Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has confirmed he will speak with Alejandro Garnacho after the winger stormed down the tunnel following his first-half substitution in United’s 3-2 win over Ipswich.
Garnacho’s Frustration Sparks Debate
The Argentine was taken off in the 44th minute as Amorim reacted to Patrick Dorgu’s red card. Garnacho’s replacement, Noussair Mazraoui, came on to help United adjust their tactics, but the decision didn’t sit well with the young forward—or the fans at Old Trafford. Boos echoed around the stadium as Garnacho headed straight to the dressing room instead of returning to the bench.
At the time of his substitution, United were leading 2-1. Though Ipswich equalized through Jaden Philogene in stoppage time, Harry Maguire’s second-half header secured all three points. However, the post-match conversation revolved around Garnacho’s reaction rather than the victory.
Amorim: “I’ll Talk to Him”
When asked about Garnacho’s reaction, Amorim dismissed comparisons to Marcus Rashford, who was recently loaned to Aston Villa after falling out of favor.
“You’re making a connection with Rashford, right?”
Amorim responded.
“I know, I know. What I’m saying is that I’m obviously going to talk with Garnacho about that. If you want, I’ll discuss it in the next press conference.”
Regarding the decision to take Garnacho off, Amorim explained the tactical reasoning.
“We switched to a 5-3-1 setup, which meant sacrificing someone,” he said. “I know it was a risk because Garnacho is one of the few players with that one-on-one explosiveness. But the team was in control, and we had to consider set-pieces as well. It was my choice.”
This isn’t the first time Garnacho has faced a tough call from Amorim. He was previously dropped, along with Rashford, for the Manchester derby but later regained his manager’s trust.
Amorim Defends Dorgu After Costly Errors
The United boss also stood by Patrick Dorgu, despite the defender enduring a nightmare first half.
Dorgu’s miscommunication with Andre Onana led to Ipswich’s opening goal just four minutes in. Things went from bad to worse when he received a red card for a late challenge on Omari Hutchinson before halftime.
Despite this, Amorim refused to criticize the 20-year-old.
“I’m not frustrated today, We scored twice, and the red card changed the game. But the team fought, the fans backed us, and we deserved the win.”
As for Dorgu’s performance, Amorim insisted the young defender is ready for Premier League football.
“Any player can make mistakes like today. He was just trying to play the ball, but the tackle was a bit harsh. Last week, he was excellent. Today, people will say he lacks experience, but I don’t see it that way.”
What’s Next for Garnacho?
Garnacho’s emotional reaction will likely be addressed behind closed doors, but Amorim’s handling of the situation suggests he remains an important part of the squad. Whether the young winger sees it that way, however, remains to be seen.
