Alejandro Garnacho sends ‘strong’ message to Ayden Heaven after Man United debut
Alejandro Garnacho was among the Man United players who responded to Ayden Heaven’s message to fans after their latest Europa League win.
Man United recovered from a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in emphatic fashion, securing a dominant 4-1 victory in the second leg to seal their place in the quarter-finals.
Bruno Fernandes was exceptional as he bagged a hat-trick for the Red Devils, while Diogo Dalot also found the back of the net.
The captain’s two penalties on the night sparked some controversy, with ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett suggesting that Patrick Dorgu appeared to go down easily for United’s second penalty. Despite the debate, United’s attacking display was dominant.
Among the action, 18-year-old Heaven made his full debut, delivering an assured performance in front of the home fans. Following the win, Joshua Zirkzee directed a message of support to Heaven, but the young player also made his own post to address the supporters.
Ayden Heaven impresses with commanding debut for Ruben Amorim after stats revealed
Heaven posted a simple but direct message on Instagram after his impressive performance, alongside pictures from the match: “Quarter finals…”
The youngster’s dominant display sparked plenty of reactions from his teammates, with Patrick Dorgu and Chido Obi-Martin both leaving comments with emojis.
Alejandro Garnacho also showed his appreciation, leaving a message that read: “Strong performance” acknowledging Heaven’s solid contribution.
Heaven’s impressive display against Arsenal in their recent Premier League meeting earned him a start in the Europa League, and he repaid Ruben Amorim’s faith with a standout performance.
The defender won all of his duels, was not dribbled past once, and made two interceptions, showcasing his composure and maturity that were well beyond his years.
| Match statistics vs Real Sociedad | Ayden Heaven |
| Minutes played | 90+ |
| Duels won | 4 (all) |
| Clearances | 4 |
| Dribbled past | 0 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
Ruben Amorim faces decision over Alejandro Garnacho’s future at Man United
While Garnacho showed his support for Heaven’s performance, the Argentine’s own form has become a subject of growing concern.
His form has raised concerns as the winger is now on a 24-game goal drought, and while he has provided assists in that time, his finishing has been lacking.
In addition to concerns about his on-field form, his off-the-pitch behaviour has also attracted attention, as Man United fans criticised Garnacho after it looked as if he ignored a fan in the reverse fixture.
Chelsea were linked with a potential move for Garnacho during the January transfer window, but no transfer materialised.
With United’s attacking options lacking depth, Garnacho remains important for the team this season. However, whether he will continue to be a key figure in the club’s plans beyond this campaign remains uncertain.