Alejandro Garnacho scored his first Premier League goal to secure Manchester United a late 2-1 win over Fulham.
The Premier League’s concluding game before the World Cup looked destined to finish a point apiece after Dan James came on in the second half to cancel out Christian Eriksen’s opener, but Man Utd’s new boy wonder scored an emphatic winner in the dying embers.
The 18-year-old’s emergence has been a bright spark of Erik ten Hag’s early Old Trafford tenure. The Dutch coach cultivated a reputation for blooding in young talent during his Ajax days, and he has shown few inhibitions adopting a similar approach in the less forgiving Premier League terrain. A bold move on these shores.
Alejandro Garnacho in November:
◉ Becomes the youngest overseas player to score for Man Utd in a European competition
◉ Becomes the youngest player to register two assists in a game for Man Utd
◉ Scores his first Premier League goal – a 93rd minute winner
What a month. ⭐ pic.twitter.com/PhEgCuMgM3
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 13, 2022
His policy has benefited Garnacho, who has, in turn, returned the favour, vindicating Ten Hag’s faith in him by delivering when called upon. The tyro was the difference-maker against Real Sociedad earlier this month, and in midweek against Aston Villa — and once again, he’s come up trumps.
It’s an emphatic rise to prominence that will give Man Utd fans something to get excited about over the next month and a bit before their returning fixture against Nottingham Forest, where the clamour for his inclusion will be at a zenith. More importantly, his winner could prove season-defining come May.
Man Utd looked set to have a five-point gap to make up over fourth-placed Tottenham heading into the hiatus. Now, Spurs only have a three-point cushion, and Antonio Conte’s men have played a game extra. Capitalise on their match in hand, and Man Utd will be level pegging with Spurs in the race for fourth.
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Paul Scholes was one of a number of pundits to wax lyrical about the teenager after his performance against Villa in midweek, in which he came off the bench to inspire a 4-2 EFL Cup win with two sumptuous assists for Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay.
He told BT Sport on Thursday: “There are not many wide players these days that can beat a man on either side. I think he’s capable of going down the left, or going down the right. He looks like he’s got a goal in him. He’s got an assist in him. This lad is a real talent.”
Indeed, Garnacho looks to real deal in these early stages, and under a coach of Ten Hag’s no-nonsense but compassionate temperament, he appears to be in the right hands to continue his development. Louis Saha described his goal as a “moment of genius”, and it’s hard to argue with the sentiment.
He has left Man Utd fans wanting more… but they’ll have to wait.