Bruno Fernandes has claimed that Manchester United starlet Alejandro Garnacho suffered earlier this season due to problems with his attitude.
The Spanish-born wonderkid, who won the club's prestigious under-18 Player of the Year award last season, scored his first senior goal for United as they beat Real Sociedad 1-0 in the Europa League on Thursday. Although the result wasn't enough for the Red Devils to finish top of their group, Garnacho received plenty of praise for his exploits which came off the back of another promising display at Old Trafford last Thursday.
However, Fernandes has poured cold water on the hype surrounding the Argentina youth international, shedding light on Garnacho's apparently not-so-pleasing behind-the-scenes behaviour in pre-season. "He was good, but he knows that we expect a lot from him," the United midfielder told BT Sport following United's victory in northern Spain.
"Obviously he's still really young, he's doing really well. He was not at his best at the beginning of the season. On the tour he didn't have the best attitude that he should have had, and that's why he didn't get his chances until now. He's getting his chances because he's training better, having a different attitude and deserving his chances."
In a separate post-match interview with MUTV, Fernandes doubled down on his claim by saying: "He didn't get his chances before because he was not good enough in training and not good enough mentality-wise. He's changed that, that's why he's getting chances. Everyone is really happy for him and pleased with his goal."
Red Devils legend Paul Scholes responded to Fernandes' comments, offering his own theory on Garnacho's alleged bad attitude. "He said that was in pre-season, so maybe he was too big for his boots in the summer," Scholes suggested. "He did go with Argentina and play with [Lionel] Messi and maybe he has come back and thought, this is me and I am part of this team.
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"He's a young lad, he is going to learn and we are going to see the benefits of that." Former teammate Owen Hagreaves noted: "We can go off the evidence that both times we have seen him play, he has been amazing, and credit to him. In the two games he has been the difference maker."
A recent report from The Athletic claimed that Garnacho had caught Ten Hag's eye over the summer - for the wrong reasons. One incident, in which the teenage forward walked out of training with his laces untied, affirmed to the Red Devils boss that Garnacho had a lax attitude, something which needed to be 'corrected' and seemingly has.
United's No.49 will be hoping to keep his place in the Red Devils' starting XI when they travel to face Aston Villa this Sunday in the Premier League. With fellow wingers Antony and Jadon Sancho potentially still ruled out with injuries, Garnacho could well get the nod again.
