Man Utd sold Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea last summer after a breakdown in his relationship with Ruben Amorim.

“Do you have any regrets about how things ended at Manchester United?” Alejandro Garnacho was asked by a journalist before Chelsea played in December.

“No,” he responded. “Do you feel sad about how it finished?” was the swift follow-up question from the reporter. “No,” Garnacho replied.

It was a blunt response from a player who acted unprofessionally during his final season at Old Trafford, but a candid interview with Garnacho about his United departure suggests he now knows he was in the wrong.

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Garnacho recently spoke to Premier League Productions and was asked what went wrong at United. “I think nothing really went wrong, you know, it’s sometimes different moments in life. I remember in the last six months, I was just not playing like before at Manchester United,” he said.

“I started to be on the bench, it’s not a bad thing, I was only 20 years old, but in my mind it was like I had to play every game. In my mind, maybe it is also on me, I started to do some bad things.

“But yes, it was just this moment in life, and sometimes you have to make decisions, and I am really proud to be here and still in the Premier League at a club like this. Everyone knows the team we have and the things we can do. Sometimes, we have better moments or worse moments.

“I am proud to be here [Chelsea], but with United, I have nothing wrong to say about the club, no one in the club or the teammates. It’s just a moment in life that change and life continues. We have to look forward.”

Garnacho was asked whether he stuck by his ‘no regrets’ admission. “I remember that press conference, it was my first with the club, so I knew some people were going to ask things like this to create something that I didn’t want, so I just said no to close the question,” he said.

“But I don’t have anything bad to say, and it was a very good moment in my life. Sometimes you have to change things. Maybe it’s a good decision, maybe it’s bad, but in football, sometimes you have to make decisions in the moment. Now I’m really happy and proud to be here.”

It was then fascinating to hear Garnacho admit that the circumstances around his exit were regrettable. “Yeah, maybe yes, because I loved that club, you know,” he said about whether it hurt him.

“They gave me the confidence from the start, from Spain, to bring me to the academy, then they brought me to the first team, so it was like four or five years, and amazing love from everyone, from the fans, the stadium, everything was really good.

“It’s just sometimes you have to change for the good of your life or the next steps. You never know in life what is going to happen. I only have good memories of Man United. The time we spent together was really good.”

Garnacho trained alone at Carrington last summer after a breakdown in his relationship with Ruben Amorim at the end of last season. He stepped over the line too many times, and Amorim decided enough was enough.

There were disciplinary issues with Garnacho during Erik ten Hag’s reign, but the beginning of the end of his United career came in December, when he was dropped for the Manchester derby. Amorim saw something he did not like, but decided to reintegrate Garnacho into the squad.

Further cracks appeared against Ipswich Town at the end of February when Garnacho stormed down the tunnel at Old Trafford after being taken off following Patrick Dorgu’s red card. The youngster posted a photo of himself on Instagram to tell the world that he wasn’t happy.

Amorim subsequently clarified that Garnacho had apologised and offered to pay for a team dinner. The case was closed, but Garnacho reacted badly to being benched for the Europa League final.

On the day of the game, Garnacho uploaded a photo of himself scoring in last season’s FA Cup final on Instagram. It appeared to suggest he’d been omitted from the starting XI, and Garnacho was confirmed to be on the bench at the Estadio de San Mames when the team news was revealed.

After full-time, Garnacho told reporters: “Up until the final I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know. The final will influence [his decision to stay at United].”

His younger brother, Roberto Garnacho, added fuel to the fire when he posted on social media: “Working as no one else, helping every round, coming from two goals last two finals, just to be on the pitch for 19 mins and get thrown under the bus. Wowe, hahahaha.”

Garnacho’s behaviour around the Europa League showpiece event was the final straw. Three strikes and he was out. Chelsea initially entered discussions to sign him by offering £25m, and United’s bargaining power was damaged by the world knowing he needed to leave.

It was refreshing to hear Garnacho admit he made mistakes. “I started to do some bad things,” he said, finally taking responsibility for the circumstances around his departure from Old Trafford.

Amorim was bang on the money in getting rid of Garnacho, whose immaturity ultimately led to his downfall at United. The 21-year-old made the kind of mistakes that he would likely not commit as he gains more experience.

There’s no denying that Amorim got more wrong than right during a torrid 14 months in charge of United, but it should not be forgotten that he did get some things right at Old Trafford.

