‘Likes’ get Garnacho into trouble

Alejandro Garnacho has been spoken to by Erik ten Hag after the winger liked social media posts criticising the manager’s handling of the player.

The Argentinian, taken off at half-time of their 22 draw at Bournemouth, liked two messages on formerly Twitter, by YouTuber Mark Goldbridge.

One read: “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.”

The other said Garnacho “had a poor first half but taking him off at half time and holding him up as the problem is a joke”.

Garnacho swiftly “unliked” both messages – an action the club believes shows contrition – and a United source told the PA news agency the matter had been dealt with internally.

Garnacho was unwell last week and had been unable to take part in every training session but did train the day before the match.

Asked why Garnacho was taken off, Ten Hag said: “I think we had to repair the right side. We didn’t play well, the spaces were there.

“We thought bring some energy and bring some more quality; quality in the sense of cooperation and togetherness on that right-hand side.”

In September Jadon Sancho’s post on saying he had been made a “scapegoat” and “I will not allow people saying things that (are) completely untrue” – interpreted as accusing Ten Hag of misrepresenting reasons why the winger was not in the side – led to the 24-year-old being banished from the first team before being loaned to Borussia Dortmund in January. – The Independent/Agencies