Rio Ferdinand and Roy Keane gave assessments of Alejandro Garnacho. (Image: Rio Ferdinand Presents / ITV.)
jumped to defence after claimed that ‘cannot trust’ the winger.
Garnacho has struggled for regular playing time since Amorim arrived at Old Trafford in November, with Keane claiming that .
He was left out of the starting line-up to face in Friday’s tie, before replacing new signing Patrick Dorgu at half-time, helping the Red Devils overturn a 1-0 deficit.
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“I think it suits him when he comes off the bench,” Keane said during coverage of the match. “I don’t think you can trust him when he starts.
“When he comes on and the game is stretched, that’s when he comes into his own. They put Leicester on the back foot and the subs made an impact. That’s what Garnacho does well.”
But Ferdinand has disagreed with Keane and claimed that Garnacho’s on-ball personality is a trait that Amorim needs to capture and replicate elsewhere in his squad.
Speaking on his show, the former United defender said: “I don’t think his [Garnacho] stats are unbelievable this season but in terms of impacting the game and putting the other team on the back foot, he is probably one of the only players who does it in our team.
Alejandro Garnacho’s place at Manchester United has been debated. (Image: Getty)
“You look at him and say his game isn’t 100 per cent clean but that can be developed. But he doesn’t lack effort, he doesn’t lack energy. He’s got a pair of b******s that says he wants the ball, he will take the ball anywhere.
“He has got that belief and character that says I should be here and I should be playing. Give me the ball at all times’.
“And in the situation we are in now where there are a lot of players shying away from the ball when the team aren’t doing well, he stands out like a sore form in that respect.”
The former defender compared Garnacho to Nani, who won 12 major honours at United between 2007 and 2013, and insisted that the 20-year-old’s decision-making will improve with time.
Rio reacts to Roy Keane?s Garnacho comment, and says the teammate he shares characteristics with Join @Rio Ferdinand, @Stephen Howson ???????????? and @Joel Beya for a brand new Rio Presents episode! ?????? Man Utd?s FA Cup win ??????️???️ Dorgu?s fitness coach ?????? Sancho?s ?freedom? comment ?????? Cristiano Ronaldo at 40 + Plenty more discussed! ?????? Click the link in bio to catch the FULL episode with Rio Ferdinand, Ste Howson and Joel Beya! ?????? Rio Ferdinand is joined by Stephen Howson and Joel Beya to review Man Utd?s victory over Leicester. Why do players like Sancho, McTominay and Antony feel more ?freedom? after leaving the club? Rio suggests a way to relieve pressure on the squad – could the same be true for Marcus Rashford at Aston Villa? New signing Patrick Dorgu?s specialist coach joins us and reveals why the defender?s mentality and fitness are elite and there?s a debate about Roy Keane?s comments about not being able to ?trust? Alejandro Garnacho. After Cristiano Ronaldo turned 40, the trio claim that he is still being disrespected and discuss why they believe he is the most complete football player in the history of the game.
“He reminds me of Nani,” Ferdinand added. “One of the frustrations is he would get to it [the ball] and make the wrong decision or he would get to it and his execution wouldn’t be clean.
“But these players grow into that when given the time. Comments like that when you say he can’t be trusted… that’s a big comment for a young kid.
“I understand Roy might believe that but when you look at alternatives… If there were loads more options I would understand it but there is nothing else there that offers what he does and it is a hard one to understand.”