Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has said he will speak with Alejandro Garnacho after the winger walked straight to the dressing room upon being substituted in the first half of United’s 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Amorim made the tactical decision to replace Garnacho with defender Noussair Mazraoui in the 43rd minute, shortly after Ipswich’s Patrick Dorgu was sent off. However, rather than taking a seat on the bench, the 20-year-old Argentine walked down the touchline and disappeared into the dressing room.
It remains unclear whether Garnacho returned for the second half, though Amorim has indicated that he intends to address the matter with the young attacker.
“I am going to talk with Garnacho about that,” the United manager said post-match.
The incident comes months after Garnacho was dropped from the squad for December’s Manchester derby against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, alongside Marcus Rashford, due in part to concerns over his attitude and performances in training.
Rashford has since fallen out of favour entirely and was loaned to Aston Villa in January. Garnacho, in contrast, was swiftly reinstated to the first-team setup and has remained a key figure under Amorim.
Despite the apparent similarities in disciplinary concerns, Amorim dismissed the notion of any connection between Garnacho’s actions on Wednesday and Rashford’s previous issues.
“You are making a connection with Rashford,” Amorim said. “It was cold and wet.”
Tactical Shift After Red Card
United were forced into an early reshuffle following Dorgu’s red card, with Amorim opting to adjust his formation to a more defensively solid setup. Garnacho, who thrives in attacking one-on-one situations, was the player sacrificed in favour of maintaining the team’s overall shape.
“The thinking was that we would play 5-3-1,” Amorim explained. “That is a risk because he [Garnacho] is the one who can play one-v-one in pace. We had to choose someone to go out. It was my choice.”
Despite the enforced changes, United managed to secure a narrow victory, with key contributions from their attacking players ensuring they held off Ipswich’s late push.
Garnacho’s Future Under Amorim
Garnacho has been a regular under Amorim since the Portuguese coach took charge, but his reaction to being substituted may raise questions about his maturity and temperament. Amorim’s decision to personally address the issue suggests that the club is keen to avoid any potential disruption to squad harmony.
With United still in contention for a top-four finish and competing in European football, the young Argentine remains an important figure in their attacking setup. However, how he responds to Amorim’s conversation could determine whether he maintains his status as a first-choice option in the weeks ahead.
United’s next fixture sees them take on Wolves, and all eyes will be on Amorim’s lineup to see whether Garnacho retains his starting place—or if his early exit against Ipswich has any immediate consequences.
