The 21-year-old became an Old Trafford outcast under Amorim – on Saturday he has the chance to pile the pressure on his former manager
Alejandro Garnacho left Manchester United for Chelsea at the end of August under a cloud. The quintessential Gen Z footballer, who appears to divide his time evenly between having his head up on the pitch and his head down in his phone off it, had made one faux pas too many on social media.
The 21-year-old’s attitude had been slated: he was petulant, self-absorbed; he played for himself and not the team, failing to follow tactical instructions. It was certainly the view of Ruben Amorim, who did not take long after his arrival at United last November to feel the hackles rise when it came to Garnacho.
The head coach’s view would only harden. He wanted Garnacho out, casting him into his bomb squad at the beginning of the summer. It was a move endorsed by the hierarchy. So when Garnacho returns to Old Trafford with Chelsea on Saturday – the haste dramatic, indecent – it is likely there will be a negative reaction.
It is because, first and foremost, the match-going United fans back their manager. Even one who is averaging a point a game in the Premier League. Especially one who is averaging a point per game in the Premier League. The boos for Garnacho would be a representation of their support for the club. And yet it is some distance from being that simple.