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The latest Manchester United news and headlines coming out of Old Trafford

Manchester United will be targeting a place in the Premier League’s top four as domestic football makes its return this weekend. Michael Carrick’s men won’t take to the pitch until Monday evening, when Leeds United make the trip to Old Trafford.

United have been in impressive form since Carrick assumed the reins, climbing the table and establishing themselves in third position. The club have also benefitted from a period of rest during the international break, alongside the FA Cup last weekend, affording them three weeks away from competitive football.

Following a mid-season training camp in Ireland during the week, United will be champing at the bit to return to Premier League duties with just seven fixtures remaining this campaign. A place in European football appears increasingly likely, while securing a permanent managerial appointment also sits high on the club’s agenda.

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Here, Manchester Evening News rounds up the latest emerging from Old Trafford.

Carrick’s rule switch works a treat

Carrick’s switch from the 3-5-2 formation deployed under Ruben Amorim to a 4-2-3-1 at United has worked wonders, according to Bruno Fernandes. The club captain has been pleasantly impressed by the interim boss’s tactical prowess since he took charge, having won seven of his 10 matches and lost just once.

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This shift to a revised formation, combined with the introduction of Kobbie Mainoo, has produced immediate dividends. Fernandes noted it has led the club to find the net more frequently, with United having scored 20 times under Carrick so far.

Speaking to Men in Blazers, he said: “Obviously, we have changed some things. He changed some players, changed some players’ positions, has tried a different formation, and at the end of the day, we have started to score goals. We were creating a lot.

“In terms of creation and chances of goals, we were there at the top when Ruben was here, but we were not finishing that. And then we were probably one of the best teams at not allowing the opposition into our box, but we would concede more goals.

“We started to be more compact when we defend, and realised we have moments when we have to suffer because we were not in an excellent moment, let’s say, so I think that sacrifice we made in the first few games… I wouldn’t say we were lucky, but it was good for us to have two big games straight away.

“Because if you win against City and then win against Arsenal at the Emirates, then we think it’s going to be fine, we’re playing good football now and we’re going to win. I think City was the game when we played the best. Against Arsenal, we made the most of it and found a way to win.

“Sometimes big clubs have to find a way to win games. Whether it’s pretty or not, you have to find a way to get results.”

Axed star opens up

Alejandro Garnacho has revealed he bears no ill feeling towards United following his departure from Manchester to join Chelsea over the summer. The Argentine starlet had been widely regarded as a rising talent at Old Trafford and appeared destined to become a firm fan favourite.

However, the 21-year-old ultimately made his way to Stamford Bridge, putting pen to paper on a seven-year contract with the Blues paying £40 million to his former club. Speaking about his transfer this week, Garnacho told Premier League Productions that he harbours no bitterness towards United and is content with life at Chelsea.

He said: “Yeah, at United have nothing wrong to say about the club or any teammates, no one. Just a moment on life changed. My life continued. So we have to keep looking forward.”

Reflecting on his stint at Chelsea so far, Garnacho added: “We know the team we have, the things we can do. Sometimes is better in some moments, and worse.

“But yeah, I’m really proud to be here in this moment. The life here [at Chelsea] is normal, and I’m happy.”

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Alejandro Garnacho exited Manchester United under a dark cloud last summer, but the Argentine admits things could have been handled better from his side

Alejandro Garnacho has admitted he regrets the way he left Manchester United. The Argentine had an acrimonious exit from Old Trafford last summer, when he joined Chelsea for £40million.

He departed the Reds as a member of the so-called Bomb Squad having fallen out with then United manager Ruben Amorim. The South American had a bitter quarrel with Amorim after publicly criticising the Portuguese manager for leaving him out of the starting eleven for the Europa League final loss to Tottenham.

From that moment, Amorim marginalised the South American, who had already irked him earlier in the campaign by wearing an Aston Villa shirt with Marcus Rashford on the back, after the latter had his own falling out with Amorim. Looking back on his exit, Garnacho admits things could have been handled better.

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Speaking to Premier League productions, Garnacho, when asked if he regrets the way he departed the club, said: “Maybe yes, because I loved that club. They gave me the confidence from the start.

“From Spain, to bring me to the academy, then they bring me to the first team. So it was like four or five years, and amazing love from everyone.

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“From the fans, the stadium, everything was really good. It’s just sometimes you have to change for the good of your life or the next steps. I only have good memories of Man United.”

