Garnacho, the surplus player fading away at Chelsea

小球迷

26/02/2026 17:05:20 小球迷

Being left on the bench for the entire duration of the 2-2 Burnley match sounded an alarm for Alejandro Garnacho: He is turning into an expendable asset at Stamford Bridge amidst Liam Rosenior's diminishing patience.

When Estevao surprisingly got injured right before the match, Rosenior opted to start Pedro Neto instead of Garnacho. This surprised no one. However, the 41-year-old coach's decision not to include the Argentine forward among the five substitutions made against Burnley indicates that the trust in Garnacho has plummeted significantly.

This marked the third Premier League match under Rosenior where Garnacho remained an unused substitute for the full 90 minutes. Previously, he saw no action in the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace and the 2-2 draw with Leeds. In his five appearances across all competitions since the start of the year, the 21-year-old forward has not completed a single full match.

This situation stands in stark contrast to Rosenior's earlier positive statements: "I thought Garnacho had some bright moments in the League Cup semi-final against Arsenal. He remains very important to the team. We have many matches across various competitions, so he will still have opportunities to demonstrate his ability."

Garnacho's skill level is the primary reason. Many experts believe he does not currently merit a starting position at Chelsea. Then there's the playing style. Operating on the left wing, Garnacho requires space to receive the ball and dribble. However, under Rosenior, the full-backs do not typically make overlapping runs, and Chelsea often employ a slower, possession-based approach. This forces Garnacho into situations where he must take on at least two opposition players whenever he gets the ball.

Garnacho is being marginalized under Coach Rosenior's tenure

Furthermore, after more than a month in charge at Stamford Bridge, Rosenior has begun to establish a clear pecking order for Chelsea's wingers. Pedro Neto and Estevao are the primary choices, followed by Garnacho and Jamie Gittens. Garnacho's playing opportunities are further significantly hindered by the need to accommodate key players like Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez in suitable positions, as they are vital components of Chelsea's lineup.

Nevertheless, Garnacho also must look at himself, as neither the previous manager Maresca nor the current boss Rosenior have held any prejudice or negative opinions about the Argentine forward. He has yet to contribute directly to any Chelsea goal since the start of the year. His last assist was in the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on December 30th of last year. His most recent goals were a brace in the League Cup victory over Cardiff on December 17th of last year.

Garnacho often faces criticism for his poor finishing, impulsiveness, and lack of composure in front of goal.

These are not the actions that will convince Rosenior to grant him more starting opportunities for the remainder of the season. The less he plays, the more likely the Argentine forward is to spectate at the 2026 World Cup, given Argentina's abundance of attacking talent. Looking further ahead, Garnacho could find himself on Chelsea's clearance list this summer, as Rosenior's team plans to upgrade their attack with higher-quality new signings. Time is not on the side of this 21-year-old forward!

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