Erik ten Hag says Alejandro Garnacho can do “amazing things” in his career but insists he has a long way to go before he can be compared to the likes of Wayne Rooney.
Garnacho’s wonder-goal set United on the way to a 3-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park, the first game the Toffees have played since they were handed a ten-point deduction after being charged by the Premier League with breaking financial rules.
The Argentinian winger’s acrobatic effort in the third minute silenced the home crowd before goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial ensured United picked up a fifth win in six Premier League games.
Rooney and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo scored similar goals while playing for United but ten Hag insists it is too early to draw comparisons between those two and Garnacho.
“Don’t compare, I don’t think it’s right,” ten Hag said.
“They all have their own identity. For Garnacho to go that way he has to work very hard and do it on a consistent basis. So far he has not, but he definitely has high potential to do some amazing things.
“It is not the first time we see this, we see often glimpses, but if you want to be a player like Rooney or Ronaldo you have to score 20, 25 goals in the Premier League.
“It’s not easy to get, you have to work very hard and go in ways where it hurts. A lot to come but he has potential.
“There’s many games still to play but probably it’s already, maybe, the goal of the season.
“It was not only the finish, but the total, from the back to the end, but of course the finish is incredible.”