He also opened up on the final few months of his time at the club, where he found himself on the bench under Amorim. Garnacho added: “I remember in the last six months I was just not playing like before at Manchester United. I started to be on the bench, it’s not a bad thing.

“I was only 20 years old, but in my mind it was like I had to play every game. In my mind, maybe it is also on me, I started to do some bad things.

“But yes, it was just this moment in life and sometimes you have to make decisions and I am really proud to be here (at Chelsea) and still in the Premier League at a club like this. Everyone knows the team we have and the things we can do.

“Sometimes, we have better moments or worse moments, I am proud to be here but with United, I have nothing wrong to say about the club, no one in the club or the team-mates. It’s just a moment in life that changes and life continues. I have no regrets.”

Garnacho has an opportunity to haunt both, his former side’s rivals Manchester City and then United the week after. Chelsea host Pep Guardiola’s title-chasing side this weekend and then welcome Michael Carrick’s men the following week at Stamford Bridge.

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A rival manager has reportedly reached out directly to Alejandro Garnacho in the hopes of giving the ex-Manchester United winger a route out of Chelsea in the summer transfer window

This summer could present a major crossroads for Alejandro Garnacho amid reports he’s been contacted directly by a rival manager. However, it’s not necessarily the kind of interest the Argentina international might have envisioned one year after leaving Manchester United to join Chelsea.

Garnacho, 21, was seemingly considered to be a disruptive presence in United’s changing room prior to his Old Trafford exit. The winger spoke out against Ruben Amorim after being dropped by his former boss towards the end of that chapter, joining the Blues last summer in a £40million switch.

And after struggling for success under Liam Rosenior, Argentinian broadcaster TyC has reported he’s now a target for River Plate. So much so that manager Eduardo Coudet is alleged to have reached out personally in the hopes of luring the player.

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It’s suggested River Plate are interested in recruiting Garnacho on a one-year loan, which Chelsea could be open to. A temporary deal would give Garnacho a chance to rediscover his best form away from the bright lights of the Premier League.

The youngster has earned eight caps for Argentina and was part of Lionel Scaloni’s squad as they lifted the 2024 Copa America. However, Garnacho has never lived in the country and qualifies through his mother, having been born and raised in Madrid.

It’s a disappointing illustration of where his prospects stand today. Enzo Maresca was in charge at Stamford Bridge when Garnacho moved to west London last year and the Italian appeared to be a big fan of the player.

However, Rosenior hasn’t proved as receptive and initially benched Garnacho in his Premier League commitments. Most of the winger’s greatest impacts this season have come in cup competitions, including a brace off the bench during their 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in the League Cup semi-finals.

His output in league play hasn’t been nearly as prolific, with one goal and four assists from 20 appearances this season. Garnacho is contracted at Chelsea until the summer of 2032, however, leaving plenty of time to resurrect his profile to its former heights.

The downside of that is the Blues yet again leave themselves at risk of paying a depreciating asset on incredibly long terms. Garnacho is among the more median earners at Stamford Bridge on a wage of £110,000 a week, though that would still present a major obstacle for River Plate.

As such, Chelsea would be expected to at least cover a significant portion of the player’s salary while he was on loan. Furthermore, Garnacho has previously commented on the fact his family supports Boca Juniors, River Plate’s fiercest nemeses.

There’s no chance Los Millonarios would be able to compete for Garnacho’s signature on any permanent terms unless Chelsea took a massive loss. United have a vested interest in the player increasing his value, too, given they’re entitled to 10 per cent of any future fee Chelsea receive.

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Chelsea are struggling with an issue that has also blighted Manchester United in recent times

Alejandro Garnacho was previously left incensed by baseless allegations of leaking team information during his time at Manchester United.

The Argentine winger’s current club, Chelsea, are now handling a similar problem. The Blues’ starting line-up for Tuesday evening’s match against Paris Saint-Germain was prematurely revealed by several French media outlets on the day of the game.

Such revelations give Chelsea’s rivals, who lead 5-2 on aggregate, an advantage ahead of the pivotal Champions League last-16 second-leg tie. This is the second instance in a week where Liam Rosenior’s team news has allegedly been leaked.

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Rosenior’s squad selection for the first leg was also disclosed by the French press just hours before the match kicked off last week. At the time, the Chelsea boss pledged to look into the matter as he said: “I wasn’t aware [of the leak]. I’m sure we’ll get to the bottom of that if that’s the case.”

