Erik ten Hag hails Alejandro Garnacho wonder goal but says too soon for Rooney, Ronaldo comparisons
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Alejandro Garnacho scored with a stunning overhead kick in the third minute of the match against Everton on Nov 26.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LIVERPOOL – Alejandro Garnacho’s spectacular strike for Manchester United on Nov 26
The 19-year-old scored with a stunning overhead kick in the third minute to fire United to a 3-0 English Premier League victory over Everton at Goodison Park, leaping to meet Diogo Dalot’s cross with an acrobatic scissor kick into the top right corner that instantly drew comparisons with former United striker Rooney.
“The season, still many games to play, but probably already the goal of the season. It was incredible,” ten Hag said.
The Argentinian teen said he himself could not believe he had scored.
“I didn’t see how I scored. I just listened to the crowd and said ‘Oh my god’. One of the best goals I’ve scored, I’m very happy,” Garnacho told NBC.
The strike echoed goals by Rooney and fellow former United attacker Ronaldo, particularly Rooney’s bicycle-kick stunner during the 2011 Manchester derby.
“I can’t believe it. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a stadium where I’ve seen an overhead kick as good as that – and I was there on the day that Rooney scored his in the Manchester derby,” former United captain Gary Neville said on the Sky Sports broadcast.
Ten Hag, however, was uncomfortable comparing Garnacho so quickly with two of the club’s biggest names of recent years.
“Don’t compare. I don’t think it’s right. They all have their own identity, but for Garnacho to go that way, he has to work very hard. And you have to do it on a consistent basis. And so far, he’s not,” said the manager, who served a one-game suspension on Nov 26 and so was not on the touchline.
“But he has definitely high potential to do some amazing things. It is not the first time we saw this. But if you want to be a player like Rooney or Ronaldo, you have to score 20, 25 goals in the Premier League and that’s not easy to get. But potential, he has.”
The goal silenced the Goodison Park crowd except for the travelling United supporters who loudly sang “Viva Garnacho”.
Even Everton manager Sean Dyche marvelled at what he called a “lifetime goal”.
He was far less complimentary about the Red Devils’ second goal.
Early in the second half, Anthony Martial went down in the box following an Ashley Young challenge.
Referee John Brooks initially booked Martial for simulation but changed his decision to a penalty for United after viewing a replay of the incident beside the pitch.
Marcus Rashford doubled United’s lead from the spot before the visitors went on to secure a 3-0 victory via Martial.
“The screen thing is a farce. Everyone’s talking about speeding the game up. And they go over to the screen and we all know what the outcome is,” said Dyche.
“Good or bad decisions, just get on with it. Just call it, get on with the decision and we’ll all move on. Why are they standing there staring at it? I haven’t seen a referee overturn one yet.”
The match was Everton’s first since they were handed a 10-point deduction
Despite the scoreline, they were the better team for spells in the match, particularly in the first half.
While Garnacho stole the show, it was United’s Premier League debutant Kobbie Mainoo who had the United legends purring.
Neville said on Sky Sports of the 18-year-old midfielder: “Mainoo has been Manchester United’s best player by a street. A brilliant, brilliant Premier League debut from him.”
Former United captain Roy Keane added: “Unbelievable. He looked like he always had time on the ball today, his decision-making, in terms of when to go long when to go short, in terms of off the ball as well. What an all-round performance.” REUTERS
