Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has explained his decision to substitute Alejandro Garnacho during Thursday’s Europa League contest with Real Sociedad in Spain.
Garnacho provided the assist for Joshua Zirkzee to find the back of the net in the 57th minute of the last-16 first leg, but he was substituted in the 78th minute, with Christian Eriksen introduced.
The Argentina international again showed his frustration, which was also the case when he was withdrawn in the first half of the Premier League game against Ipswich Town at the end of February.
Garnacho has gone 22 games without scoring, but Man United lost their attacking intent when he was replaced on Thursday, and Amorim has revealed why he decided to bring the 20-year-old off.
“I felt he (Garnacho) was tired, and you see it because we did a lot of transitions in the second half because sometimes he was late to defend. And sometimes he’s in a good position to transition but I felt he was tired to recover and do the same things. I look at the game as a whole and not just in transitions,” Amorim told reporters.
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Garnacho showed his frustration after Man United substitution
Explaining his decision to select Garnacho on the right rather than the left, Amorim said: “We look at the opponent, the way they try to press, where is the space? Which player is going to follow the run? And we try to imagine the right characteristics for that game. So we try to change different things to expose the opponent.”
However, Garnacho is currently finding it difficult to score goals, and Amorim said that his team need to be more clinical during a difficult period.
“That is clear. We are creating chances. Sometimes you don’t see it in the xG because we manage not to shoot, but the great opportunity is there and you can see it,” he added.
“We have transitions, we have situations, and sometimes we are missing something. And that can change, especially in this kind of game, that you need goals that can make a difference for everybody.”
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Will Garnacho leave Man United this summer?
Garnacho was heavily linked with a move away from Man United during the January transfer window, with both Napoli and Chelsea said to be interested in his services.
Napoli are believed to have had a £40m bid rejected for Garnacho during the winter market, while Chelsea’s desire to sign a new winger saw them heavily linked with the ex-Atletico Madrid youngster.
Man United are not actively looking to sell Garnacho, but it is understood that serious offers for him would be considered, as a sale would count as pure profit under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.
Garnacho landed himself in hot water with Amorim following his reaction to being substituted against Ipswich in the recent Premier League clash, and the forward had to pay for a team meal as punishment.
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