However, it seems the west London side have yet to find a solution. This comes after Garnacho was accused by some United supporters on social media of leaking team news while he was still playing for the Old Trafford side last season – an allegation he strongly refuted.

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In December 2024, during Ruben Amorim’s tenure, United’s team selections were consistently leaked before kick-off. The problem, which stretched back to the eras of David Moyes and Jose Mourinho, led some supporters to direct blame towards the 21-year-old along with his United colleague Amad.

Both players vehemently rejected any involvement and United were left deeply frustrated by the allegations spreading online. The Daily Mail reported the club refused to accept either player being falsely accused without any proof.

Club officials backed the pair, believing those making accusations were simply attempting to boost their online profile. It was reported that Garnacho and Amad were close to publicly responding to the matter before the Europa League triumph over Viktoria Plzen.

However, the club rejected their request to do so, worried it would only worsen the situation. Garnacho has never been proven guilty of leaking team information.

United have encountered the same problem this season, with Michael Carrick’s line-up allegedly being disclosed ahead of January’s Manchester Derby. There is no evidence of Garnacho being responsible at either club.

The winger has featured 34 times for the Blues since his £40million switch to Stamford Bridge last summer. He has failed to secure a regular starting position and has netted just one goal in the Premier League this season.

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As Liam Rosenior digests his second Premier League defeat as Chelsea manager, the Blues boss was called out on live TV by an Arsenal icon

Thierry Henry has criticised Liam Rosenior for turning away following Alejandro Garnacho’s error that proved costly for Chelsea against Newcastle United. The ex-Manchester United forward was given the nod to face Eddie Howe’s side, who beat the Blues 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Anthony Gordon slotted home the match’s only goal, which saw the west Londoners slip out of the top five following Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Anfield to Tottenham Hotspur. It was a sloppy goal as Tino Livramento managed to easily thread Jacob Murphy through before the winger knocked the ball past the advancing Robert Sanchez for Gordon to stroke it home.

Henry, speaking on Monday Night Football ahead of Brentford’s home fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers, pointed out Garnacho’s pressing attempt on the Newcastle defender. He argued the United academy graduate, who left Old Trafford last summer in a £40million deal, ought to have angled his press to cut off the passing route to Livramento, who was unmarked centrally.

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While the Arsenal icon conceded Garnacho had erred, he disapproved of Rosenior’s reaction of turning away in exasperation after Newcastle found the net, reports the Mirror. Henry said: “The way he went to put pressure there Garnacho, it’s very important that we’re going to talk about it.

“At that particular moment you have the info yourself that Chalobah was maybe going there [stepping forward], but you know he’s stopped and Livramento is alone. So at that particular moment you know you’re going to make a little turn or arc your run to make sure that the ball doesn’t go in, and then they play on Malick Thiaw here.

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“That can happen what you just explain if you bend your run and that’s going to have a massive impact on what can happen straight after because it allows that ball to go inside and that’s exactly what you don’t want and he allowed that to happen.”

In response to Rosenior’s reaction, Henry added: “So the first mistake is don’t allow the ball inside (like Garnacho did), correct it after, but the leader on the field (points to Reece James) didn’t make it happen, right?

“But I want to show you here (points at Liam Rosenior turning away from the pitch), Liam Rosenior, I’ve been there, you are disappointed that they allowed that ball to go inside but we are not at a training ground here where you can go: ‘Ahh, let’s start again’.

“So since you talked about players do not react or they liked to be coached or the coach likes to maybe not give them that freedom, then coach it because there is a mistake.

“He’s not coaching it on the field, and unfortunately, I said to you that I’ve been there, but he’s not even looking at what is happening. Goal. Do you understand what I’m saying, it’s not easy. That’s what they need to deal with and they didn’t.”

When questioned about Newcastle’s goal, Rosenior acknowledged a “tactical issue” lay behind the collective error, which could prove damaging to Chelsea’s Champions League qualification ambitions. The former Strasbourg boss explained: “Yeah, there’s a tactical issue. We press in a different way to most teams. It’s a new way of pressing. We don’t step on the press and we don’t cover in a position that we should have done. Mistakes happen.

“They had nothing. They had nothing in the game and we gave them a goal. We talk about the press. I think the press was the reason Newcastle had to kick long balls back to us and we controlled the game.

“But in that moment, we make a mistake and it feels like at the moment every mistake we’re making is ending up in the back of our net and we need to make sure we stop those mistakes.”

