Erik ten Hag’s response to Alejandro Garnacho’s cunning manoeuvre as Manchester United gained a vital victory

In order to secure all three points against Copenhagen, Manchester United required Andre Onana to save an injury time penalty, with Alejandro Garnacho also contributing.

Alejandro Garnacho did everything in his power to support Andre Onana’s efforts to save a penalty kick as Manchester United won three straight games in the Champions League this year.

At Old Trafford, Copenhagen had a late opportunity to stop them when they were given a spot kick four minutes into injury time. If Onana hadn’t made a great save in the dying moments, the Danes would have only received a point from Old Trafford, but only after Garnacho had tried everything to tamper with the penalty spot.

The young Argentine approached the area and repeatedly sank his boots into the ground in an attempt to make Jordan Larsson’s task that much harder—and so it proved—while the players argued with the referee.

With Onana the late hero, it meant that Harry Maguire’s header in the second half would ultimately be the game’s winner. Despite receiving criticism this season, both men excelled in Manchester as the team overcame losses to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.

David de Gea was moved in the summer transfer window when Erik ten Hag decided to spend just under £50 million to buy Onana. However, the Cameroon international has since made a number of noteworthy mistakes, casting doubt on the deal. But the Dutchman hasn’t given up on his new recruit, and Tuesday night, he showed that faith again.

“I am aware of his excellence and his skill set,” he declared. Every game at United requires you to play with the proper focus and attitude. If he does, he will execute. It’s crucial, in my opinion, for him. He received some criticism, of course, but he now saves the points for the boys; the save he made right after halftime was outstanding.

“You can see this team is growing, we have a lot of setbacks as a team but, in the dressing room, we deal with it and, slowly, we are coming forward.”

Next up for United is a match against Copenhagen in the Danish capital, followed by a scary trip to Turkey and a match against Bayern. Ten Hag has made it apparent that his team needs to win by at least six points in order to advance to the Champions League knockout stages, which they have only done once in the previous four seasons.

“We have to go from game to game,” he stated. We’ve seen today that there are no simple games. Copenhagen played with organisation and skill. You won’t get very far against them if you don’t play your levels in the upcoming game. You must gather points in order to advance. We have another chance in the following game if we can win two more games.”