Alejandro Garnacho was late to join his fellow Manchester United substitutes in warming up on the pitch and appeared frustrated after being overlooked for a start
Alejandro Garnacho appeared seething at being dropped to the bench for Manchester United’s Europa League final with Tottenham. Ruben Amorim opted to leave the Argentine winger out of his starting line-up – and the star was late joining his fellow substitutes in warming up on the pitch.
Garnacho spent at least 15 minutes chatting to Tottenham defender Sergio Reguilon, who has a spell on loan at United last season, on the pitch, still wearing his suit, while the rest of United’s squad were getting changed and preparing to go out for the warm-up.
But Garnacho was the last to emerge, joining the rest of the subs a good 10 minutes after they had started their warm-up. He also posted an Instagram picture seven hours before kick-off, which featured snaps of him scoring against Manchester City in last season’s FA Cup final triumph.
That social media post has led to suggestions that Garnacho was already aware of his snub for the big occasion. That is despite the Argentine stepping up in the last final United played in, helping to deliver their most recent trophy.
He’s by no means a regular for the Red Devils and was linked with the exit door back in January. His latest snub though looks to have particularly stung given the magnitude of the occasion. Garnacho was previously on an upward curve in Manchester, but Amorim has cited issues with his game and has chosen to name him among the subs.
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Whilst the Argentine has lost out Mason Mount looks to have gained with the ex-Chelsea man enjoying a renaissance after a spell out injured. He’s got the nod with Amorim citing the added dynamic he gives the XI
He told TNT Sports: “I felt Mason in this moment gives us a different balance. He’s really good attacking, he’s one extra in midfield. You know, Tottenham put their full-backs and midfielders inside, overloading that space. To have speed on the bench. We have Amad on the other side, and we need to have legs to change the game.”
Garnacho previously frustrated Amorim with his reaction to being substituted back in February. He was hauled off in a win over Ipswich but stormed straight down the tunnel. Amorim has clearly chosen to back experience at the San Mames with a number of his starters accustomed to such occasions.
He said: “If you look at the team Casemiro is used to playing these kind of games, Bruno [Fernandes] is always there, Maguire has played in European games for his national team.”
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