LIVERPOOL NANI GLOAT
As United lick their wounds after their Chelsea collapse, an Old Trafford cult hero says Garnacho is still their brightest hope of bringing back the Fergie glory days
IN another miserable season for Manchester United, one player has been a ray of light amid the gloom – Alejandro Garnacho.
Garnacho was the only United player to emerge with credit from Thursday’s crushing 4-3 defeat at Chelsea, his two goals putting them on the brink of victory before their dramatic late collapse.
Former United star Nani knows what it takes to succeed at Old Trafford and is convinced fellow winger Garnacho can help lead the fallen giants back to the top after a decade of mediocrity.
“When I watch Garnacho, he reminds me of myself,” said Nani (above). “He even has the No.17 shirt – the same number I wore.
“When he changed to that number this season, he started scoring some goals, so that’s been good for him.
“He’s not afraid of taking defenders on, making the runs, making assists. He’s a very good player and he has so much time to improve his game and get stronger. He will be fantastic in the future.”
Nani spent eight seasons at United, from 2007 to 2015, playing 230 games, scoring 40 goals, winning four Premier League titles, one Champions League, two League Cups and the Club World Cup.
In the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo for his first couple of years at United, he flourished when his Portuguese compatriot left for Real Madrid, becoming the club’s player of the year in 2010-11.
Famed for his ability to glide past opponents and equipped with a formidable shot, Nani became a cult hero at Old Trafford, a status Garnacho has already achieved in only his second full season.
“At United, it’s about going face to face with defenders, trying to dribble past opponents and changing the game,” said Nani. “Garnacho is a player who has been showing that in the last few months. His game is more similar to mine when I was at United than Cristiano’s. He’s a very exciting player and I hope in the future he can win titles with the club and help it to be successful again.”
The Chelsea implosion was another tough watch for United fans, a 12th Premier League defeat all but ending any hope of a Champions League place and nudging manager Erik ten Hag closer to the sack.
“There have been times when it’s been difficult to watch the team,” said Nani.
“We’re not used to being in this position in the table. We were always a team used to competing for first position.
“The last few years the team hasn’t been able to do that, but we know it’s a process and you have to readjust.
“We had so many good years in the past. When you have that, you have to accept some moments like this will come.
“There’s pressure, because there are big names in the past who did well for the club, so there will be comparisons. Those playing today need to show up.
“But now it’s a different time, with different characters and personalities. “At that time, we were more like warriors. “We were more like ‘we go to the field to fight to win’ and it didn’t matter the way we played. We found a way to win.”
Nani, who signed for United from Sporting Lisbon in June 2007, knows how challenging it is to succeed there, given the huge expectations on the players, hence his sympathy for those who struggle.
“The pressure is always there because you play for a big club,” said the 37-year-old.
“You need to perform every single time you play and, if you don’t learn quickly, you’re not going to play in the team.
“But to play for United is different to playing for any other team in the world, especially at this time, because we want to win titles again.”