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Although Manchester United endured a turbulent season, there is a silver lining, that is, numerous young talents who left their mark on the field. One of the rising stars who has certainly shown his potential is winger Alejandro Garnacho.
The past few weeks have proved difficult for the teenager, who struggled to make a positive impact during last night’s 3-2 win over Newcastle United.
Still, it was an overall positive season for the 19-year-old, who showed why he deserves a place in Erik ten Haag’s starting XI. With nine goals and five assists in all competitions, Garnacho played a vital role in several key matches to lead Man United to victory.
Despite a slow start to the season, Garnacho’s first goal of the current Premier League campaign was one to remember, a stunning overhead kick that led United to a 3-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park.
He scored twice to earn United a 3-2 last-gasp win over Aston Villa, while he also scored twice in a 3-0 defeat of West Ham United at Old Trafford.
Arguably Garnach’s most important goal contribution this season was his assist in United’s 4-3 extra-time win against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Now, United will face bitter rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25.
But while the Argentine has certainly proven his worth by popping up on the goals and assists list, his underlying stats are perhaps even more impressive.
With just one match to go, Garnacho sits atop the Opta Analyst Premier League table by several metrics.
Garnacho emerged as the top player in Opta Analyst’s carry rankings, which describe how productive a player is when making carries. This is where a player retains possession and moves the ball five meters or more.
Despite only making 19 carries per 90 minutes – which puts him quite far down the list – Garnacho is the most successful carrier in the Premier League when it comes to the end product he delivers.
46% of Garnacho’s carries end in a shot, making him the best player in this metric. This shows just how good the Argentinian is at keeping the ball and not triggering – even surpassing Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah.
Garnacho is also the best player in the Premier League when it comes to overall chance at 69%. This measure includes shots, key passes and any goals and assists.
On the sidelines, the Argentine has proven to be one of the league’s most productive attacking stars.
Garnacho ranks 13th in total offensive contribution at 5.07. This metric combines non-penalty shots and chances created from open play. Among the players Garnacho has beaten so far are Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Son Heung-Min and even United captain Bruno Fernandes.
Ultimately, these stats show just how productive Garnacho has been this season, constantly pressuring opposing defenses in search of a goal or at least an assist. While his form may have dipped recently, he has undoubtedly proven to be one of United’s best attacking assets this season. With the right management, United have a clinical striker on their hands heading into next season.
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