placed in a similar position.

While Rashford was never able to redeem himself in Amorim’s eyes, Garnacho responded in a more positive way. The 20-year-old is doing more to work hard out of possession. In Amorim’s system, Garnacho is required to operate in a more central position and he is making adjustments to become more comfortable in this role.

Manchester United are very much still a work-in-progress under Amorim. The Portuguese has endured a difficult first few months in English football and it’s only now that United are starting to look like a different team. Even then, progress is painfully slow, as highlighted by the lack of cutting edge in the 0-0 draw against Manchester City on Sunday.

United never looked like scoring. Their Expected Goals (xG) of 0.91 reflected a team that lacked conviction in the final third of the pitch and Garnacho was very much a part of this. The Argentine showed signs of a growing understanding with Patrick Dorgu down the left side, but their attacks frequently broke down.

Amorim has been given something of a free pass this season to clean up the mess he inherited from the previous regime. By the start of next season, though, Manchester United will be expected to be much better. Everyone at Old Trafford must earn their place, including Garnacho whose promise must flourish into more.