Alejandro Garnacho's relationship with Erik ten Hag as Man United star issues perfect response

Erik ten Hag's relationship with Alejandro Garnacho has seen its fair share of trials and tribulations since the Dutchman's arrival at Manchester United.

Joining United's youth academy in 2020 from Atletico Madrid, the Argentina international made his senior debut under then-interim boss Ralf Rangnick. But it was under Ten Hag that Garnacho began establishing himself in the first team a season later.

Two years on from his debut cameo against Chelsea in 2022, the 20-year-old is one of United's most productive players and a fan favourite at Old Trafford.

His 2024/25 campaign began with him riding the bench against Fulham but earned the assist for Joshua Zirkzee's winner in the club's opening league fixture of the season.

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It wasn't long before Garnacho was handed a start in United's 3-0 humiliation at home to Liverpool but was subsequently dropped to the bench for their trip to Southampton last week.

His demotion was reportedly for tactical reasons and not for his social media activity as the youngster took to X by liking a post from Fabrizio Romano that detailed Cristiano Ronaldo's criticism of Ten Hag from his interview with Rio Ferdinand.

While Garnacho responded as best as you'd hoped with a goal off the bench against Southampton and a brace while assisting two more in United's 7-0 thrashing of Barnsley in the EFL Cup on Tuesday (September 17), it wasn't the first time his internet proclivities has come back to bite him.

Back in April, the Argentine liked social media posts criticising Ten Hag for substituting him off at half-time during their 2-2 draw against Bournemouth. The X post read: "Garnacho had a poor first half, but taking him off at half-time and holding him up as the problem is a joke" which the youngster later apologised to the Dutchman for.

The winger's first few years in Manchester has been quite the learning curve with praise and criticism being thrown his way that sometimes hampered his progress in United's first team.

Ten Hag was reportedly unhappy with Garnacho back in 2022 for his tendency to leave training sessions with his laces untied, according to The Athletic. His actions were considered 'too lax' and have since been corrected.

During Ten Hag's first pre-season, he was left fuming when the then-18-year-old was late for two team meetings on the club’s pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia. Garnacho's lack of punctuality meant he featured minimally in United's start of the season.

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Despite the punishment he was handed, Garnacho praised Ten Hag as a manager and a person as he told club media: "Erik Ten Hag is a very good manager and, above all, he’s a great person. He always pays very close attention to us all, and helps us a great deal, especially the young players."

Garnacho's talent has long been recognised by the Dutchman who challenged him to become the world-class player he admitted he believes he can be. After netting a career-high 10 goals and five assists across all competitions last season, Ten Hag laid down the gauntlet for the youngster in demanding him to be consistent.

"Every club at the top needs players with the X-factor," he said last month. "Garnacho has it in him to become that player. We’ve already seen on occasions that he has shown the X-factor, so if you want to be that player that people are saying is world-class, then you have to do it consistently. He has that skill."

Comparisons to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney have been thrown at Garnacho due to his fast start at United at a young age and no more so than after his remarkable overhead kick against Everton last season.

While Ten Hag acknowledged the supreme talent that his player possesses, he recognised that to be on the level of the United icons, consistency is the main thing holding him back.

"They all have their own identity but for Garnacho to go that way he has a lot to come, he has to work very hard. You have to do it on a consistent basis and so far he has not.

"But he definitely has high potential to do some amazing things, it's not the first time we saw this, we have already often seen glimpses but if you want to be a player like Rooney or Ronaldo you have to score 20, 25 goals in the Premier League each season."

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While Garnacho and Ten Hag's relationship hasn't been plain sailing, there's clearly mutual respect there with both speaking highly of each. Garnacho has certainly heeded the advice offered up by his boss over the last two years given the improvements he's made on and off the pitch and that he's currently the club's top scorer in all competitions with four goals.

He's already racked up seven goal contributions this season in six games - just under half the tally he achieved in the whole of last season - and Ten Hag will no doubt be hoping he continues in the same rich vein of form when United travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday.