While most Manchester United supporters – well, those without an agenda to follow and social media clicks to generate – largely backed Erik ten Hag in those very high-profile spats with Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, there is also a feeling that the Dutchman’s approach to man-management can be, at times, a little heavy handed.
Perhaps Ten Hag, for instance, did not need to be quite so honest when explaining his decision to haul off Alejandro Garnacho at half-time during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Manchester United boss admitted that the substitution was made because of the amount of joy Andoni Iraola’s side were getting down that flank, Garnacho struggling to keep pace with the bursting runs of left-back Milos Kerkez.
Comments which did not appear to go down too well with the sprightly Argentinian, seemingly taking issue with Ten Hag’s rather inadvertent suggestion that Garnacho was not fulfilling his defensive duties.
Steve Bruce on Erik ten Hag and Alejandro Garnacho
“(Ten Hag’s comments were) a bit unfair,” former Man United captain Steve Bruce tells talkSPORT (16 April, 12.30pm).
Even if the manager had a point, Bruce argues, Ten Hag might not have needed to go into quite so much detail.
“If he’d said it was a tactical change… I think what he did say (to paraphrase Ten Hag) is that ‘we had to have a bit more defensive work on the right-hand side’,” Bruce adds. “Hence, that’s why he took Garnacho off.”
The teenager, lest we forget, had started each of Man United’s previous 30 games in all competitions. He played the full two hours during that FA Cup thriller with Liverpool before jetting out to South America for the international break.
If any player can be forgiven for struggling to match the pace, then it’s one of the most overworked members of Ten Hag’s squad.
Bruce, who has himself managed in the Premier League with Newcastle, Wigan, Sunderland and Birmingham City, remains excited about what the future may hold for Garnacho at Old Trafford, with Saturday’s flashpoint a lesson both he and Ten Hag could stand to learn from.
Steve Bruce excited about Alejandro Garnacho
“You have to deal with likes and Tweets and all this nonsense. But that’s the job, that’s what it entails,” says the 63-year-old, who skippered the Red Devils to a trio of Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson.
“There is no doubt at all, Garnacho in his first real season, has been a plus point for Man United. The kid is only 19 years old. He looks like he has something about him. Going forward, he can only get better.
“(Playing for Man United) means something to him. So he’s not going to be happy being pulled off at half-time. But he’ll learn from that, that’s for sure.”
According to the Manchester Evening News, a source speaking on behalf of United claimed that the matter had been ‘dealt with internally’, with Garnacho deleting those offending Tweets.
We understand, meanwhile, that new decision-makers INEOS remain full of admiration for the manner in which Ten Hag has handled the development of Garnacho and fellow teen Kobbie Mainoo, with Manchester United’s next generation arguably the most exciting in recent memory.
Alejandro Garnacho earning praise
Garnacho, after making his breakthrough in 2022/23, now has nine goals and four assists in all competitions this term. He has also reached double figures for goal contributions in the Premier League.
“With young players, that is what you find. He’s direct. Today, Garnacho was the one who was going to make things happen. He was certainly the best player of the pitch,” Wayne Rooney told TNT Sport after Garnacho won two penalties in the recent 2-0 win over Everton.
“His work-rate off the ball as well is fantastic. He is going to make mistakes, he’s still learning. But he has got that drive and hunger which any fan wants to see.
“I’ve been really pleased with him, and I think he will be a special talent going forward. He has probably been Man United’s best player this season.”