Martin Keown has strongly criticized Alejandro Garnacho for his celebration after scoring a goal in Manchester United’s discouraging Premier League loss to Chelsea.
Garnacho scored a good goal at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea quickly went 2-0 up, and then he put United ahead in the second half with a header from Antony’s excellent cross.
After scoring, Garnacho went towards the Manchester United fans and sat on the advertising board with his hands on his hips to celebrate.
For a while, it seemed like Garnacho’s header would be the winning goal, but Chelsea equalized in the 100th minute with a penalty before Cole Palmer completed his hat-trick with an amazing winning goal.
This was the latest a team has ever been behind and gone on to win in Premier League history and dealt a big blow to United’s hopes of reaching the top-four in the final stages of the season.
‘They have good moments like Antony’s ball to Garnacho, which was fantastic, but that’s his first assist of the season for heaven’s sake,’ Arsenal legend Keown told talkSPORT.
‘The way the players celebrate – Garnacho, get off the advertising board and get ready to defend because the opposition will attack you.
‘People say Arsenal over-celebrate but what are United doing? Everyone is celebrating that goal, but I’m not happy with it, I want you back in position and to give me something defensively.’
Manchester United looked lost as Chelsea took a strong lead within 20 minutes, but it seemed like individual skill from players like Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes would save Erik ten Hag’s team.
Two injury-time goals added more pressure on the Dutchman, who is working to convince the Old Trafford hierarchy to give him more time.
When asked if he thinks Ten Hag can survive as United manager, Keown said: ‘One assumes not. He doesn’t seem to be able to see the problems.
‘I don’t know where the basics are or where the leaders are in that team. He’s too reliant on individuals and, based on what he says after, he doesn’t understand the value of the team.
‘There will have to be changes at this rate. I don’t like to see anyone lose their job, but it’s going to happen, it’s inevitable isn’t it?’
Keown, a three-time Premier League winner with Arsenal, says he ‘couldn’t quite believe’ how the Stamford Bridge clash unfolded and criticized United for not playing ‘as a team’.
The defeat in west London means Manchester United remain nine points behind fifth-placed Tottenham and 11 behind fourth-placed Aston Villa in the Premier League.
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‘We heard Erik ten Hag saying he thought it was a great performance and they suffered because of individual mistakes, but they don’t play as a team at all,’ Keown added.
‘A defensive mindset doesn’t exist in that side. No one in that team wants to defend, they were completely exposed last night. I couldn't quite believe what I was watching at times.
'They do not understand how to apply pressure together, they attempt to do so but opposing teams can easily play through them. It was an incredible game to observe but the fundamental skills are lacking for United.'
Manchester United will play against arch-rivals and Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday, while Chelsea will travel to Sheffield United.
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