Darron Gibson: Why Manchester United Must Keep Faith in Garnacho and Mainoo

And just like that, Manchester United’s turbulent season has come to a close. With 90 minutes to salvage some pride from a disappointing campaign, United fell short against an injury-hit Spurs side, losing 1-0 in the Europa League final.

But it wasn’t just the result grabbing headlines. Winger Alejandro Garnacho’s post-match comments to Argentinian media have sparked conversations about his future at the club, particularly after being left on the bench for nearly 70 minutes with United chasing a goal.

We caught up with former United midfielder Darron Gibson to get his thoughts on Garnacho’s situation, as well as fellow academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo.

Garnacho “100% Has To Stay”

Alejandro Garnacho has become a lightning rod for fan opinion. Bursting onto the scene during Erik ten Hag’s first season, the Argentine has shown glimpses of brilliance, fearlessness, pace, and directness, as well as the raw decision-making and frustration that often come with youth.

Wednesday night may have marked a turning point. Despite starting every Europa League knockout game, Garnacho was benched for most of the final, coming on for just the last 20 minutes. His frustration was evident in comments to the media, noting that Mason Mount had been preferred in a high-stakes match.

Still, Darron Gibson believes United should do everything possible to keep the 19-year-old at Old Trafford.

“Garnacho, 100 percent for me he's got to stay. I think although this year maybe his end product hasn't been great, the one thing you can't take away from him is that he puts in 100 percent effort every game.”

“He tries to get at people, take on defenders, and create chances. Sometimes the end product isn’t there and you can criticise him for his defending, but he gives it everything.”

Despite reported interest from Chelsea and Napoli, Gibson sees Garnacho as part of United’s future, not a player to cash in on.

“He’s young, the manager can teach him. There’s a lot of pressure on him right now and maybe that’s why he’s being criticised more than he should be. But I think they should keep him and he will improve.”

Mainoo Must Stay and Must Play in the Right Role

While Garnacho has at least seen regular minutes, Kobbie Mainoo’s second season has been more stop-start. Injuries have hampered his development, and when fit, he’s often been deployed out of position under new manager Rúben Amorim.

Gibson believes the 19-year-old needs stability and clarity to recapture the form that saw him break into England’s senior squad last summer.

“I think Mainoo should definitely be at the club. The criticism he's faced has been very harsh. One, he's been injured. And two, when he’s come back, he's been played out of position.”

“He’s a centre-mid. That’s his role. Instead, he’s played as a No.10, sometimes on the left or the right. But he’s very comfortable on the ball, he can score goals. If he plays in the right position, we’ll see the Kobbie Mainoo of 2023–24 again.”

Mainoo’s composure and maturity earned him widespread praise last season. But as United stumbled this year, even young talents like him haven’t been spared criticism. For Gibson, the end of the season offers a much-needed reset.

“It’s probably a good thing that the season is finishing. These young players need a break. They can go away, refresh, and come back ready next year.”

Darron Gibson gives his thoughts on Sunderland's playoff final this weekend