Alejandro Garnacho’s Brother Slams Coach Ruben Amorim for Benching Him in Europa League Final Loss to Tottenham

Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho and his brother, who also acts as his agent, have publicly expressed their frustration with head coach Ruben Amorim following United’s painful defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final held in Bilbao last night.

Tottenham Hotspur clinched their first major title in 17 years, edging out Manchester United 1-0, thanks to a decisive goal scored by Brennan Johnson.

The victory was historic for Spurs, ending a nearly two-decade-long wait for silverware.

However, the aftermath of the match has been dominated by controversy, particularly surrounding Amorim’s lineup choices and most notably his decision to bench Garnacho.

The Argentine forward, who has had a standout season, featured in a staggering 57 matches across all competitions for Manchester United this season.

Despite his consistent performances Garnacho started the final on the bench. He was only brought on in the second half, with just 19 minutes left to play a move that left fans and family members scratching their heads.

What particularly angered Garnacho’s brother was that the young star was benched in favor of Mason Mount, who has barely played any games this season due to injuries and form issues.

Mount, who started in Garnacho’s place, struggled to make an impact during the match.

Ironically, it was only after Garnacho was substituted on that Manchester United started showing attacking intent. His brief cameo injected energy into the team and troubled the Spurs defense, though it ultimately wasn’t enough to alter the outcome.

Frustrated by the coach’s decision, Garnacho’s brother took to Instagram shortly after the final whistle to express his dissatisfaction. He openly questioned Amorim’s logic in benching a player who had been one of the most consistent and hardworking performers throughout the season.

Garnacho brother wrote:

” ‘Working as no one else, helping every round, coming from two goals in the last two finals, just to be on the pitch for 19 mins and get thrown under the bus. Wowe hahahahahaha.”

The Argentina star later echoed his brother’s sentiments during an interview after the match, while giving an update on his Manchester United future.

”’I played every round to help the team reach the final, and today I only got 20 minutes,’ the Argentine told the media, as per AlbicelesteTalk.

‘I don’t know. I will try to enjoy the summer and then see what happens.’

This united front has sparked conversations among fans and football pundits alike, many of whom also questioned Amorim’s strategy in such a high-stakes match.

The issue has since gained so much traction that journalists brought it up during Amorim’s post-match press conference.

When asked directly why Garnacho was benched, Amorim gave a brief response, simply stating it was a “tactical decision.” However, that explanation hasn’t done much to quiet the criticism coming his way.

Amorim response:

” ‘It’s easy to say that now, who missed the big opportunity in the first half in the semi-final? Garnacho. Football is like that.’

Fans are still puzzled by the decision, especially given Garnacho’s pivotal role in many of United’s key victories this season. Some see this as a missed opportunity, arguing that if Garnacho had started, the outcome might have been different.

As emotions continue to run high, it remains to be seen how this incident will affect Garnacho’s relationship with Amorim and the club going forward. One thing is certain, the fallout from Manchester United’s Europa League final defeat is far from over.