Goal of the season – Erik ten Hag hails Alejandro Garnacho for brilliant strike

Manchester United’s manager Erik Ten Hag hailed Alejandro Garnacho after he scored a stunner against Everton. Manchester United’s defender Diogo Dalot dropped the cross, youngster Alejandro Garnacho oozed a great piece of gymnasium as he netted the goal with a brilliant bicycle kick to leave everyone flabbergasted.

Marcus Rashford scored from the spot-kick in the 56th minute whereas Anthony Martial scored in the 75th minute to give a thumping 3-0 win against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.

“Probably goal of the season. Also the build-up, not just the finish, was very good. The finish is fantastic,” he told Sky Sports. “After the start of the game we were too easy-going. I criticised the team at half-time. They thought they were already there. You can’t do that. You have to do 100 minutes on the pitch. Second half we did very well.”

Ten Hag doesn’t want Garnacho’s goal to be compared with Rooney and Ronaldo’s goal.

“Don’t compare, I don’t think it’s right,” said Ten Hag when the Rooney and Ronaldo comparison was put to him. “They all have their own identity. For Garnacho to go that way he has to work very hard and do it on a consistent basis. So far he has not, but he definitely has high potential to do some amazing things.

“It is not the first time we see this, we see often glimpses, but if you want to be a player like Rooney or Ronaldo you have to score 20, 25 goals in the Premier League. It’s not easy to get, you have to work very hard and go in ways where it hurts. A lot to come but he has potential.”

Argentina international Garnacho was delighted with his effort, saying: “I cannot believe it. To be honest I just turned around and thought ‘oh my god’. One of the best I have scored – I am happy.”

Asked if he will win the award for best goal in 2023-24, he said: “Probably! It is still November, but yes.”

At 19 years and 148 days, Alejandro Garnacho is the youngest Manchester United player to score against Everton at Goodison Park in the Premier League, surpassing Wayne Rooney.

Meanwhile, Manchester United will next take on Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday. Ten Hag’s team are bottom of Group A and they will look to continue the winning impetus.