Richard Keys defends Alejandro Garnacho and aims brutal dig at Erik ten Hag after tweet controversy

Richard Keys has defended Alejandro Garnacho after the Manchester United youngster liked two social media posts calling out manager Erik ten Hag.

United were held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, a result which leaves their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.

Garnacho was brought off at half-time by Ten Hag, with Amad Diallo replacing him for the second period.

After the match, Ten Hag confirmed the substitution was tactical while seemingly calling out Garnacho for his work-rate during the first half.

"I think we had to repair the right side," Ten Hag said. "We didn’t play well, the spaces were there in possession and we had to bring a sub there.

"Garnacho was, during the week, also not training. Only yesterday [he trained]. So, we thought bring some energy and bring some more quality, quality in the sense of cooperation, togetherness on that right side."

Garnacho, who has over 700,000 followers on X, later liked two tweets from Mark Goldbridge calling out Ten Hag.

One of Goldbridge's posts read: "Garnacho has been one of our best players this season.

"Poor first half but taking him off at half-time and holding him up as the problem is a joke. Many have done much worse week in week out and are still out there."

Goldbridge added: "Ten Hag subtly blaming Garnacho in the post match press conference.

"Not a good look throwing a 19-year-old under the bus who has actually delivered for you this season. But then again he's clearly scared of upsetting the bigger earners."

Diallo fuelled speculation of unrest at Old Trafford with his own cryptic post on Instagram, in which he posted a picture of himself with the zipped mouth emoji.

beIN SPORTS presenter Keys has since leapt to Garnacho's defence while also slamming Ten Hag.

"He's not realistic is he? I've said this before, he lives in a parallel universe," said Keys.

"A fair bit of criticism as a result of taking off Garnacho at half-time.

"It's suggested he threw the 19-year-old under a bus. I have some sympathy with that view. Garnacho's dug him out week in week out over the last two months.

"Young players make mistakes he said?"

It remains to be seen whether Garnacho or Diallo will be in Ten Hag's starting line-up when United face Coventry City in their FA Cup semi-final next Sunday.