Why Anthony Elanga has been starting ahead of Alejandro Garnacho for Manchester United
Manchester United’s production line of talented teenagers can be both a blessing and a curse at times. There are few clubs, if any, that can mirror the same success as United’s fabled youth system, and last weekend, it was one of those who turned matchwinner against Fulham.
Alejandro Garnacho is the latest youngster to announce himself on the first-team stage at United, and with such excitement comes fresh fanfare and increased expectations on his young shoulders.
It is true that pressure makes diamonds, and the 18-year-old is very much one in the rough. He is still learning his trade while catching the eye with youthful exuberance and plenty of self-belief.
The nature of the beast is that Garnacho is now the new kid on the block, and those before him have been cast in an unfair light by comparison. At Craven Cottage on Sunday, it was cast on Anthony Elanga, who was harshly juxtaposed with the Argentine ace.
You only have to go back to the beginning of the year, when Elanga was the bright future hope, and Garnacho was largely unknown outside of the academy system. The Swedish forward was one of the few who shone under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, scoring an inspired goal away at Atletico Madrid.
Since then, Elanga has quietly gone about his business. That goal in the Spanish capital back in February was the last he scored for the club, and he has made just one direct goal contribution across his 13 senior appearances so far this season. Garnacho has four from his last three.
There is a reason why Elanga is still regularly preferred, though. Erik ten Hag’s entire philosophy is based on playing the percentages and a style of play that will ideally result in United winning a match due to their sheer dominance.
In order to do that, United need to be in control of games, which relies on picking players he not only trusts but who offer a consistent output on the field.
Elanga’s recent performance may not have had the same noticeable highs as Garnacho’s, but he has been a fairly reliable option for Ten Hag, particularly in terms of his movement both on and off the ball.
“Elanga was already playing with us and this pre-season he has been brilliant,” Bruno Fernandes said of him last year. “He’s a nice kid, works hard and is really humble and I think he’s deserving of everything that’s happening to him.”
He started against Fulham for these reasons. In the absence of Diogo Dalot, Ten Hag wanted a reliable right winger who could help Tyrell Malacia with his defensive duties. The right flank was United’s weak point throughout the game, but it became even weaker after Elanga was replaced by Scott McTominay and Fernandes was repurposed there.
In fact, the Fulham leveller came as a direct result of that, with Fernandes being lethargic in trying to win back the ball he had just lost and Malacia was caught well out of position as he scrambled back towards his own box.
It was only after United reverted back to two proper wide options that they found a way back into the game, this time breaking through on the left flank as Garnacho linked up with Christian Eriksen to poke in the late winner.
Once again, comments from Fernandes are useful in casting light on the situation. Both the Portuguese midfielder and manager Ten Hag have mentioned Garnacho’s previous attitude issues and warned him that if he is to reach his full potential at the club, he must improve his work ethic.
“On the tour he didn’t have the best attitude that he should have had, and that’s why he didn’t get his chances until now,” he said last week. “He’s getting his chances because he’s training better, having a different attitude, and deserving his chances.”
Garnacho was late for two team meetings on the summer tour and paid the price for his tardiness by not being selected in any of the first four matches.
Since then, he has come on leaps and bounds with his work ethic, often being one of the first to arrive for training at Carrington and taking it upon himself to adopt a new muscle-building exercise regime that will help him fully adapt to senior football.
The Argentine teenager is making up for lost time but needs to appreciate that Ten Hag is looking for more than just an attacking threat for his forward players. He only needs to ask Elanga about that.
