How Man Utd should line up for the 2023-24 season: Drop Antony and unleash Alejandro Garnacho!

The Argentine teenager is ready to kick on after a stunning breakthrough season and must be given a regular place in the starting XI by Erik ten Hag

There were two chants at Old Trafford last season that were heard more than any others. One was “We want Glazers out”, a defiant message to the club’s despised owners that was aired after every goal. And the other was “Viva Garnacho”, an ode to Manchester United fans’ latest idol.

Alejandro Garnacho was already well known to supporters for his role in United’s FA Youth Cup win and he made a thrilling step up to the first team last season, firing in crucial goals against Real Sociedad, Fulham, Leeds, West Ham and Wolves. Had it not been for an untimely ankle ligament injury, he could have achieved even more.

The forward has just turned 19 but he is already an Argentina international and he is determined to make an even bigger impression in his first full season with the first team. The only problem is he shares a favourite position, on the left of attack, with Marcus Rashford. However, there is an alternative position that could open up and that is as a right forward, and he has a much better chance of unseating its current occupier, Antony, than United’s homegrown talisman.

Antony had a handful of great moments last season but ultimately failed to live up to his £85 million ($107m) price tag and ended the campaign with a meagre eight goals and four assists in 44 appearances in all competitions. Garnacho, in 34 appearances and far fewer minutes, managed five goals and five assists.

United should not write Antony off just yet but Garnacho is hammering at the door of the starting XI and deserves far more opportunities this season. He is easily good enough for a regular place in the team and on present form is more deserving of a staring berth than his Brazilian team-mate.

Choosing between Garnacho and Antony is Erik ten Hag’s biggest selection dilemma although he will also need to decide which defenders will work best with new goalkeeper Andre Onana and whether big-money signing Rasmus Hojlund should start regularly or have a bedding-in process.

As United prepare to kick off their Premier League campaign against Wolves on Monday, GOAL looks at how Ten Hag’s side should line up this season…