In their Europa League semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao, Manchester United icon Paul Scholes blasted one of Ruben Amorim’s best players for consistently making poor choices in one vital area of the field. The Red Devils had a 3-0 lead from the rematch in the Basque Country coming into their match at Old Trafford, but Mikel Jareguizar’s long-range shot put them behind that evening.
Mason Mount, a substitute, leveled the score in the second half at the Theatre of Dreams before Rasmus Hojlund and Casemiro scored goals, and Mount’s second goal guaranteed United’s safe passage to the final, where they will face Tottenham, another Premier League team. However, if Scholes hadn’t withheld his judgment from one man, things would have been much more comfortable.
Scholes Slams Garnacho’s Decision-Making
The Argentine missed a number of big opportunities
Scholes criticized rookie player Alejandro Garnacho harshly during TNT Sports’ halftime coverage of the second leg because he missed two significant opportunities in the first forty-five minutes of play. The Argentine wasted two one-on-one opportunities, including one in which he chose to try to dink the Bilbao goalie and miss the mark, despite making multiple strong runs in behind.
Scholes implied that Garnacho’s decision-making in the final third was becoming problematic when he said the winger lacked the cunning to execute such a brilliant finish.
“This is the best goal I’ve ever seen Garnacho score. I don’t think he’s a player with that kind of cunning. He just needs to get past the goalie at his current pace. The ‘keeper will never approach him since there is an acre of space to his right; he will simply hit it into an empty net.
“This is the first time I’ve seen him finish like this. We remarked before the game that he gets into excellent situations and runs brilliantly. However, he frequently or occasionally makes poor choices. That’s what I believe he did there.
Scholes and Man United supporters agree about Garnacho.
Supporters expressed their emotions on social media.
Many Manchester United supporters took to social media to express their annoyance with Garnacho’s wasteful performance; some even demanded that the Red Devils take advantage of the rising star. On X, someone wrote: “Anyone who isn’t taking the money for Garnacho this summer is mad.”
“Regardless of whether we win the Europa League or not, don’t get caught up in the moment,” a second person remarked. One said: “Garnacho has two big chances,” while another said: “Garnacho and Hojlund must be sold.” Not found. Poor initial touch, to start. Secondly, shoddy finishing I am at a loss for words.
“Alejandro Garnacho must be finishing that; you can’t be missing the target,” a fourth person stated. A fifth said, “GARNACHO I DIDNT EVEN FLINCH IM USED TO THIS,” not even seeming stunned by the miss. “The number of times this has happened this season is too many.”
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