‘Pellistri is magic’ – Man United fans hail Uruguayan youngster’s Europa League cameo
Manchester United bounced back from their humiliating 7-0 Premier League defeat to Liverpool to see off Spanish side Real Betis 4-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night.
Marcus Rashford, Antony, Bruno Fernandes and Wout Weghorst were all on the scoresheet but it was the cameo of Facundo Pellistri that caught the attention of many.
The 21-year-old Uruguayan came on in the 81st minute for Antony and was instrumental in Weghorst’s long-awaited first goal at Old Trafford, evading two challenges before laying the ball for Scott McTominay, who’s rebounded effort fell to Weghorst to finish off from close range.
Pellistri was a livewire for the 13 minutes he played, using his pace and tricky to trouble the Betis defence in ways some fans believe Antony does not. For this reason, some fans have demanded United manager Erik ten Hag utilise Pellistri more often, some suggesting the former Penarol player should start against Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday.
this is how we do it! 👊🏼
come on Manchester United! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/RzADwfC5Nx
— Facu Pellistri (@FPellistri07) March 9, 2023
Do you think Facundo Pellistri deserves to start against Southampton? pic.twitter.com/00p6TtlEcn
— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) March 10, 2023
Facundo Pellistri in 8 minutes vs. Real Betis:
100% pass accuracy
10 touches
2 ground duels won
1/2 dribbles completed
1 key pass
1 big chance createdAnother excellent cameo. 💫 pic.twitter.com/QIesoEUgZ4
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 9, 2023
Pellistri plays to create – not to shoot! We need more players who actually have that style – playing to create and are more secure on the ball – it will totally change the dynamics in the team. We need more of them to play more games! https://t.co/dHkm5DCcs1
— Ihenile Obidiently GRV wey know Rhodes⚡️⚡️ (@D_WarEagle) March 10, 2023
Facuno Pellistri, sensational.
Manchester United have a player in there 👏 pic.twitter.com/oMNzTZ3K5x
— UF (@UtdFaithfuls) March 9, 2023
Facundo Pellistri received the ball to set up the fourth goal just 14 seconds after coming on the pitch. [BT Sport] pic.twitter.com/bX2SaMw9oP
— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) March 9, 2023
Why Ten Hag no rate Facundo Pellistri?
The guy na baller 🇺🇾 🔥 #MUFC || #MUNBET pic.twitter.com/hfkFFvWQXB
— MUIP (@ManUtdInPidgin) March 9, 2023
Pellistri is magic, too. Don’t understand why he doesn’t play more. So direct, so fearless. Great player.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) March 9, 2023
Pellistri 🔥❤️: Manchester United is in safe hands, what a talent 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ixGudB3moH
— Mufc🇾🇪✍🏼 (@UTDKenny_) March 10, 2023
Just woke up and remembered Facu Pellistri is only 21yrs and I couldn’t help but to smile pic.twitter.com/0COO0ufek1
— Two Times a Guy (@twotimesaguy) March 10, 2023
Good Morning redss🔴
Thoughts on Pellistri’s performance last night ?
Hope he’s given his chances . He’s scary on that right side 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/yq67bEU1q8
— Ejhaz Yeqêin♦️ (@Uhpdhi_3) March 10, 2023
Pellistri is good but at the moment Antony is the best option we got in that right wing position.
One bad game from him and people will call for his head, let Erik maintain him well and he knows better when to start him or not.
In Erik Ten Hag we trust pic.twitter.com/bZJz355AMC
— Denis Mulindwa🔰 (@dmulindwa72) March 10, 2023
What an impact Pellistri! Get in Weggy, deserves that 👏🏼
— Sam Billings (@sambillings) March 9, 2023
🚨🇺🇾 Paul Scholes: “Pellistri has made some noise tonight.”
— UtdPlug (@UtdPlug) March 9, 2023
Pellistri magnificent there, seconds after coming on. He's got something.
— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) March 9, 2023
The thought of Garncho and Pellistri being Manchester United’s wingers makes me forget about everything bad in life
— 🏴 (@LJGLA_) March 9, 2023
Facundo Pellistri so determined to create a chance from a unlikely situation, brilliant play to set Wout Weghorst for his goal.
— Suhail (@SuhailChowdhary) March 9, 2023
Facundo Pellistri deserves more playing time than Jadon Sancho. Sancho plays like he’s achieved his dream move and has down tooled. No seriousness in his play
— EvAnS Ne-Yo (@Evans_NeYo) March 10, 2023
We see Pellistri once a month, it’s actually unfair.
— Beef 🟩 (@Alayonimiii) March 10, 2023
I think Manchester United will come to regret it if they allow Facundo Pellistri to leave.
