Ruben Amorim plans Alejandro Garnacho talks after Man United star’s abrupt exit

LONDON – Ruben Amorim will speak to Alejandro Garnacho after the Manchester United winger made an abrupt exit following his controversial substitution in the 3-2 English Premier League win over Ipswich Town on Feb 26.

Patrick Dorgu’s sending-off in the 43rd minute forced United manager Amorim to bring on defender Noussair Mazraoui in place of Garnacho at Old Trafford.

The 20-year-old Argentinian forward then headed straight down the touchline to the dressing room rather than the bench with the rest of the United substitutes.

The home fans booed Amorim’s decision and Garnacho later posted an Instagram story of him looking dejected walking through the rain shortly after the game.

“It was cold and wet, maybe,” Amorim said of his player’s decision to stomp down the tunnel.

“The thinking was we’d play more in the 5-3-1. I know that is a risk because you are taking maybe the only player who has one-against-one pace, but I felt the team was OK in the controlling of the game, almost at half-time. Then you make the substitution. We have to choose someone to go out, we have to think about set pieces also, so it was my choice.”

Amorim was asked to clarify whether he was unhappy with Garnacho and he responded by mentioning Marcus Rashford, who recently joined Aston Villa on loan after the Portuguese manager lost patience with his attitude.

“You are making a connection with (the issues with) Rashford, right? I know, I know. What I’m saying is I’m going to talk with Garnacho about that, so I will talk about that if you want in the next press conference,” he said.

While Amorim is set for a showdown with Garnacho, he refused to criticise Dorgu after United survived his early error and sending-off. Ipswich’s Jaden Philogene capitalised on a calamitous mix-up between the Danish wing-back and United goalkeeper Andre Onana to open the scoring.

Sam Morsy’s own goal and a Matthijs de Ligt effort put United ahead, but Dorgu’s challenge on Omari Hutchinson earned him a red card after referee Darren England reviewed the pitchside monitor.

Ipswich levelled just before the break as Philogene’s cross crept past Onana, but Harry Maguire’s header moments into the second half proved enough for Amorim to collect just his fifth league win with United, who remained 14th.

“The first situation was a misunderstanding, the way they connect each other,” Amorim said of Ipswich’s opening goal.

“Then the sending-off, the important thing is that I really know Dorgu quite well. He doesn’t want to harm anybody and that is important for me.

“We managed to fight all the situations during the game and I think we truly deserve the three points today.” AFP