A culture of players publicly challenging their managers has emerged as a troubling trend at Manchester United, with recent incidents involving Alejandro Garnacho and Patrick Dorgu casting a shadow over the club's discipline.
Garnacho's Social Media Misstep and Apology
The pattern continued with Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho, who found himself in hot water with former manager Erik ten Hag. The young player 'liked' a post on X (formerly Twitter) that criticised Ten Hag's decision to substitute him at half-time during United's 2-2 draw at Bournemouth in the 2023/24 season.
Ten Hag addressed the issue directly, confirming the player had said sorry. "Alejandro is a young player, he has to learn a lot," the Dutchman stated. "He apologised for it and after that we move on." Despite this reprimand, Garnacho's contentious behaviour was far from over.
Repeat Offences and a Costly Europa League Final Snub
Garnacho's learning curve appeared to stall dramatically under Ten Hag's successor, Ruben Amorim. The player was left fuming after being named only as a substitute for last season's Europa League final against Tottenham, coming off the bench for just 20 minutes.
In a revealing post-match interview, Garnacho vented his frustration: "Up until the final, I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don't know... The final will influence [my decision] but the whole season, the situation of the club."
The situation was exacerbated when Garnacho's brother and agent, Roberto, posted a mocking message on Instagram in support, writing: "Working as no-one else, helping every round... just to be on the pitch for 19 mins and get thrown under the bus. Wowe hahahahahaha."
Fallout and a £40 Million Exit to Chelsea
The combined incidents made Garnacho's departure from Manchester United almost inevitable. In the summer of 2025, he completed a £40 million transfer to Chelsea. While he has yet to cement a regular starting spot at Stamford Bridge, he is part of a Blues squad considered title challengers.
Amorim, meanwhile, has faced similar challenges. Defender Patrick Dorgu was dropped for United's 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace after 'liking' an Instagram post questioning the manager's tactics. Amorim insisted the decision was performance-based, citing Dorgu's "anxiety" in possession.
These episodes highlight an ongoing struggle for consistency and authority at Old Trafford, typified by erratic results like a 1-0 loss to 10-man Everton followed by the impressive win at Palace. As United prepare to host West Ham, resolving internal tensions remains as crucial as any on-pitch tactic.
