Exclusive: Erik ten Hag says Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo must maintain high standards at Manchester United

Erik ten Hag lauded the progress of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo this season, but said the duo face a ‘big fight’ to establish themselves in Manchester United’s first team.

Ten Hag believes the duo have done brilliantly in their fledgling careers to date, but says their biggest challenge will be to produce that form consistency.

When asked about the duo’s development by TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand, Ten Hag replied: “Incredibly good. But they [Garnacho and Mainoo] are just on the start of the journey, and that is also what they have to understand.

“They are now in the first team, but getting here is much more easy than staying here, and there's going to be a big fight for them [to do that].”

Both players have been shining lights in a largely underwhelming season for The Red Devils, with Garnacho scoring seven goals across 37 games in all competitions, including an incredible acrobatic finish against Everton in November.

Meanwhile Mainoo has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, featuring 22 times, and netted twice against Newport County and Wolves - the goal against the latter coming in the form of a superb stoppage-time winner.

United defender Jonny Evans also added to the plaudits for both players, and the Northern Irishman revealed how Mainoo left an early impression on him.

“I think Garner's [Garnacho] really upped his game to the point where I probably looked at him as an impact player at the start of the season, but now he's a starter, without a doubt,” he added.

“With Kobbie, in my first training session back here, I came in and the first thing I said to the kit man was, 'Who's that young lad?'

“He's a top player, and in the session we were playing, he was playing with his head up and as a defender, as soon as a midfielder gets his head up, you're in trouble.

“So that was one of the first things that I noticed about him. The two of them have really gone on to make a name for themselves this season, especially.”

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