Erik ten Hag's comments on Alejandro Garnacho back up Bruno Fernandes 'attitude' claims

Erik ten Hag's comments on Alejandro Garnacho explain why Bruno Fernandes called out the youngster for his attitude at the start of the season.

Garnacho scored his first professional goal for United in the 1-0 Europa League win over Real Sociedad on Thursday night.

He displayed some serious pace to burn to get on the end of Cristiano Ronaldo's pass and supply an emphatic left-footed finish in the 17th minute.

With permission from Ronaldo, he performed his idol's new celebration after finding the net.

Garnacho was in dreamland on his second start and now looks to have worked his way into Ten Hag's plans.

However, after the game, Fernandes revealed that the Argentine starlet has had to improve his attitude and that is why he's seen more gametime of late.

A lot of United fans took issue with Fernandes' comments, which came after a special moment for Garnacho, and believe it should have been kept behind closed doors.

However, Fernandes was only repeating what Ten Hag had to say after Garnacho's impressive performance against Sheriff Tiraspol at Old Trafford last week.

Image: Alamy

“I was not happy with him [in the early weeks of the season], the last weeks I was happy with him, a better attitude, more resilience,” Ten Hag said following the 3-0 win.

"I think it was a good performance from him. He did what I expected him to do."

Ten Hag did praise Garnacho's ability to run past players with the ball but also said he can improve in his defending and pressing in the future.

Garnacho played 82 minutes in San Sebastian before being replaced by captain Harry Maguire, who was sent on up front as United looked for a second goal that would have seen them top the group.

Image: Alamy

The 18-year-old, signed from Atletico Madrid for just £420,000 in September 2020, scored twice in the club's FA Youth Cup final win over Nottingham Forest last term.

It's said Ten Hag, having only just been appointed, was set up with an MUTV subscription so he could watch Garnacho do his thing.

He's only made seven appearances for United but Garnacho has been called up to Argentina's provisional 44-man World Cup squad.