“I was always against those calling Erik ten Hag inexperienced coach but what he did yesterday really shows they were right…You can’t keep benching your BEST player and expect miracle to happen”: Man United hero slams Erik ten Hag for benching Starlet against Brighton yesterday
Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has raised concerns over Erik ten Hag’s decision to bench Alejandro Garnacho during their 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday.
Manchester United, under Ten Hag’s leadership, had a strong 2022/23 season. The Dutch manager guided the team to the FA Cup final, secured a League Cup victory, and achieved a top-four finish in the Premier League, signaling a positive start to his tenure. However, the previous Premier League season saw the Red Devils struggle, finishing in an uncharacteristic eighth place—their lowest since the league’s inception in 1992. Despite their poor league performance, United defied expectations by clinching the FA Cup.
Throughout a season where Ten Hag’s job security seemed to hang by a thread, the support from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS was unwavering. They chose to back him as the figurehead for their ambitious plans to rejuvenate Old Trafford.
Alejandro Garnacho, a player who played a pivotal role for Ten Hag, especially in the previous campaign, was surprisingly left out of the starting lineup against Brighton. Ferdinand expressed his astonishment at this decision, particularly given Garnacho’s significant contributions. Speaking on TNT Sports, Ferdinand said, “I look at him and wonder why he’s not starting. I believe he’s been our best and most dynamic player. If I were the opposition, I’d be relieved not to see him on the pitch.”
The match also saw former United player Danny Welbeck score for Brighton, further compounding the disappointment for United fans. Ferdinand reflected on United’s decision to let Welbeck leave the club in 2014, a move he still finds perplexing. When asked about Welbeck’s abilities, Ferdinand responded, “Nothing surprises me about Danny Welbeck. I watched him grow up at Manchester United, and he was always a tremendous talent. I was shocked when the club decided to let him go, as I believed he brought immense value—not just on the field, but also within the club as a former academy graduate.”
Ferdinand went on to highlight how Welbeck is often more respected by those who’ve played against him than by fans who may not fully appreciate his quality. He described Welbeck as a true professional and lamented the loss of such players from Manchester United’s squad. “We’ve seen players like Welbeck and Jonny Evans leave United and go on to have successful Premier League careers. I think they would have been invaluable at United. This is partly why the club has struggled for so long. Danny Welbeck is a fantastic player,” Ferdinand added.
After the defeat, Ten Hag reflected on his team’s performance, noting both positives and areas for improvement. “In our build-up play, possession, and defensive organization, there were some good moments,” Ten Hag told reporters. “However, particularly in the second half, we needed to exert more control. There were many positives to take from the performance, but we need to be more clinical in both penalty areas and show greater aggression.”
This assessment by Ten Hag underscores the challenges ahead as he works to restore Manchester United to their former glory, with players like Garnacho and Welbeck representing both the potential and the missed opportunities of the club’s recent past.
