Erik ten Hag and Bruno Fernandes were unhappy with Alejandro Garnacho’s conduct in Manchester United’s pre-season after he turned up late to two team meetings, according to reports.
The 18-year-old delivered a superb display and scored United’s winning goal in their 1-0 win over Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday.
But the winger has had to bide his time in order to get his opportunity in the Red Devils’s first team this campaign.
Speaking after United’s victory on Thursday, Fernandes surprised fans with his frank assessment of Garnacho’s attitude during the club’s pre-season tour.
‘At the beginning of the season he was not at his best,’ Fernandes said. ‘In the [pre-season] tour he didn’t have the best attitude that he should have, and that’s why he didn’t get his chances until now.
‘He’s getting his chances because he’s training better, he’s got a different attitude and he’s deserving his chances.’
Last week, Ten Hag also revealed he was unhappy with the attitude shown by Garnacho in his first few months at Old Trafford.
‘The start was difficult for him in the season, I was not happy with him,’ Ten Hag said. ‘But the last weeks I was happy with him. He’s had a better attitude, more resilience, more determination.’
According to The Times, Ten Hag and Fernandes were referring to two occasions where Garnacho showed up late for a team meeting.
Meanwhile, The Athletic claimed this week that Garnacho’s tendency to arrive for training with his laces untied shows another sample of his lack of professionalism.
Garnacho’s change in attitude has now seen the player get more chances in United’s first team, and it’s believed that Ten Hag now has no issue with the winger’s conduct.
