Alejandro Garnacho stole the headlines with an incredible goal in the 3-0 win at Everton on Sunday, but it won’t just have been that moment of magic that pleased Erik ten Hag.

Manchester United came away from a fervent Goodison Park with all three points and recorded their fifth win in six Premier League games over the weekend.

Garnacho shocked the home support into silence with an unbelievable overhead kick inside three minutes, watching Diogo Dalot’s cross float over to him before unleashing his effort into Jordan Pickford’s top corner.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial secured the victory in the second half, but at full-time, all the plaudits were for Garnacho. Ten Hag was full of praise for the teenager’s moment of magic, but he will have been equally pleased with the performance that followed.

Seemingly energised by the wonder goal, Garnacho hassled and harried Everton’s right-hand side, giving Ashley Young a torrid time and also chipping in defensively.

The Toffees grew into the game and built momentum throughout the half, and so often the winger was tracking back to help out Luke Shaw.

Ten Hag had a unique vantage point on the day, watching from high up in the stands while serving a touchline ban. The Dutchman will have had the perfect tactical view to see Garnacho do exactly what he demanded of him earlier in the season.

“You have seen that at the start of the season we played him, and then his contribution was not good enough,” Ten Hag said of Garnacho after the 3-0 Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace in September.

But he also took some good actions. You see, he is always a threat in the game, even when he is not playing that well.

He has to learn that when he does his job of defending, he will always have his moment, and he will always be decisive because he has great qualities.

As well, it’s not only off the ball. But I want to see if, like today, he is entering the box in the right spot to finish.

But I think it is quite normal for a player of his age that there is space for a lot of improvement. Everyone likes him, the fans like him, the team likes him, and I like him, but we also have to demand from him and push him because he can act on a very high level, but he has to show it every day.

The goal is what Garnacho will be remembered for when it comes to Sunday’s win over Everton, and his bicycle kick will be replayed for years to come. It has already been enjoyed time and time again on social media, and compared to the other iconic goals, barely 24 hours after it happened.

But for Ten Hag, the work that followed will have been of equal importance and will put Garnacho in good stead for more consistent football.

The Argentinian will start against Galatasaray on Wednesday as the only natural left-winger, with Marcus Rashford suspended, but with performances like Sunday’s, he may well keep his spot regardless.