It is quite the compliment when Cristiano Ronaldo passes up a shot to pass you the ball. Alejandro Garnacho did not disappoint his mentor.
Ronaldo, twice the age of Garnacho, was the first to embrace United's youngest non-English goalscorer in European competition, a record George Best held for 58 years.
Once his congratulatory teammates had dispersed, Garnacho turned to a nearby camera and mimicked Ronaldo's sleeping celebration, having Siiiud with the youth team. The Real Sociedad fans took umbrage with the baiting. Garnacho was utterly undeterred.
READ MORE: United player ratings vs Real Sociedad
The 'Argentina' chant is no longer solely reserved for Lisandro Martinez. The Europa League has provided a platform for Manchester United to blood their whippersnapper wingers and Garnacho is the latest boy turning into a man.
Still only 18, he is a young man in a hurry. Garnacho does not lack confidence with and without the ball and he is playing with a belief he is worthy of a plane ticket to Qatar. His remarkable annus mirabilis could yet get better. He has accomplished every feat any academy talent could hope to in a calendar year.
A theme of the United squad is there is as much character as there is quality and Garnacho shoved Carlos Fernandez on his way as he took the long route to the dugout when substituted. Rashford was berated for ceding the ball.
This was a more thorough examination for Garnacho than last week's exhibition evening against FC Sheriff: a major European league opponent, away from Manchester and with something riding on it. In the absence of Antony, Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho, and Anthony Elanga and Marcus Rashford benched, Garnacho laid down a marker.
Ten Hag attempted to leave his mark with a tactical change as United switched to an unfathomable formation that may have been 3-3-3-1. Garnacho's goal was not enough to free up two midweeks in February.
Ten Hag does not beat about the bush with substitutions though the caveat was the 58th-minute changes appeared to bemuse many of the starters and Scott McTominay entered with Rashford, setting an ambiguous tone when a second goal was required.
The United manager had intimated there would be innovative in-game changes, depending on the scenario and Ten Hag perhaps tried to be too clever for his own good. United were never quite as menacing once they shape-shifted. The introductions of Fred and Harry Maguire in the 82nd minute were hardly all-out-attack.
Maguire was actually the battering ram up front, another ignominious development on a night he was dropped for Victor Lindelof and then overlooked when Lindelof was replaced before the hour. All of this while Raphael Varane watches on from his sofa.
With United requiring a two-goal victory, Sociedad were content with defending whilst losing. More costly than Sociedad's win in Manchester was United's profligacy against the fodder of FC Sheriff and Omonia Nicosia, neither properly put to the sword. Goal difference has consigned United to Monday's knockout draw against one of the relegated Champions League teams.
For the United supporters in the second tier, there is the comfort of an extra European getaway during the dark nights of winter. United are in a better place than the majority of the teams demoted to the competition, some in major disarray.
Man-management is a growing strength of Ten Hag's as he continues to make calls that range from contentious to controversial. Ronaldo had never looked as receptive to his manager's instructions as he had in San Sebastian, almost as telling as his successful reintegration after transgressing against Tottenham.
Garnacho was entrusted in a game with something riding on it, Rashford was rested after a punishing period and Donny van de Beek was charitably afforded a first United start since December. "This is his moment. He has to take this moment. I know he can do it from the number ten position," Ten Hag said of Van de Beek. He didn't.
Ten Hag is possibly the only manager who would relocate Bruno Fernandes to accommodate one of his proteges in what was a trial ahead of the meeting at Aston Villa, where Fernandes is suspended. It would be a travesty if Van de Beek kept his place when he continues to resemble a Glyndebourne enthusiast who has mistakenly turned up at Glastonbury.
Fernandes has been banished to the wing twice in recent weeks and the first time at Chelsea signalled regression. Sooner or later, Ten Hag was bound to put his nose out of joint and he has done so whilst effectively retaining Fernandes as captain.
Such is Fernandes's mentality he flicked on the aerial ball for Ronaldo to play in Garnacho. His infield runs were purposeful and he found Garnacho magisterially, ignoring the offside Ronaldo.
Ten Hag has made far bigger calls than changing Fernandes's position. Such as dropping the returning captain. If Rashford was protected then Maguire was demoted, the official United captain officially fourth-choice unless he is recalled in Birmingham on Sunday.
Garnacho could be retained.
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