Erik ten Hag laid down his standards with Alejandro Garnacho in his first summer in the job as he looked to transform the culture at Old Trafford.
And it looks like the Manchester United boss won’t waver in his pursuit of success. It has helped turn Garnacho into a bona-fide first-team player at United. Now the question remains if he can turn this team into winners.
Garnacho had just turned 18 as Ten Hag started his role at United. But there were a few issues with the Argentina ace’s tardiness. They were soon ironed out which led to Garnacho getting chances last season which showed his potential.
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But after a goal-of-the-month winner against Everton and then a man-of-the-match display against Chelsea, it’s looking like the now 19-year-old winger is coming of age. “I was aware there were some issues but these are young players that have to learn what is needed, the lifestyle of a professional footballer,” said Ten Hag.
“But in the meantime he knows. We make players to make this development happen. It was our assessment at the start of the season that we wanted to bring him and wanted to give him the time to deliver what he is doing at this moment.
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“There is big potential and there is a lot to build on but we are happy with his performing at this moment and happy with contribution.” Garnacho’s improvement means it’s going to be difficult for Marcus Rashford to get a spot on the left wing again, which would have seemed unlikely when he plundered 30 goals last season.
“So Rashford is an incredible, good player,” said Ten Hag. “You can't do it with 11 players, he can't play every game, he's not in this moment in the form he was last year but I am sure he will get there.”
Ten Hag has been criticised for being too tough on his team and requests to relent on the training schedule have fallen on deaf ears as he looks to change the culture at the club. If the results can become consistent then the noise around him will be silence and the hard taskmaster will be hailed.
United looked impressive against Chelsea but it followed one of their worst displays under Ten Hag a few days earlier against Newcastle. Now they face Bournemouth today looking to keep on the tails of the top four ahead of a big week which sees them take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League before a trip to Liverpool.
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“So we know where we are going and we had our setbacks, especially at the start of the season, things went against us with injuries, decisions and sometimes you find yourselves in such a place,” added the Dutchman.
“You see the character of the team, we're in a better place, better form.”
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