Erik ten Hag insists he was "really happy" with Alejandro Garnacho's performance in the 1-0 victory against Real Sociedad on Thursday.
Garnacho, 18, scored his maiden senior goal for Manchester United in San Sebastian to give Ten Hag's side all three points. The result was not enough for United to top their Europa League group and they must now compete in a play-off in February to progress.
Despite this, Ten Hag was glad to see a good display from Garnacho. "We made a really good goal with Garnacho," Ten Hag told BT Sport. "We need options. We have problem there - Antony, Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho not available.
"I’m really happy with that performance and I hope he can keep the process going. He was a threat, he scored a goal, he was reliable defending. If he can keep this going, I’m really happy. It was a great finish. It was a great attack, from David de Gea, Bruno [Fernandes], Ronnie [ Cristiano Ronaldo ] and a great finish. It was really enjoyable."
Garnacho signed for United from Atletico Madrid in September 2020 and enjoyed a breakthrough 2021/22 campaign in the reserves. He inspired them to victory in the FA Youth Cup final - scoring twice in the final - and is United's reigning Young Player of the Year.
The teenage winger is also progressing at international level. Although he was born in Madrid, he represents Argentina's U20s and has scored four goals in five caps to date. He's also been called up to the senior squad before but is yet to earn his first cap.
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Garnacho was also praised by United stand-in captain Bruno Fernandes, although he was critical of the youngster's attitude in pre-season. The Portuguese playmaker wore the armband on Thursday because regular skipper Harry Maguire started from the bench.
"He [Garnacho] was good, but he knows that we expect a lot from him," Fernandes told BT Sport at full-time. "Obviously he's still really young, he's doing really well. He was not at his best at the beginning of the season.
"On the tour he didn't have the best attitude that he should have had, and that's why he didn't get his chances until now. He's getting his chances because he's training better, having a different attitude and deserving his chances."
And Garnacho was lauded by BT Sport pundits and former United players Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves. Scholes said: "He [Ten Hag] obviously thinks highly of him – and rightly so after last week. He was something we didn’t really know much about last week [against Sheriff] but he was really impressive. So confident.
"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. The players being injured – Martial, Sancho, Antony – probably will help him. But this lad is a real talent."
Hargreaves added: "He gave us a lot of confidence watching him play. Young guys, they’ve never really failed, so they burst onto the scene and they want to grab the moment with both hands."
