‘Garnacho must push for United starting role’
MANCHESTER United’s Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho must push for a starting spot in the Premier League team after an impressive debut season in which the 18-year-old has scored five goals, manager Erik ten Hag said.
Garnacho, who has also made four assists, marked his return from an ankle injury by coming off the bench to score in added time and seal a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
“He came in and did almost everything good and scored a great goal that will give him belief,” Ten Hag said.
“It’s good for us for the rest of the season that he’s back and can have an impact. I’m happy we can bring in young players and, hopefully he will progress so quickly that he can compete for a starting position. Because that is his next challenge.”
Asked what Garnacho needed to do to start for United, Ten Hag said: “Making decisions, being aware, scanning situations, when to go oneon-one, get behind, when to go for goal or make an extra pass.
“Decisions like that are what makes a good player a top player – that is the difference. But when you see it overall, he’s a huge talent and very brave.” Ten Hag said the pathway into the starting side was open for young players such as Garnacho, who signed a new deal to stay at United until 2028. “But, in the end, it’s about the player – he has to invest and have a plan to do it,” the manager added.
United are fourth in the league with 66 points, four ahead of fifthplaced Liverpool with three games to go. Meanwhile, Southampton have failed to live up to their standards this season captain James WardProwse said after a 2-0 home defeat by Fulham on Saturday sealed their relegation from the Premier League.
Southampton are bottom of the table on 24 points from 36 games and will be heading back to the Championship 11 years after they were promoted to the Premier League in 2012.
The south-coast club earned a reputation as a leading developer of talent in a spell during which they finished in the top eight for four straight seasons, but they have gone from the brink of European football to being involved in relegation battles in recent years.
Southampton have finished 15th or lower in four of the last five campaigns, with their steady decline culminating in a dismal run this season, in which they have earned only six league wins, while racking up a club-record 24 defeats.
They are also under their third manager of the season in Ruben Selles, following the sackings of Nathan Jones and Ralph Hasenhuettl.
“It’s disappointing. It is a moment that has been coming. We knew we had put ourselves in a difficult position,” Ward-Prowse said.
“I believe we should be performing at a better level than we have done and we have not done that on a consistent basis. The standards have slipped away and that is why we are where we are now.” Ward-Prowse, who came through Southampton’s academy, has made 341 Premier League appearances for the club, but could leave in the close season transfer window.
“Over the last 10 years we have had that kind of consistency and that has wavered. It will be testing for everybody but these are the times that make you as a player and as a club, we have done it before and we will do it again,” the 28-year-old said.
The club’s owners Sport Republic described the relegation as “hugely disappointing. We have fought tirelessly as a club throughout the season, but the Premier League is the most competitive league in the world and our results were simply not good enough to stay there,” they said in a statement.
“While this outcome is distressing for all of us, now is the time to demonstrate unity. Our work begins today to return Southampton Football Club – an inaugural member of the Premier League with a rich history – to where it belongs. Our goal is to return to the Premier League as soon as possible and ensure that we stay there.”
Southampton travel to Brighton & Hove Albion before hosting Liverpool in their final game of the season.