SPICY NACHO
Alejandro Garnacho dealt with by Erik ten Hag after Man Utd star liked brutal tweets slamming boss after being subbed
Players are unsure of their futures amid speculation Ten Hag's days could be numbered
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ERIK TEN HAG has dealt with Alejandro Garnacho after he liked tweets slamming the Manchester United manager.
The 19-year-old winger was replaced at half-time by Amad Diallo in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday.
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After the game, Garnacho appeared to give his approval to tweets questioning Ten Hag's substitution from fan and YouTuber Mark Goldbridge.
A spokesman from Man Utd has now confirmed that the matter has now been handled internally.
There has been no confirmation on whether Garnacho has been directly punished or not.
The player unliked the tweets soon after supporters picked up on his social media activity.
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At the end of the match, Ten Hag explained his decision to take off Garnacho, saying: "I think we had to repair over the right side.
"We didn't play well, the spaces were there. In possession, we had to bring a sub there.
"Garnacho was during the week not training, only yesterday. We thought bringing some energy and some more quality, quality in the sense of cooperation and togetherness on that right-hand side."
Ten Hag later added: "There were two or three more occasions where we should have dealt better with the ball.
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"Then down the right side they were finding ways to hurt us and there were jobs to be done but it was not always done.
"Then you get problems. Go with your opponent, that is your job. One part is collaboration and the other is discipline."
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In the posts from Goldbridge that Garnacho liked, the fan ranted: "Ten Hag subtly blaming Garnacho in the post-match press conference.
"Not a good look throwing a 19-year-old under the bus who has actually delivered for you this season. But then again he's clearly scared of upsetting the bigger earners."
And in his other tweet, Goldbridge wrote: "Garnacho has been one of our best players this season. Poor first-half but taking him off at half-time and holding him up as the problem is a joke. Many have done much worse and are still out there."
The draw against Bournemouth leaves Man Utd 13 points off the top four and their Champions League dream is essentially over.
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They now face a battle to qualify for the Europa League, as Newcastle are level on points with the Red Devils, while West Ham and Chelsea are hot on their heels.
Pressure is mounting on Ten Hag and according to , players are even delaying decisions on their futures as they wait to see who will be in charge beyond the summer.
They also claim that some stars are convinced the Dutchman will be axed at the end of the season.
Ten Hag said last month he has "no doubts" that he will make it into his third year at the helm.
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However, new chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe is supposedly weighing up his options.
There has been talk of interest in ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter and England manager Gareth Southgate.
Willy Kambwala wants to become rock at the back for Man Utd... but Erik ten Hag probably won't be around to see it
By Ken Lawrence
ERIK TEN HAG insists he is still the right man to take Manchester United forward.
The Dutchman believes he can recapture their former glories, despite escaping for the second time in a row what could have been humiliation by Liverpool at the weekend.
And teen Willy Kambwala revealed his “passion” is to become a rock at the heart of United’s defence after making just his second start of the season against their bitter rivals.
United trailed 1-0 at half-time on Sunday but fought back to take a 2-1 lead before Mo Salah’s 84th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot.
Ten Hag was pleased with the second-half performance, declaring it “another signal and message for the future,” before adding, “the team and squad have high potential.”
Yet the Old Trafford chief sounds more and more like he has his finger stuck in a leaky dyke and does not think it is going to hold.
Comeback or not, United still threw away a lead for the third time in eight days following their 4-3 defeat to Chelsea and 1-1 draw with Brentford — both deep into injury time.
And his body language suggests he expects to be crossing it to go back to Holland with his P45 this summer
Click here to read Ken Lawrence's comment piece in full.
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