Featured Image Credit: PlanetFaz/TikTok
Topics: Manchester United, Alejandro Garnacho, Joshua Zirkzee, Premier League, Football
Luke Davies
Topics: Manchester United, Alejandro Garnacho, Joshua Zirkzee, Premier League, Football
Unseen footage has emerged showing exactly what Alejandro Garnacho did when Joshua Zirkzee was substituted just 32 minutes into Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat against Newcastle at Old Trafford on Monday.
Zirkzee, 23, was replaced by Kobbie Mainoo on 32 minutes with the score at 2-0 thanks to goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton, having been employed on the left flank with Rasmus Hojlund Ruben Amorim’s preferred choice up front.
The Dutchman’s withdrawal was greeted with sarcastic cheers from fans gathered inside Old Trafford before he put on a coat and swiftly walked down the United touchline toward the tunnel.
But he returned to the dugout to sit with the United squad and staff shortly after.
However, a source inside the tunnel revealed that Zirkzee “had tears in his eyes” before returning to the United bench with a drink in his hand.
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Now, new footage has emerged showing what Garnacho, 20, did as Zirkzee walked down the touchline.
In a video posted to TikTok by PlanetFaz, the Argentinian winger appears to be encouraging the fans sitting near the pitch to clap the Dutchman.
His United teammate, Leny Yoro, was also warming up on the side of the pitch and patted Zirkzee on the back as he trudged back to the bench.
Garnacho was left out of United’s 20-man matchday squad for the 2-1 win against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on December 15 but has been reintroduced to Amorim’s plans since.
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He was introduced on 64 minutes against the Magpies but failed to make a significant impact.
Amorim, 39, explained his decision to take Zirkzee off so early into the game when speaking to Sky Sports after the match.
"I talked with Josh [Zirkzee] about that, because it's important to express the message, but I'm always thinking about the team, and, in that moment, it was important for the team [for] Josh [to] go out,” said Amorim.
"You have to think about the team and also, sometimes about the player, because the player is suffering. I was there a few years ago and I know that he wants [it], because I saw it during the week, and that's the most important thing."
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He then went on to explain how it was "really tough" to make such a drastic decision so early into the game but he felt that the "team was suffering" before Mainoo, 19, came on.
Next up, United will travel to Merseyside where they are set to face league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.