Last weekend, Alejandro Garnacho delivered on his promise to help win the Emirates FA Cup for the Manchester United fans.
Following last season’s defeat in the final to Man City – in which he produced a lively cameo off the bench – the young winger posted an emotional message on social media, that ended with a cry of determination to bring joy back to our supporters very soon.
Just under 12 months on, Alejandro, of course, played a starring role in Saturday’s victory against the same opponents, with his opening goal setting the Reds on our way to a 2-1 triumph.
It meant the 19-year-old was able to cap another progressive term by fulfilling his wish of winning the FA Cup – as he has acknowledged since – and that achievement is the first of five we have picked out to highlight from another formative campaign for the man we call Garna.
WON THE FA CUP
As mentioned above, a bleach-blond-haired Alejandro was impressive during his substitute appearance in last year’s final, and his starting berth this time around was perhaps a signal of how far he has come in the time between.
There was little debate as to whether the winger would be in Erik ten Hag’s XI at Wembley – he had been picked in each of the last 37 instances beforehand – the only question was around where he would feature from. Garnacho was tasked with playing on the right flank and caused problems for the left side of the City defence throughout the afternoon, scoring the game’s opening goal on the half-hour mark.
The 19-year-old was also defensively disciplined in his display too, getting back in to help his full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka during sustained periods of City attacks, as the Reds got over the line. Just like last year, Garnacho spent a while on the pitch after the final whistle to take everything in, but this time he had a gold medal around his neck and a beaming smile, having assisted in righting the wrongs of last season’s loss.
As mentioned above, a bleach-blond-haired Alejandro was impressive during his substitute appearance in last year’s final, and his starting berth this time around was perhaps a signal of how far he has come in the time between.
There was little debate as to whether the winger would be in Erik ten Hag’s XI at Wembley – he had been picked in each of the last 37 instances beforehand – the only question was around where he would feature from. Garnacho was tasked with playing on the right flank and caused problems for the left side of the City defence throughout the afternoon, scoring the game’s opening goal on the half-hour mark.
The 19-year-old was also defensively disciplined in his display too, getting back in to help his full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka during sustained periods of City attacks, as the Reds got over the line. Just like last year, Garnacho spent a while on the pitch after the final whistle to take everything in, but this time he had a gold medal around his neck and a beaming smile, having assisted in righting the wrongs of last season’s loss.
CLAIMED GOAL OF THE SEASON PRIZES
It would not be totally unreasonable to say that Alejandro had claimed any eligible Goal of the Season accolades from the moment his stunning overhead kick away to Everton in November hit the back of Jordan Pickford’s net.
The strike was a goal that will be replayed and talked about for decades to come and has been duly recognised this month by taking the respective best-goal prizes of the club, the BBC and the Premier League for 2023/24.
Speaking to MUTV pitchside at Goodison Park after his acrobatics, Alejandro was humble enough not to say his goal was better than the one of a similar ilk scored by Wayne Rooney against Manchester City in 2011, but later received some esteemed adulation from Wazza:
It would not be totally unreasonable to say that Alejandro had claimed any eligible Goal of the Season accolades from the moment his stunning overhead kick away to Everton in November hit the back of Jordan Pickford’s net.
The strike was a goal that will be replayed and talked about for decades to come and has been duly recognised this month by taking the respective best-goal prizes of the club, the BBC and the Premier League for 2023/24.
Speaking to MUTV pitchside at Goodison Park after his acrobatics, Alejandro was humble enough not to say his goal was better than the one of a similar ilk scored by Wayne Rooney against Manchester City in 2011, but later received some esteemed adulation from Wazza:
“I think Garnacho's was better,”our all-time record scorer said in February.
“I think Garnacho's goal was a better goal, but I think [me] doing it against Manchester City was [in] a better game.”
HIT 15 GOAL CONTRIBUTIONS
No other Premier League teenager reached the 15 direct goal-contributions mark across all competitions this season. It is a glowing reflection of the maturity and consistency our Academy graduate has showed, across a senior campaign in which he hit 50 appearances for the first time.
