“You aren’t Ronaldo, so you need to stop overestimating play with your teammates. If you continue this style of football, I’ll have to drop you to the bench” – Ruben Amorim Blows Hot on Manchester United’s Inexperienced Star After Costly Mistakes Against Nottingham Forest

Manchester United’s head coach, Ruben Amorim, has openly expressed his frustration with young Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho following his underwhelming performance in United’s shocking defeat to Nottingham Forest. The Portuguese manager did not hold back in his post-match assessment, pointing out Garnacho’s overconfident style of play, which he believes cost the Red Devils an easy win.

United’s visit to the City Ground ended in disappointment as former player Anthony Elanga haunted his old club with a dazzling solo goal just five minutes into the game. The Swedish forward sprinted nearly the length of the pitch before clinically slotting the ball past Andre Onana, securing a narrow but crucial 1-0 victory for Forest.

Despite United dominating possession and creating multiple half-chances, their lack of efficiency in the final third proved costly. Garnacho, who played the entire match, struggled to make an impact, often losing possession in promising situations and failing to provide a decisive moment for his team.

Frustration was evident on the 20-year-old’s face at full-time as he walked off the pitch with his head down. However, his disappointment was further compounded by post-match criticism from both the media and his own manager.

Respected journalist Samuel Luckhurst from the Manchester Evening News did not mince words in his evaluation, giving Garnacho the lowest rating of any United player on the night. He pointed out the youngster’s immaturity, particularly for picking up an unnecessary yellow card for petulantly kicking the ball away in frustration.

Amorim, while acknowledging Garnacho’s effort, made it clear that the young winger must refine his game if he wants to maintain a starting spot in the lineup.

“He is doing everything he can. He’s trying. But sometimes, the confidence needs to be controlled,” Amorim said in his post-match interview. “There are days when you make the right decisions, but things don’t work out in the final third—that happens. However, when a player starts making the game harder for his teammates instead of helping them, that becomes a problem.”

The manager also hinted at the possibility of dropping Garnacho to the bench if his decision-making does not improve.

“You aren’t Cristiano Ronaldo, so you need to stop overestimating play with your teammates. If you continue this style of football, I’ll have to drop you to the bench,” he reportedly told the youngster during a private team talk.

Despite his concerns, Amorim did recognize one positive aspect of Garnacho’s game: his work rate in defensive transitions.

“The most important thing for me is that when he needs to track back, he does. That is non-negotiable,” Amorim stated.

However, the overall impression remains that Garnacho has yet to fully convince his new manager. Under previous head coach Erik ten Hag, the Argentine was a key figure in the squad, often providing moments of brilliance. But Amorim, who is known for his tactical discipline and structured play, has been less lenient with individualistic performances.

Earlier in the season, Garnacho found himself benched as Amorim favored a more balanced approach to his attacking setup. An injury to Amad Diallo allowed him to regain a spot in the starting eleven, but performances like the one against Nottingham Forest could put his place in jeopardy once again.

Speculation is also mounting regarding Garnacho’s long-term future at Old Trafford. Reports from Italy suggest that Napoli is monitoring the situation closely and could attempt to lure the youngster away from Manchester in the summer.

The defeat to Nottingham Forest has left Manchester United reeling, and Amorim will now have to find a way to lift his squad ahead of their next fixture. With growing scrutiny on the team and increasing doubts over some players’ ability to deliver at the highest level, the manager’s patience is wearing thin.

Garnacho, on the other hand, faces a crucial period in his young career. If he is to remain a regular starter under Amorim, he must learn to balance confidence with composure, refine his decision-making, and prove that he can be trusted in key moments. Otherwise, his spot in the lineup—and possibly at the club itself—could be at risk.

With United still fighting on multiple fronts this season, all eyes will be on how Amorim manages this situation. Will he give Garnacho another chance to prove himself, or will he look towards other options? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the young winger has been put on notice.