Former Manchester United captain, Roy Keane, has recently expressed his displeasure at Red Devils winger Alejandro Garnacho for his subdued goal celebration. This comes in the wake of the young player's frustrations towards fans who have criticized him.
Keane suggested that if Garnacho can't bring himself to celebrate goals for Manchester United, he should consider finding employment elsewhere. The comment was made following United's 3-0 victory over Leicester in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s last match as manager on Sunday.
Garnacho scored during this game, coming off the bench to curl in an impressive effort in the 82nd minute. However, his reaction was noticeably low-key which drew attention and criticism from Keane.
Bruno Fernandes reveals Garnacho's frustrations
Bruno Fernandes, captain of Manchester United revealed post-game that Garnacho believes he has lost the support of Red Devils fans. This revelation adds context to why the Argentine winger might have chosen not to celebrate his goal with enthusiasm.
Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United captain, said:
“I told him people will always moan but lots of people like you and enjoy what you do, I told him to celebrate, it was something special.”
Keane calls for respect towards fans
Keane voiced his opinion on this matter during an episode of Stick to Football podcast by Sky Bet. He argued that players should respect fans who travel distances to watch them play and show their support. If a player can't at least celebrate when they score a goal then they should consider leaving the club according to him.
Roy Keane, Manchester United legend, said:
“If you can’t celebrate a goal, there is something drastically wrong with this game. Whatever has gone on off the pitch for any player – it could be family stuff – you work all week, you’re playing the game to score a goal. When you score a goal, there should be nothing else on your mind. You’ve got fans who have travelled, paid fortunes to get there, and he’s [ Garnacho] on about people having a go at him.”
“People make sacrifices to travel to watch Manchester United, he scores a brilliant goal, they are having a tough time – and if a younger player can’t enjoy scoring a goal for Man United, then get a job somewhere else.”
Ian Wright vs Roy Keane on Garnacho situation
Ian Wright offered a contrasting view resulting in a heated debate between him and Keane on this issue. Unlike Keane, Wright showed more understanding towards Garnacho’s actions arguing that there could be valid reasons behind it.
Ian Wright, Arsenal legend, said:
“For a 20-year-old, he’s still going through the journey of what he’s doing. That [fans’ criticism] affected him to the point where he didn’t celebrate. That’s how much it affected him. He scored a great goal, but he’s worried about that. It’s the saddest thing in the world when someone scores and they don’t celebrate because of something that has happened. He’s probably playing in anger. He can’t not think about it.”
While some like Roy Keane believe players owe it to their fans and clubs to show enthusiasm when they score goals regardless of personal issues, others like Ian Wright believe that players are human too and their actions might be influenced by personal feelings or situations. This incident has sparked a debate among sports fans and pundits alike, shedding light on the pressures faced by young players in the world of professional football.
