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Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney has criticized Alejandro Garnacho for his subdued reaction after scoring in Manchester United’s 3-0 victory over Leicester City.
Despite netting a stunning goal, the 20-year-old Argentine refrained from celebrating.
Unimpressed by Garnacho’s response, Deeney suggested that the young winger’s sensitivity to criticism points to a worrying trend in player mentality.
Garnacho scored a remarkable goal, rounding off the team’s performance in interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy’s final game.
He refrained from celebrating his goal, a decision that led to a post-match discussion with teammate Bruno Fernandes.
After the game, Fernandes revealed that Garnacho’s muted celebration was due to feeling unsupported by certain sections of the club’s fanbase.
This came shortly after an incident in which a fan criticized the young Argentine outside Old Trafford. Despite Fernandes’ encouragement, the 20-year-old winger’s reaction drew criticism from football pundits.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Troy Deeney criticized Garnacho’s reaction, suggesting that players today are overly sensitive to criticism.
According to Deeney, the lack of a celebratory response showed that the winger might be taking negative feedback to heart too easily.
Deeney highlighted the pressures of playing for a top club, stating, “If he’s getting affected by that… I don’t think this football game is for you, big man.”
Simon Jordan echoed these sentiments on his show, “White & Jordan,” where he interpreted Garnacho’s behaviour as indicative of a wider mentality issue at Manchester United.
Jordan expressed frustration, remarking, “What you saw on the weekend was the absolute embodiment of the culture of Man United,” implying that an inability to handle criticism could undermine the squad’s overall mentality.
Whether Garnacho will be able to adapt and grow from these experiences remains to be seen as he works to regain the full support of the club’s fanbase.