Alejandro Garnacho's spectacular strike for Manchester United could well be the goal of the season, his manager Erik ten Hag said, but he insisted it was too soon to be comparing the young footballer with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 19-year-old Argentinian scored with a stunning overhead kick in the third minute to inspire United to a 3-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park, leaping to meet Diogo Dalot's cross with an acrobatic scissor kick into the top right corner that instantly drew comparisons with former United striker Rooney.
"Still many games to play, but probably already the goal of the season," Ten Hag said. "It was incredible."
"Superb, something amazing," said United captain Bruno Fernandes. "It is out of this world. Special from a special kid.
"I still expect more from him, we are aware of his capabilities, we know what he can do."
Garnacho said he couldn't believe he had scored. "I didn't see how I scored, I just listened to the crowd and said 'Oh my god,'" the winger said. "One of the best goals I've scored."
The strike echoed goals by Rooney and fellow former United striker Ronaldo, particularly Rooney's bicycle-kick stunner during the 2011 Manchester derby.
Ten Hag, however, was uncomfortable comparing Garnacho so quickly with two of the club's biggest names of recent years.
"Don't compare," said the manager, who served a one-game suspension and so was not on the touchline.
"I don't think it's right. They all have their own identity, but for Garnacho to go that way, he has to work very hard. And you have to do it on a consistent basis. And so far, he's not.
"But he has definitely high potential to do some amazing things. It is not the first time we saw this. But if you want to be a player like Rooney or Ronaldo, you have to score 20, 25 goals in the Premier League and that's not easy to get. But potential, he has."
The goal silenced the Goodison Park crowd except for the travelling United supporters who loudly sang "Viva Garnacho."
Even Everton manager Sean Dyche marvelled at what he called a "lifetime goal."
Everton fans turned Goodison into a sea of pink in protest at their points punishment - for breaches of the league's financial rules, holding bright pink signs that read "Corrupt" under the Premier League's lion's head logo. They booed loudly during the pre-game playing of the league's anthem.
Alejandro Garnacho's spectacular strike impresses United boss Erik ten Hag, who watched from the stands at Goodison Park as he served a touchline ban. AP, AFP
