Manchester United faced West Ham with the aim of building on their recent confidence-boosting 0-0 draw against Liverpool. Erik ten Hag fielded a strong starting XI, featuring Andre Onana in goal, a defensive quartet of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Willy Kambwala, Jonny Evans, and Luke Shaw.
The midfield trio comprised Kobbie Mainoo, Scott McTominay, and Bruno Fernandes, while Rasmus Hojlund led the attacking line, flanked by Alejandro Garnacho and Antony.
One notable takeaway from the match was Alejandro Garnacho’s need for improvement in his end product. Despite recent appearances that seemed to place him ahead of Marcus Rashford in Ten Hag’s plans, Garnacho struggled to make a significant impact against West Ham. Known for his ability to take on defenders in one-on-one situations, he found himself contained by Coufal and Edson Alvarez.
Garnacho’s wastefulness became evident when presented with clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities. In the 35th minute, he failed to capitalize on a chance, with the ball getting stuck between his feet, resulting in a weak shot that posed no threat to Areola. Another instance saw Garnacho opting to square the ball to McTominay instead of taking a shot himself, only for the cross to be intercepted.
While Garnacho often positions himself well, his struggles to finish chances have been a recurring issue. This lack of clinicality proved costly against West Ham, leading to harsh punishment for the team. In the second half, like many teammates, Garnacho failed to offer much. It’s crucial to acknowledge his youth and learning curve, emphasizing the need for urgent improvement in finishing and clinicality.
Looking ahead, Garnacho’s development should focus on refining these aspects of his game to become a more effective and reliable presence in front of goal for Manchester United.
