Alejandro Garnacho’s frustration at being substituted against Ipswich Town may have made headlines, but Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has downplayed the incident with a lighthearted twist. The 20-year-old winger will now foot the bill for a team dinner as a lesson in professionalism after his reaction to being withdrawn in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory at Old Trafford.
Garnacho was taken off in the first half after Ipswich’s Patrick Dorgu was sent off, with Amorim opting to bring on Noussair Mazraoui to maintain his defensive setup. Clearly displeased, the Argentine walked straight down the tunnel rather than taking his place on the bench. He later posted an Instagram story of himself heading off the pitch, fueling speculation over his attitude.
Amorim, however, dismissed concerns, revealing that Garnacho had approached him the following day to explain himself. “He went to the dressing room, changed because he was wet, watched the game, and then left,” Amorim said. “There’s no issue.” He emphasized that young players must learn from these moments, adding, “At Manchester United, perception is important. He understands that now, so he’s paying for dinner.”
The Portuguese coach cited a similar incident involving Joshua Zirkzee earlier in the season, stressing that emotions run high in competitive environments. “They’re frustrated, they want to play, and sometimes it’s hard to control,” Amorim explained. “But they have to learn to deal with everything.”
United’s win lifted them to 14th in the Premier League. They now face Fulham in the FA Cup before a crucial Europa League tie at Real Sociedad and a showdown with Arsenal. Garnacho, lesson learned, will hope his next big moment comes on the pitch and not at the dinner table.
