GARNACHO’S GLORIOUS GOAL NOT ENOUGH! Manchester United’s Substitute Blunder Costs Them the Community Shield!

Alejandro Garnacho made a strong statement at Wembley, where he returned to the bench for Manchester United for the first time since October. However, it’s unlikely he’ll be on the bench again for the match against Fulham next week.

The last time Garnacho was listed as a substitute by Erik ten Hag was also against Manchester City. In this latest encounter, 11 weeks after the FA Cup final, Garnacho once again showcased his attacking threat against the champions.

Opening the scoring at Wembley, Garnacho picked up right where he left off last season. Despite United’s lack of an established striker, Ten Hag has plenty of attacking options, and Garnacho is expected to be back in the starting lineup on Friday.

His goal in this derby was vastly different from his previous tap-in last season. Garnacho’s solo effort was particularly impressive as he received the ball on the right flank, typically considered his weaker side. It was from this position that he capitalized on a City error earlier in the year.

Unlike in May, this game wasn’t decided in 90 minutes. United’s tendency to concede late goals continued when Bernardo Silva slipped past Facundo Pellistri to equalize in the 89th minute. Garnacho was called upon again during the penalty shootout and confidently placed his shot in the opposite corner.

Despite City’s boasts of being “the best team in the land and all the world,” their 2023 sweep of honors wasn’t entirely flawless, as they missed out on the Community Shield for the third consecutive year. However, they finally reclaimed the trophy in 2024.

United fielded a weaker team than they did in their last derby at Wembley. Joshua Zirkzee, the only summer signing in the squad, remained on the bench, though more reinforcements, including Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, are expected at Carrington soon.

Seven of United’s starters were part of the U.S. tour. Mason Mount and Marcus Rashford, who had been dynamic during the tour, failed to make a significant impact this time around.

Mount played as the No.10 with Bruno Fernandes deployed as a false nine. Fernandes reminded Ten Hag of his playmaking prowess, unleashing a spectacular strike that was disallowed for offside.

Rashford missed two clear chances, the second from a sharp Garnacho cross. The miss was so glaring that Ruud van Nistelrooy stepped out to the touchline to applaud and encourage him.

This match was a far cry from the end of last season, as seen in the empty seats in the hospitality section near the dugouts. Fernandes even paused his press on Ederson when he realized he had no backup. The first booking didn’t come until the 68th minute.

As ever, Fernandes was vocal, offering guidance to Kobbie Mainoo. Mount, after a tentative start, connected with Amad, who showed frustration when he didn’t receive the ball on diagonal passes.

When Amad finally got possession, he outmaneuvered Josko Gvardiol, drawing applause from Ten Hag. Shortly after, Amad created a promising chance with a slick one-two with Casemiro but chose to pass to Mount when he should have taken the shot himself. The pass was off, leaving Amad tangled in the side netting.

Casemiro’s presence in the lineup was somewhat surprising, considering he was benched in May. The 32-year-old has evolved into a more offensive-minded midfielder for United, creating opportunities for Amad and Rashford.

Seventeen-year-old Harry Amass, who seemed a likely starter, had to watch from the stands as the only outfield player cut from the matchday squad. He was, however, allowed to warm up with the listed substitutes to gain experience at the national stadium.

The decision to omit Amass was puzzling, given United didn’t have a single defender on the bench and already have five injured defenders. Pellistri, who returned from a loan spell at Granada and was considered surplus to requirements, only reported to Carrington on Monday and was assigned a spot on the bench.

Pellistri was one of the first substitutes to come on, slotting in at right-back. However, he struggled, allowing Bernardo to score the equalizer.

Toby Collyer, United’s 251st academy debutant, was introduced for the final 30 minutes. The 20-year-old was as industrious and eager as he had been in the United States, earning applause from the fans after two proactive passes.

Jadon Sancho’s notable omission from the starting XI raises questions about his future at the club. His situation at Carrington will be closely monitored, as Ten Hag appears reluctant to keep the inconsistent winger beyond the transfer window.

New signing Zirkzee, a true striker, had to make way for Sancho when he was brought on in the 83rd minute. In a moment reminiscent of his miss in the Euro 2021 final, Sancho was once again unsuccessful in a shootout, this time at the same end of the stadium.

City fans taunted United with chants of “You cheating b******s” as the teams emerged. Both sets of supporters occupied the same ends as they did for the FA Cup final, with anodyne club-approved banners in place.

United’s new chief executive, Omar Berrada, was met with boos from discerning City fans when he appeared on the big screen. Meanwhile, the United faithful welcomed Van Nistelrooy with loud cheers, and his iconic chant echoed through the stadium.

Van Nistelrooy was Ten Hag’s most prominent advisor during the match, while set-piece coach Andreas Georgson joined the United manager in the technical area during dead-ball situations. Ultimately, the match was decided by penalties, with City winning 7-6 in the shootout after Jonny Evans nearly endangered spectators with his attempt.

At least Garnacho found the back of the net.