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Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.

Former Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho starred in Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Aston Villa, with Liam Rosenior full of praise for his outstanding performance at Villa Park

Liam Rosenior heaped praise on Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho after the Blues’ triumph over Aston Villa. The west London boss highlighted the winger’s reaction in team meetings as a positive, in great contrast to how Garnacho’s spell at United under Ruben Amorim ended.

Rosenior’s side demolished Unai Emery’s team 4-1 at Villa Park, despite falling behind inside two minutes. Joao Pedro produced an outstanding hat-trick following Douglas Luiz’s early strike, whilst Cole Palmer also got on the scoresheet.

It was former Manchester United star Garnacho who attracted considerable attention at the final whistle for an impressive display, however. Rosenior pointed out that his player had been frustrated by his recent lack of game time and praised Garnacho’s work on the training ground after he registered an assist in Wednesday night’s win.

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Speaking post-match, the head coach was emphatic in his verdict after the winger vindicated his prediction of an excellent performance. He also praised the Argentine’s attitude following the huge win. “He’s outstanding. He was outstanding,” Rosenior said.

“I’ve had a lot of conversations with him. I said in there, I knew he’d play well tonight because of how he has been training the last ten days and two weeks. He’s been disappointed not to play and he should be.

“In a positive way, he’s shown that in his training and the meetings we’ve had. Not just going forward but defensively, Matty Cash is a top full back and he did a job on him.”

Rosenior’s praise of Garnacho’s professionalism continued in his press conference. “That’s normally what happens. When you’re professional, you do everything right on the training pitch,” he said.

“He’s really impressed me the last few weeks. He’s impressed me the most while he’s been out of the team, because his reaction to being out of the team is professionalism.

“The intensity that he’s trained at, it’s no coincidence that he’s going to perform like that today. That’s the most pleasing thing for me, he deserved that today. He should have got a goal, but he was in the right position, and I loved how unselfish he was to set up the goal for Joao.”

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Rosenior also expressed admiration for Pedro. When questioned about the forward’s performance by Joe Cole, Rosenior immediately described the Brazilian international as “scary”.

The Chelsea manager commented: “His mentality as well, he’s a warrior. He’s a fantastic footballer, but he’s strong and he’s physical.

“We’ve worked a lot with him about his positioning in the box. Two of his goals I’m delighted with because they’re in the six-yard box and that’s where strikers get goals.

“We know he’s an outstanding player and for me, he’s got even more to go, which is even better for us.”

Alejandro Garnacho left Manchester United in bitter circumstances last summer before sparking “concern” with something he did

Alejandro Garnacho was once tipped to spearhead Manchester United’s attack into a new and more fruitful era.

The Argentine joined United in 2020 as a mere 16-year-old from Atletico Madrid. Determined to follow in his idol Cristiano Ronaldo’s footsteps, the youngster broke into the first-team fold, playing alongside the aforementioned veteran and exciting Old Trafford with his wing play.

Garnacho went from strength to strength under Erik ten Hag and helped save the Dutchman’s job, at least temporarily, with a goal against Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Along with Kobbie Mainoo, he was seen as a key player for the club for the next decade, only to end up joining Premier League rivals Chelsea last August for £40million.

The Manchester Evening News now takes a look at how it came to be that such an exceptional talent left United, his current relationship with the team and how he is faring in west London.

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Bitter exit

The beginning of the end for Garnacho at United was the arrival of Ruben Amorim. Early signs of friction between player and head coach appeared in December 2024 when the Argentina international was dropped, along with Marcus Rashford, for a Manchester Derby after apparently performing poorly in training.

Their relationship soured as the season went on, and he was left out of the starting line-up for last season’s Europa League final, which United lost. He was openly critical of the decision, which all but confirmed he would have no further part to play under the Portuguese boss, as he was relegated to the ‘bomb squad’ over the summer and sold to Chelsea.

Garnacho made 144 appearances for United, netting 26 goals and providing 22 assists. He left United with a farewell message that indicated he held some fondness for his previous club.

But he also expressed little remorse about departing the red half of Manchester in bitter circumstances. Garnacho even suggested leaving United was an essential move for his development. When asked whether he held any regrets, Garnacho responded: “No.”

Pressed on whether he felt sadness about how his spell at United concluded, he again said: “No.” He added: “Sometimes in life you need to change things to take a step forward or improve as a player,” Garnacho explained. “It was the right moment, and the right club. So it was an easy decision.”

