Erik ten Hag plays down Ronaldo and Rooney comparisons for new hero Alejandro Garnacho

Some Man Utd fans have compared Alejandro Garnacho to Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo after the teenager scored a worldy of a bicycle kick - but Erik ten Hag has warned against such comparisons

Posted Monday, November 27, 2023 by Dailystar.co.uk

Erik ten Hag hailed Alejandro Garnacho's wonder strike as the goal of the season.

But the Manchester United boss warned off comparing the talented teenager to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney just yet. Garnacho, 19, scored a jaw-dropping overhead kick as United beat Everton at Goodison Park yesterday.

Ten Hag said: "In the season, there are still many games to play but maybe already the goal of the season. Not only the finish, it was the back to the end but the finish was incredible."

The Dutchman was then asked to compare Garnacho being potentially as good as former United greats Ronaldo and Rooney, who have also scored special overhead kicks in their careers. But he said: "Don't compare, I don't think it is right.

"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."

United got their second from the spot as out-of-form Marcus Rashford took penalty duties from Bruno Fernandes to get just his second of the season after Ashley Young brought down Anthony Martial.

Ten Hag added: "You see also how great captain Bruno is. He assessed that his team-mate needed that goal.

"He has the confidence in Rashy, who is a good penalty taker. As a team you need that leadership that you back each other."

Martial got the third with 15 minutes to go to finish off the game as United moved four points off the Champions League places. Everton boss Dyche was left to rue the VAR intervention for the penalty after referee John Brooks had initially booked Martial for diving before reviewing it on screen.

He said: "The screen thing is a farce, everyone is talking about speeding the game up and they go over to the screen and we all know what the outcome is."