Bruno Fernandes offered his support to Alejandro Garnacho after the Manchester United winger appeared to celebrate his goal against Leicester City in a muted fashion.
The 20-year-old rounded off the scoring of a 3-0 win with a superb curling effort from outside the box before appearing to cut a celebratory run towards the home fans short.
Fernandes, who scored the first of the afternoon at Old Trafford, was later seen talking with the Argentina international at full-time.
GO DEEPER
Man United 3 Leicester 0: Fernandes stars as Van Nistelrooy leaves positive mood for Amorim
Garnacho has scored seven goals this season while also adding four assists but was involved in an incident with a supporter outside the stadium before the Europa League tie with PAOK on Thursday, who heckled him with his view of some aspects of his game that could be improved.
United captain Fernandes has faith in Garnacho’s ability and called him a “special player” who should try and stay positive.
“It was a good day at work, I have to say. We have a lot of players with big qualities, but people can get too excited after one game and too down after another,” he told BBC Sport.
“Garnacho scored a banger but didn’t celebrate like he should because he thinks he has lost faith from some fans. I told him people will always moan but lots of people like you and enjoy what you do.
“I told him to celebrate, it was something special. He is a special player, we have difference makers. They are the ones who win us games. We want them to score every game but that isn’t going to happen.”
Garnacho was left out of the starting lineup for Sunday’s game with Ruud van Nistelrooy, taking charge of his final game as interim manager, later explaining he was looking for him to change the match late on.
“I spoke to Alejandro Garnacho before the game,” he told the BBC. “He has played a lot of minutes and I wanted him to make an impact off the bench and I’m glad it worked out.”
United return to action following the international break away at Ipswich Town, a game which will be new head coach Ruben Amorim’s first in charge.
GO DEEPER
How can Amorim get the best out of Garnacho at Man Utd?
(Top photo: Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)