Alejandro Garnacho and the Copenhagen Controversy: An Unpleasant Exchange
Copenhagen’s discontent with Alejandro Garnacho lingers after an unfortunate encounter between the two sides. This time, Garnacho’s actions further fanned the flames of frustration.
During the first encounter at Old Trafford, Garnacho drew the ire of Copenhagen’s players when he was observed tampering with the penalty spot before Jordan Larsson’s late spot-kick attempt, which ultimately went wide.
This unsportsmanlike act was met with criticism from Copenhagen’s manager, Jacob Neestrup, who deemed it deserving of a red card.
Now, Garnacho faces fresh accusations of attempting a similar act in the rematch against Copenhagen, just before their spot-kick opportunity.
Copenhagen’s Slovakian defender, Denis Vavro, did not take kindly to Garnacho’s actions. He expressed his displeasure, stating, “I saw that he tried to do something about the penalty kick, but Kevin Diks stood in front and blocked.”
This marked the second occurrence, and it was not appreciated by Vavro. He went on to describe Garnacho as a “clown” and criticized his mentality for trying such a stunt, especially during an away game and in the first half.
Alejandro Garnacho’s antics also didn’t sit well with Copenhagen’s 30-year-old midfielder, Lukas Lerager. He revealed a tense exchange with the Manchester United forward during the second half, asserting that players from big clubs need to show humility.
Lerager recounted the situation where he dispossessed Garnacho and voiced some not-so-nice words to him but still maintained respect for him as a person. He believed that Garnacho needed a reminder that even players from prominent clubs are human.
While a bit of gamesmanship can occasionally have an impact, it can take on a different complexion when a team loses. For Manchester United, this encounter was another challenging experience, especially for the young talent Alejandro Garnacho.
Garnacho’s mood was evidently somber at the final whistle, symbolized by him slumping to the ground. Just twenty minutes earlier, he had been celebrating with a “shush” gesture aimed at the Danish fans after Bruno Fernandes put Manchester United 3-2 ahead.
However, their inability to hold on to the lead resulted in another late defeat, adding to the season’s difficulties.