Game of Numbers #38 – Alejandro Garnacho’s intensity & awareness

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It’s amazing to think that Alejandro Garnacho is only 19 years of age. Sometimes, you can see the rawness in his game. The facets that still need to be carefully developed. But as he ages, let’s hope he never loses his tenacity. His hunger for more. His appetite to win at all costs, even when no one else is pulling their weight. He might not have the soaring high stats to back this up, but I truly believe Alejandro Garnacho is one of the players of this season in the Premier League. That’s promising for United, who so desperately need something to cling onto for the future. Here is Game of Numbers #38, including what makes Alejandro Garnacho one of the best young players in the Prem.

INTENSITY & AWARENESS

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Alejandro Garnacho plays at a different level of intensity than his counterparts. He’s always asking for more. Always anticipating the moment. Always ready for something to go wrong so that he can sweep up the mess and take advantage. He’s always hungry to exploit the opposition.

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This is something that any young player can take away from watching the United man. It takes a different level of motivation. A different level of wiring in the brain. Most young players at any age don’t have that extra edge. They don’t have the alarm bells sounding at every moment. They wait for the moments to come to them. Not Garnacho.

Take United’s first goal in their 4-3 loss to Chelsea. Garnacho reads everything about this moment brilliantly. He reads Caicedo’s body positioning with the pass, shaping up to play to Benoît Badiashile. He reads Badiashile’s body too, expecting the pass to be played into the keeper. The United man simultaneously reads the pressure on Caicedo’s back from his teammate Antony, and knows the pass is about to be played. So he immediately springs into action.

And what happens? He not only anticipates, but intercepts the pass.

He then takes his first touch into space far enough away where Badiashile simply can’t catch him. Especially not with that outstanding pace.

Garnacho is lightning quick. He takes full advantage of any situation in front of goal. Seizes the moment. Scores. It’s 2-1. Game-on.

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One of the most impressive aspects to Garnacho’s game is this – as soon as he sees the space to sprint into, he springs into action faster than any defender can react. This goes for his on-the-ball prowess to his anticipation and awareness off-the-ball.

But it’s not only anticipation and awareness, but the actual physical capacity to beat just about anyone in a foot-race. This is what separates Garnacho apart from other wing wizards in the league, and how he managed to claw United back from that 2-0 deficit all the way into making the score 3-2 with twenty-minutes left to go.

But Garnacho is not just a player that excels with pace and power. He’s an incredibly intelligent footballer that has formed an excellent understanding with his teammates. This is why he’s become completely un-droppable for Erik Ten Hag.

INTELLIGENCE & CONTROL

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Alejandro Garnacho is now the essential piece to the puzzle for United. Lately, he’s been the key to unlocking the world-class brilliance in Bruno Fernandes. The key to unlocking Rasmus Højlund‘s form in front of goal.

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He’s even formed a wonderful partnership with Diogo Dalot, regardless of which side the two men play on the pitch. We all know and love that bicycle kick goal. That was the peak of the Dalot to Garnacho connection.

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But United’s second goal against Chelsea is an excellent example too. Dalot and Garnacho have that wondrous understanding of how to maneuver based on the positioning of the other. It’s not rocket science. It’s exactly what we’ve described for years in the partnership between wing and fullback. As the winger receives wide, the fullback has the opportunity to underlap in the half-spaces and create chances from the most optimal position on the pitch, closer to goal. As the fullback receives wide, the winger can do the same, often drawing players out of position for a cut-back into the box.

Against Chelsea, it’s the first option that happens, as the two-footed trickster takes a floating pass down from Antony with exceptional control. Dalot’s already prepared to take the next pass and put one into the box.

Dalot does so brilliantly, finding Fernandes at the back-post. But it’s all about Garnacho’s brilliant first-touch, and the way he shifts the defender. It should be obvious to everyone that Garnacho’s going to play the pass to Dalot. But still you don’t expect it. You know how dangerous the Argentine can be on the dribble. You know he loves to go on his own. So you’re half-expecting him to do exactly that. He’s more unselfish than you think.

After this connection, Bruno Fernandes heads the ball home. Suddenly it’s 2-2. We already know that Garnacho and his brilliant anticipation is what made the score 3-2. If they kept him on the pitch, United might have walked away with the victory. This is how much of a difference maker he can be to the Red Devils, even at 19 years of age.

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Of his 7 goals this season, Garnacho’s scored 3 with his right, 3 with his left, and 1 with his head. This shows a vast variety in the different ways that the Argentine can make his magic count for the Red Devils; and just one more reason why Erik Ten Hag has become so reliant on the 19-year-old for inspiration. The future is bright for Alejandro Garnacho, and at present moment, he remains United’s best hope for inspiring a fight for European football next season. Thanks for reading and see you soon!

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