Erik ten Hag warns Man Utd star what he must do to become ‘world class’

Erik ten Hag is confident Alejandro Garnacho has the ‘X-factor’ required to become a world class player but warns the Manchester United star still ‘has a long way to go’.

Garnacho enjoyed a fine 2023-24 campaign as he established himself as a key first-team player, scoring the goal of the season against Everton and getting on the score sheet in the FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City.

After a Copa America campaign with Argentina, the 20-year-old was among those late back to training this summer after an extended break, starting the Community Shield against City on the bench before coming onto score.

Garnacho is pushing for a start against Brighton on Saturday, having got the assist for Joshua Zirkzee’s winner against Fulham in the league opener last week.

Asked what he needs to do to go the next level and show he is a world-class player, ten Hag told a press conference on Friday: ‘Ah, you are going very quickly. World-class player, then he has to go a long way.

‘He has high potential, 100 per cent. He showed last season he can contribute, he can be a starting XI player.

‘But to make the jump to become a world-class player, a long way to go and it starts with very hard work.

‘That brought him where he is now and that will bring him to that world-class player because – and that is where I agree – he has the potential (to become).’

Garnacho has scored 16 goals in 87 appearances for the senior side with only Rasmus Hojlund and Bruno Fernandes outscoring him last season. Ten Hag went onto challenge Garnacho to find further consistency to his game.

‘I agree we need but I think every club in the top needs players with, let’s say, the X factor,” Ten Hag said.

‘We already have seen on occasions that he has shows this X factor, but also others in our squad already have shown it.

‘So, if you want to be that player where your colleague is talking about “world class” then you have to do it consistently.’