Rio Ferdinand comes to defence of Alejandro Garnacho after Roy Keane criticism as he says Man United star is one of few who make an 'impact'

Rio Ferdinand has defended Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho following criticism from his former team-mate Roy Keane on Friday night.

Garnacho came off the bench at half-time and helped his side come from behind to beat Leicester 2-1 in the fourth round of the FA Cup. 

His side were trailing 1-0 when the Argentine entered the game and he certainly made an impact, playing a role in Joshua Zirkzee’s equaliser before Harry Maguire scored an injury time headed winner.

Keane praised Garnacho’s contribution after the game but went on to say that he wouldn’t trust the 20-year-old to start regularly. 

Speaking on Rio Presents, the former England international said: ‘I don’t think his [Garnacho] stats are unbelievable this season but in terms of impacting the game and putting the other team on the back foot, he is probably one of the only players who does it in our team.

‘You look at him and say his game isn’t 100 per cent clean but that can be developed. But he doesn’t lack effort, he doesn’t lack energy.

‘He’s got a pair of b******s that says he wants the ball, he will take the ball anywhere.

Garnacho made an impact off the bench and helped the Red Devils turn the game around

‘He has got that belief and character that says I should be here and I should be playing. “Give me the ball at all times”.

‘And in the situation we are in now where there are a lot of players shying away from the ball when the team aren’t doing well, he stands out like a sore form in that respect.’

‘He reminds me of Nani. One of the frustrations is he would get to it [the ball] and make the wrong decision or he would get to it and his execution wouldn’t be clean.

‘But these players grow into that when given the time. Comments like that when you say he can’t be trusted… that’s a big comment for a young kid.

‘I understand Roy might believe that but when you look at alternatives… If there were loads more options I would understand it but there is nothing else there that offers what he does and it is a hard one to understand.’