In any high-profile £40m transfer between two of the Premier League’s biggest rivals, every touch, pass and mistake will inevitably be under the microscope.
Alejandro Garnacho is learning that the hard way.
The Argentine winger struggled to make an impact against his former club Manchester United, and his performance came under scrutiny.
The 21-year-old has come under heavy criticism, with media reports suggesting Chelsea could be considering letting him go.
However, manager Liam Rossenia denied those rumors and admitted that the young player remains firmly in his plans.
Liam Rosenior reveals his stance on Alejandro Garnacho
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Chelsea’s important Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek, Rosenior didn’t hesitate to actively quash speculation.
When pressed on the idea that the club had already tried to cut losses for a player who only arrived at Stamford Bridge last September, the manager flatly denied media reports.
As reported by Fabrizio Romano, he said:
“I would like to know the source of the report…”
“Garna is 21 years old. Garna is a player who is in good form and shows special qualities when he is in good form. And my job is to help him reach that level.”
Mr Rosenior made it clear in the media room that leaving was not a topic of discussion at Cobham at this time.
Chelsea continues to have faith in current squad
Garnacho is definitely finding life in west London difficult. Since Rosenior permanently took over the managerial reins from Enzo Maresca, the explosive winger has found it difficult to earn consistent starting minutes.
The raw talent is clearly still there and we’ve all seen what he can do when he’s firing on all cylinders, but in recent weeks his decision-making and confidence have seemed completely blown away.
Saturday’s match against United was supposed to be a revenge game for him, but it only highlighted his current tactical disconnect in Chelsea’s attacking system.
For now, the message from the coach is clear: He’s focused on coaching, not selling.
For the club’s recruiting team to pull the plug on an investment of this magnitude 21 years ago before a full season has passed would be a huge admission of failure on the part of the club’s recruiting team.
Garnacho clearly needs to put an arm around his shoulders, keep playing games and get a big confidence boost if he is to rediscover his form.
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