Following his attempt to tamper with the penalty spot during Manchester United’s 4-3 loss to Copenhagen, Alejandro Garnacho has been called a “clown”.
With two games left in their group, the Red Devils are at the bottom of their group after suffering their third defeat in four Champions League games. Playing the entire game, Garnacho did little more than try to scuff the penalty spot when Diogo Goncalves was about to equalize for the Danish team in stoppage time in the first half.
Garnacho has already been seen tampering with the spot with his boot prior to a last-minute penalty kick by Copenhagen that Andre Onana saved during United’s 1-0 victory over the Danes last month. The players in Copenhagen were therefore prepared for him this time.
Defender Denis Vavro claimed that Kevin Diks, a teammate, blocked Garnacho from reaching the spot by standing in front of it. Vavro angrily said, “I saw that he tried to do something about the penalty kick, but Kevin Diks stood in front and blocked it,” to the Danish publication Bold.
This is the second occasion. And now he’s attempted it once more at our stadium? I think he’s a clown. When he does something similar in a game away from home, he acts like a child. Something is here in the first half, but at home in the ninety-seventh minute. I don’t know why he would try to do that.”
Goncalves’ penalty was successfully converted, and in the last minutes, Copenhagen completed a thrilling comeback triumph, giving them the last laugh. Moreover, Bruno Fernandes had to assist a clearly distraught Garnacho from the grass at full time when he started crying.
Hojlund gave United the lead after just two minutes, and he scored another just before the half-hour mark. However, Marcus Rashford’s contentious dismissal for an inadvertent stamp changed the tide of play. Mohamed Elyounoussi, a former Southampton player, gave Copenhagen a swift response, and Goncalves’ penalty kick put them level just before halftime.
Nevertheless, United’s lead was short-lived as Fernandes’ own penalty gave them the advantage back. Lukas Lerager and Roony Bardghji’s two goals for Copenhagen in the final ten minutes turned the tide of the match and handed the Manchester team their ninth loss of the year.