— Jonas Adnan Giæver (@CheGiaevara) March 9, 2023
Nah Pellistri's play before Wout's goal was sublime – needs to start some games 👀🔥
Diego Forlan was the one to recommend Facundo to Manchester Utd 🥺
— Banks (@KobiiBanks) March 10, 2023
This Pellistri guy doesn't cut his hair, doesn't do skin care. All he cares about is FOOTBALL.
— 𝙴𝚣𝚞🇳🇬™ (@Ezu_nig) March 9, 2023
Start Pellistri vs Southampton
Every time he gets his chance his proves his why he should be starting . We’ve got a gem in our hands with regular game time I promise you’d be surprised at what he can do.
— Nse🤍💜 (@_nseobong) March 9, 2023
So far, Pellistri has been impressive when he’s played.
He just came on and made something happen. This kid needs more minutes!
— Isiah Madrigal (@Realisiah1) March 9, 2023
Pellistri is a natural winger who can operate on both wings. He should play more. I'm sure Ten Hag knows this. We are about to have good problems.
— Daily Manc🐝 (@thedailymanc) March 10, 2023
Facundo Pellistri is a naturally tricky winger 👏🏽
— Uncle Wilson. (@iam_wilsons) March 9, 2023
Pellistri is a dynamite.
Really hope he makes a difference coming on. Much more direct than Antony and his pace is insane..
— Pulkit 🔰 (@Oletrain) March 9, 2023
Appreciation tweet for Pellistri, he never disappoint when the manager give him a chance pic.twitter.com/spdpPnMYij
— Utd Latest (@MichaelAter5) March 10, 2023
Don’t sleep on that Pellistri run btw, what a baller
— Trey (@UTDTrey) March 9, 2023
Pellistri delivers every time he plays but he still doesn’t get game time…
— Floki (@jabsils) March 9, 2023
Pellistri future is bright what a player. pic.twitter.com/GWWoGJAhz0
— Pryde (@utdmotion) March 9, 2023
We have another gem on our hands in Uruguay winger Facundo Pellistri 🇺🇾💎 pic.twitter.com/oMJtTqrxuE
— mufcmpb (@mufcMPB) March 9, 2023
Pellistri that instant impact won't go unnoticed
— 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐚'𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 (@CantonasCoIIar) March 9, 2023
Pellistri deserves more chances man , Look at how he created the situation that led to the goal.
— Ugbedeojo #MUFC (@Certifiedopeboi) March 9, 2023
Weghorst!!!!!!!!! I’m so happy for him he deserves this so much. Pellistri what a player
— Lατιf (@iLatif_) March 9, 2023
Pellistri might genuinely be our most creative winger tbh. There is a severe lack of creativity with Rashford and Antony as the 2 wingers
— LM🔪 (@EriksButcher) March 9, 2023
Ten Hag must trust Pellistri some more. There isn't much Antony does better than him as a winger. Not much. What a great play to make the goal happen. Creating a big chance with his first couple of touches. More like it.
— SITSO (@OfficialSitso) March 9, 2023
Pellistri should get more minutes on Sunday, he is excellent every time he steps on the pitch, very direct💪#MUFC
— Tina's United (@valentinca17) March 9, 2023
🟥✅I always had this feeling that Pellistri will become a world class player. Same feeling I had with Alejandro Garnacho. He is purely good 👍 pic.twitter.com/yKShFEZ5Dy
— Soccer Web♣ (@EliteNews_) March 9, 2023
Pellistri has to play more games, this kid is special. 💫 pic.twitter.com/w7ZguWXBoS
— Aarron (@PresidentLicha) March 9, 2023
Pellistri needs to replace Antony in Man United's games, or at least get more playing time; He's does an impressive job whenever he's substituted. Antony is a promising player but he needs serious improvements cos his performance now is below average. Erik should do the needful.
— Daniel Regha (@DanielRegha) March 9, 2023
Pellistri is who he thinks he is pic.twitter.com/Y1ZhF57UE6
— ChrisHazeArts.eth / .tez #MUFC 🔴🔥 (@PrinceChrisMUFC) March 9, 2023
Just love how every time Pellistri comes on, he instantly makes an impact. It’s actually madness.
— yana (@yanautd) March 9, 2023
What a brilliant wingers play by Facundo Pellistri, that was sheer pace and power from the young man. He's made the goal, created the goal that perhaps does it for United in this tie.
— SITSO (@OfficialSitso) March 9, 2023
Pellistri is already a better player than Raphina. No debate
— Two Times a Guy (@twotimesaguy) March 9, 2023
Facundo Pellistri take a bow son!
— Terry Flewers (@terryflewers) March 9, 2023
I like Pellistri man, and I think Uruguay has another gem who has a very high ceiling, personally, his ceiling is higher than Gernacho's.
— Fåb (@redfxb) March 9, 2023
Really pleased for the big man and that was fantastic from Pellistri, that's how you make the most of your opportunities no matter how they come
— Pilib De Brún (Phil Brown) (@Malachians) March 9, 2023