Message to Fernandes

Despite his attitude towards the club, Garnacho seems to still cherish his friendship with several of his former team-mates. He appears to be following United’s matches closely, allegedly giving his views on Mainoo’s own issues with Amorim earlier this season.

And, following United’s shock 3-2 win over Arsenal in January, he shared the players’ enthusiasm on social media. After the game, United skipper Fernandes shared a few pictures from the match, including one with goalscorer Patrick Dorgu, who delivered a strong performance.

He wrote: “Ballon D’orgu,” followed by a lovestruck emoji. That prompted a response from Garnacho, who replied with: “T best.”

Chelsea struggles

Despite leaving United for a hefty fee, Garnacho’s first season at Chelsea has been underwhelming. He has scored six goals and notched three assists in 29 appearances but has only shown flashes of brilliance as opposed to consistently imposing himself on matches.

After a poor display against relegation-threatened West Ham in January, Garnacho was called out by his own manager. Liam Rosenior said: “[He’d] be the first to say that maybe his performance wasn’t to his level in that [West Ham] game, but there were many collective things. I know Garna is an outstanding player, that’s why he’s here…”

Pundit Gary Neville also took a swipe at the forward while partly blaming him for their 2-0 deficit at half-time. The United legend said: “That left side of Chelsea was obliterated. Alejandro Garnacho is a player that divides opinion, I think, at times.

“A lot of people are questioning, is he top-class or where is he? Where is he in the pecking order? What was difficult to watch last night was a young player like that, who’s gone to Chelsea and he looked shot to pieces in terms of his confidence on that left-hand side.”

More recently, Alan Shearer has voiced his concern over how easily Garnacho goes to ground, suggesting that it may show a lack of desire to really affect games.

Speaking on the BBC One live commentary, Shearer wasn’t too impressed with how easily Garnacho went down from a cross in the first half, saying: “I’d love to be wrong, but I think if he shows more desire and strength, he gets on the end of that, rather than looking for a penalty, which it wasn’t.”

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Alejandro Garnacho has continued his form from Manchester United into his role at Chelsea, following his transfer in the summer, with a mixture of promise and frustration coming from his time in west London so far.

Former Manchester United star Lee Sharpe believes that Alejandro Garnacho is facing the same frustrations during his early time at Chelsea that he suffered from at Old Trafford.

The 21-year-old left United last summer for a fee worth £40million, having spent nearly five years at the club following his switch from Atletico Madrid as a youngster.

During that spell, Garnacho made 144 appearances for the senior team, scoring 26 goals and assisting 22 times, a tally that could and perhaps should have been much higher, given the threat that he carries into the final third.

For Sharpe, it’s that lack of clear decision-making that leaves much to be desired from the Argentinian international, leading him to believe that is the reason he was sold by United, and that he is still struggling with the same issues at Chelsea.

He told BetBrain: “Alejandro Garnacho has picked up where he left off at Manchester United. When he’s on form, he’s one of the most exciting young players in the Premier League, but one of the reasons Manchester United let him go was because of his decision-making in the final third, which is something he still struggles with.

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“He can become really frustrating when he gets into good positions in and around the penalty box. He’ll get better in those situations with experience and age, but it’s still something he needs to work on for now.”

It’s certainly an element of Garnacho’s general play that left many fans at United frustrated with him, as they knew he could provide much more if they could be improved upon.

Ultimately, it appeared as though it was one reason for a sale, but there were also reports of a falling out between Ruben Amorim and Garnacho that seemingly played a major role in the exit coming about in the summer, with Chelsea eventually pouncing on the deal.

So far, the 21-year-old has made 29 appearances for the Blues, scoring six goals and assisting three times in those matches, finding some mixed fortunes so far.

More recently, the former United star has faced some struggles in form, but Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has sung his praises nonetheless.

“He [Garnacho] creates a threat in terms of his movement,” the Blues head coach said earlier this month when defending his forward.

“I’ve got full backing of him and I will always protect my players and I think he just needs to get some games and some rhythm, which is difficult at the moment because of the amount of changes we’re making. I back him to have a really good second half of the season.”

Garnacho could face off against United again this season in mid-April, when they take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, in what could be a key head-to-head in the race for Champions League qualification.

Michael Carrick and those above him will certainly be hoping that the winger doesn’t have a key say in how the top-four race ends this campaign.

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