Manchester United have sent a timely reminder to Premier League sides hoping to qualify for the Champions League this season after scoring a last-gasp winner against Fulham on Sunday.
Wonderkid Alejandro Garnacho scored the winner for Erik ten Hag's side in the 93rd minute at Craven Cottage in what was the last Premier League game before the World Cup winter break. The result leaves Man United in fifth, three points behind Tottenham in third and five points above Chelsea in eighth.
With Newcastle impressing and Arsenal top of the league, the battle to finish in the Champions League places is as intense as ever. With it being ten Hag's first season in charge at Old Trafford, fans of Chelsea and Spurs may have been hoping the Red Devils would take time to adapt to the Dutchman's ideologies.
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But that has not been the case, and Man United's 2-1 win over Fulham on Sunday proves just that. To make matters worse for United's rivals, ten Hag seems to have unearthed a special talent in Garnacho.
The 18-year-old has burst onto the scene in recent weeks and has been lauded by SkySports pundits Jamie Redknapp and Gary Neville. Speaking after the game on Sunday, Redknapp said: "Just that Premier League wow moment, the piece of play, played a one-two with Eriksen.
"We heard for a while the talent of this guy, he’s showed it on the world stage. Unbelievable goal, assist in midweek and last minute, how good must he be feeling? Look at his face he’s dying to smile."
"He’s going to be a star. He could be in a boyband, whatever he wants. Look at him, he’s got the world at his feet," the former Liverpool man added.
Former United defender Neville said: "He’s got something about him, no doubt about it. Bad attitude or not he can play, he’s brought an energy since he come on, the speed, the one-two.
"I remember Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a solo goal from that side many many years ago that won United the game, but not as late as this. The speed to get past Decordova Reid, Erik ten Hag’s team have been really poor in the last 20 minutes but he sent that crowd into mayhem."
Premier League action resumes on December 26, and it will be fascinating to see who finishes in the top four places come the end of the season.
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