Paul Scholes claims Garnacho got ‘big for his boots’ due to Messi

Erik ten Hag reviews Man Utd's win v West Ham

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Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has claimed that Red Devils’ starlet Alejandro Garnacho’s time spent on international duty with Lionel Messi may have made the teenager “too big for his boots” after Erik ten Hag’s side defeated Real Sociedad 1-0 in the Europa League. Despite the win, United finished second in the group behind the Spanish side and face a play-off to reach the next round of the competition.

Garnacho scored the only goal of the game in his second United start, but Scholes reacted to Bruno Fernandes’ comments after the game on the young Argentine. “He said that was pre-season,” Scholes told BT Sport. “So he was obviously a little bit big for his boots in the summer, maybe a little bit above his station.

“I think he went away with Argentina and played with Messi, so maybe he’s thought he’s coming back and ‘This is me, I am part of this team’. He’s a young lad, he is going to learn and we are going to see the benefits of that.”

Garnacho’s first-half goal came as he latched onto a through ball from Cristiano Ronaldo to finish well past Alex Remiro. United needed to win by a two-goal margin however to top the group, and could not find a second goal despite Ten Hag throwing Harry Maguire on up front alongside Ronaldo late in the game.

Fernandes alluded to some problems behind-the-scenes with Garnacho that halted his progress to the first team. “He did well tonight, but he knows we still expect a lot from him,” Fernandes said after the win over Sociedad.

“He did not start the best during pre-season and maybe did not have the attitude that he should have had, but he has changed that now and you can see that with his performances on the pitch.”

Garnacho impressed on the left wing even though United were unable to get the result they were looking for, and the young Argentinian left a big impression on ex-United midfielder Owen Hargreaves.

“We can go off the evidence that both times we have seen him play, he has been amazing, and credit to him,” Hargreaves said. “In the two games he has been the difference maker.”

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