I spotted how Alejandro Garnacho reacted to Antony's goal for Manchester United - it said a lot
Manchester United cruised into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night with an impressive 7-0 victory over Barnsley.
After a sloppy start, United broke the deadlock through Marcus Rashford with 16 minutes on the clock and never looked back. Antony dispatched a penalty and Alejandro Garnacho poked the ball home from inside the box to ensure United took a 3-0 lead into the half-time interval.
Having coasted into a three-goal lead at the break, United would have been forgiven for easing off the gas after the interval, but they continued to go up through the gears, adding a fourth just four minutes into the second half when Garnacho went scampering clear to score his second.
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Rashford then notched his second to claim United's fifth before Christian Eriksen netted a quick-fire double to complete the rout. It marked the biggest win of the Erik ten Hag era.
On a night where United enjoyed themselves in front of goal, here are some of the moments you might have missed from what was an excellent night's work at the office for Ten Hag and his players.
Early jitters
On reflection, it is hard to believe United were second-best in the opening 10 minutes or so. Barnsley made a bright start at Old Trafford and made it their mission to target Toby Collyer, who made his first competitive start for United out of position at left-back.
With 10 minutes on the clock, United won themselves a corner and committed bodies forward in the hope of breaking the deadlock. As they prepared for the corner to be taken, they left just two players back, resulting in Ten Hag and first-team coach Andreas Georgson becoming agitated on the touchline.
They were demanding for a third player to make his way back into the middle in preparation for a potential counter-attack. Once Rashford opened the scoring a few minutes later, Ten Hag enjoyed the most relaxing evening he has had as United manager so far.
Garnacho embraces Antony
It goes without saying that Antony has struggled at United, particularly this year. The visit of Barnsley marked his first start since May and his penalty marked his first goal since April.
After being told by Casemiro that he was taking the penalty, he made no mistake, firing it past Tykes goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina. After racing away to celebrate, he was embraced by Garnacho first, with the Argentine giving his fellow South American a kiss on the side of his head.
Garnacho was clearly aware of just how much that goal would have meant to the Brazilian. Casemiro then had a word with his fellow countryman, no doubt offering words of encouragement and advice.
Garnacho gives thanks
After scoring United's third goal shortly before half-time, Garnacho scored United's fourth shortly after it. Barnsley had committed men forward, leaving spaces, and Eriksen was eagle-eyed to spot Garnacho in space.
After the Dane, inside his own half, had the ball laid off to him by Rashford, he spotted Garnacho galloping clear and he sent a first-time pass over the top for the Argentine to race onto.
Garnacho raced clear and cooly tucked the ball home, before running towards the Stretford End tunnel to celebrate. After jumping into the air, he turned around and pointed in Eriksen's direction, acknowledging what was an excellent pass.
The former Brentford man later added to that assist by scoring two goals of his own.
Ten Hag's touch of class
Following the full-time whistle, a young supporter leaned over the small wall separating the home dugout and the seats behind it and held out a United home shirt in one hand and a pen in the other. Ten Hag accepted the youngster's request and signed the shirt, no doubt making her night.
As memorable as the youngster would have found it to watch United score seven goals on their own patch, it will no doubt be those few seconds of kindness from Ten Hag that will be her lasting memory of the evening.