'Finally, it's about that': Ten Hag tasks 'emotional' Garnacho to improve in one key area

“He is doing well, he has an impact on our game, he is a threat, also [against Leeds], he had good actions, he was lively, created chances, but had to score,” Ten Hag said.

“And finally, it’s about that – that you have an effect. As a striker you have to at least be on the scoring list, the assist list, the key action list, to have the right impact.

"Of course, we expect him also to do the other stuff [such as pressing] but as a Man United player, we expect you to have an impact to influence the score, to influence the result, to positively influence the game by scoring goals and having an assist.”

Ten Hag is not concerned if Garnacho is unhappy when taken off. “I don’t think it’s about him not understanding the decision,” he said.

“He’s quite emotional; that is his strength, he brings it to his game. He wants to win, to play football, doesn’t want to miss any minutes and that is a good thing.

"He’s totally convinced about himself, you need that. But he accepts decisions and the team is always above everything and I think he knows that. When he is coming off, that emotion, that frustration is not against that, that he’s not accepting it.”

Garnacho has become a key United player this term after progressing through the ranks since joining the academy from Atletico Madrid in 2020. He has just six goal contribution in 22 appearances.