To break it down, Garnacho struck 10 times in total, seven of which came in the Premier League, while he had three different performances that included him netting twice (against Aston Villa, West Ham and Chelsea).
That is a personal-best goal tally in the teenager’s young career, as are the five assists he managed to provide for his team-mates. That number includes the pass that created an all-time moment to savour from our latest campaign: Amad’s dramatic FA Cup quarter-final winner against Liverpool.
No other Premier League teenager reached the 15 direct goal-contributions mark across all competitions this season. It is a glowing reflection of the maturity and consistency our Academy graduate has showed, across a senior campaign in which he hit 50 appearances for the first time.
To break it down, Garnacho struck 10 times in total, seven of which came in the Premier League, while he had three different performances that included him netting twice (against Aston Villa, West Ham and Chelsea).
That is a personal-best goal tally in the teenager’s young career, as are the five assists he managed to provide for his team-mates. That number includes the pass that created an all-time moment to savour from our latest campaign: Amad’s dramatic FA Cup quarter-final winner against Liverpool.
NAILED DOWN A STARTING POSITION
Garnacho was most regularly tasked with providing an impact from the bench by Ten Hag last season, but the young winger became a real mainstay in the XI this term, starting 41 of his 50 matches.
Within that, our no.17 was able to demonstrate a valuable versatility in the frontline, becoming a dual threat for the manager after showing that he could also be just as effective from the right flank, as he had already displayed he could be from the left. Alejandro got an equal split of his 10 goals on either side and, after his first start on the right in the 3-2 Boxing Day win over Aston Villa – in which he netted a brace – the young forward was not absent from another line-up in 2023/24.
To his credit, in a season where the Reds have had deal with a challenging amount of injury issues, Garna was available for all 52 of United’s competitive matches across the campaign, and was only unused in early-season wins over Nottingham Forest and Burnley.
Garnacho was most regularly tasked with providing an impact from the bench by Ten Hag last season, but the young winger became a real mainstay in the XI this term, starting 41 of his 50 matches.
Within that, our no.17 was able to demonstrate a valuable versatility in the frontline, becoming a dual threat for the manager after showing that he could also be just as effective from the right flank, as he had already displayed he could be from the left. Alejandro got an equal split of his 10 goals on either side and, after his first start on the right in the 3-2 Boxing Day win over Aston Villa – in which he netted a brace – the young forward was not absent from another line-up in 2023/24.
To his credit, in a season where the Reds have had deal with a challenging amount of injury issues, Garna was available for all 52 of United’s competitive matches across the campaign, and was only unused in early-season wins over Nottingham Forest and Burnley.
BECAME AN ARGENTINA REGULAR
His form at club level has also been rewarded on the international stage, as Alejandro has become a frequent fixture in Lionel Scaloni’s squads this season. Since making his senior debut for the world champions against Australia last June, Garnacho has been selected in four of the five subsequent groups Scaloni has named, and amassed five caps alongside Martinez, Messi and co.
He made his first start for the South Americans in their win over Costa Rica last time out, during the March break, and has since continued his upwards trajectory as far as the national team are concerned by earning his place in their provisional squad for this summer’s Copa America.
Success in the United States across June and July with the tournament holders would be the fairytale ending to a fantastic campaign for Alejandro, before he returns to United to set his sights on fulfilling new targets in 2024/25.
His form at club level has also been rewarded on the international stage, as Alejandro has become a frequent fixture in Lionel Scaloni’s squads this season. Since making his senior debut for the world champions against Australia last June, Garnacho has been selected in four of the five subsequent groups Scaloni has named, and amassed five caps alongside Martinez, Messi and co.
He made his first start for the South Americans in their win over Costa Rica last time out, during the March break, and has since continued his upwards trajectory as far as the national team are concerned by earning his place in their provisional squad for this summer’s Copa America.
Success in the United States across June and July with the tournament holders would be the fairytale ending to a fantastic campaign for Alejandro, before he returns to United to set his sights on fulfilling new targets in 2024/25.