Alejandro Garnacho plays down Cristiano Ronaldo comparisons and says football was ‘different’ back then

Alejandro Garnacho has dismissed comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo during his first spell at Manchester United and said football was “different” back then.

Garnacho’s goal in the 4-3 defeat at Brentford on Sunday was his 14th in the Premier League – the same number Ronaldo managed prior to his 21st birthday in the colours of United.

The Argentina international doesn’t turn 21 until July 1 so he has an excellent chance of moving past Ronaldo’s tally, which the Portuguese managed after signing for United from Sporting CP in 2003.

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Garnacho will have to go some to match Ronaldo

Since that point, Ronaldo’s career has taken him to different levels, winning league titles in England, Spain and Italy as well as five Ballons d’Or and he is still going strong with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

Asked about it today, Garnacho indicated there was little point in comparing football now and over 20 years ago.

He said: “I’m not focusing on the numbers. When Cristiano played here, it was different football and different types of games.

“I just try to help the team and try to win games. We are training really hard, me and all the strikers in the team. I think we are improving and we are trying to do better.”

Garnacho – we’re not doing a great job

United boss Ruben Amorim has made no secret of his frustration with the current United squad, calling them the “worst in the club’s history”, but Garnacho tactfully avoided offending the man sitting next to him at this afternoon’s news conference to preview tomorrow night’s Europa League semi-final, second leg against Athletic Bilbao.

He added: “We know we are not doing a great job in the Premier League but the manager has said before, we follow the rules and for us, it is a final.

“If we win the Europa League we will be in the Champions League and we can face the next season with a better mentality.

“It’s not easy in the middle of the season when you change a manager and all of the staff but in my mind, it is always to try and work hard every day and try to show the manager that I need to play. That’s the only thing I have to do.”