Antony is not the Man Utd star who should be worried by Garnacho
Robin Bairner
- 30 Nov 2023 01:10 CST
- 4 min read
Alejandro Garnacho’s Manchester United rise continued on Wednesday as he scored his second goal in as many matches for the Old Trafford club as they were ultimately held 3-3 away to Galatasaray.
It was another disappointing Champions League outing for Erik ten Hag’s side, one that leaves them vulnerable to going out of Europe altogether before Christmas, but Garnacho lit the game up with his second excellent goal in as many matches.
The fixture was 11 minutes old when the 19-year-old lashed home a shot into the roof of the net, leading Rio Ferdinand to brand the young winger as “the real deal”.
Garnacho’s performance comes in stark contrast to Man Utd’s other wingers this season, with focus falling particularly on Antony, who has failed to fire since a big-money move from Ajax last summer.
Comparisons between the two are inevitable given the wasteful nature of the Brazil international this season, and while they typically prefer to play on opposite sides, as was the case against Galatasaray, it’s easy to make a case for the teenager to be a far more effective attacking player than his lavishly priced teammate.
Garnacho carrying more threat than Antony
Taking a look at the Premier League statistics for the duo, it is clear that Garnacho carries more of a goal threat based on the evidence of this season.
Both the youngster’s expected goals (xG) and expected assists (xA) per 90 are higher than that of Antony. With a combined figure of 0.41 per 90, suggesting he will contribute a goal every couple of matches, he posts a significantly higher number than his rival’s 0.28.
Garnacho also rates higher in a whole raft of offensive figures, including dribbling and crossing, although Antony’s passing numbers are better.
Manager Erik ten Hag’s only reasoning for preferring Antony now is that the Brazilian offers greater defensive cover. He posts better figures for recoveries and interceptions than Garnacho, yet these are not numbers going to impress Man Utd fans while the attack continues to misfire.
Garnacho vs Antony (Premier League: 2023/24)
| Stat (p90) | Garnacho | Antony | Rashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goals | 0.17 | 0 | 0.17 |
| xG | 0.3 | 0.15 | 0.33 |
| Assists | 0 | 0 | 0.08 |
| xA | 0.11 | 0.13 | 0.18 |
| Passes | 30.81 | 34.94 | 24.97 |
| Crosses | 2.96 | 1.94 | 2.43 |
| Dribbles | 13.4 | 11.47 | 11.4 |
| Shots | 3.13 | 2.29 | 2.77 |
| Recoveries | 3.83 | 5.82 | 1.93 |
| Tackles | 1.04 | 0.71 | 0.25 |
| Interceptions | 0.35 | 2.29 | 0.42 |
In reality, it’s unlikely to be a case of Garnacho or Antony because of their preferred wings, yet this only serves to underline just how much the former Ajax man is struggling this season.
Bring Marcus Rashford into the equation then as both he and Garnacho prefer to feature on the left.
The England international is a far more direct threat to goal than the Argentine. He offers fewer passes and dribbles but carries a much more obvious threat to goal, posting higher xG and xA figures than either Garnacho or Antony.
But Rashford is not as diligent defensively. His defensive statistics are well down on his rivals, suggesting that Ten Hag may appreciate the balance that Antony brings when the 26-year-old is playing.
The puzzle is not an easy one for Ten Hag to solve, yet Man Utd’s season threatens to collapse before Christmas if the manager cannot find a resolution.
