On a weekend when he scored his first Chelsea goal, Alejandro Garnacho has received criticism in the media for one thing.
It was a bleak Saturday for the Chelsea fanbase, watching their side lose 2-1 at home to Sunderland in the Premier League. Perhaps the only positive was that summer signing Alejandro Garnacho, 21, opened the scoring to net his first goal for the club.
The Argentine winger has started the three previous league matches as he plays his way into Enzo Maresca’s team. Admittedly, the former Manchester United star hasn’t completed 90 minutes yet this season in any competition.
Like many people, Pat Nevin wasn’t convinced by the Garnacho signing when he moved to Stamford Bridge in the summer. He will surely take a mini boost from scoring with a powerful left-footed finish.
Alejandro Garnacho celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Sunderland in the Premier League.
Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images
Andy Jacobs fuming with Alejandro Garnacho reaction vs Sunderland
TalkSPORT pundit Andy Jacobs delivered a scathing verdict on Garnacho for the way he reacted to being substituted off for Estevao Willian just before the hour mark against Sunderland.
Garnacho looked visibly angry when he was removed early into the second half.
Jacobs told talkSPORT: “He’s a bad apple, isn’t he? The way he sulked when he was subbed was pathetic. He’s just joined this club. Get off that pitch quickly and get someone on who can do something. You’ve done nothing since you scored the goal, and then you’re sulking because you’ve been taken off.”
For what it’s worth, Garnacho hardly crossed any line with his reaction to being subbed. If anything, it showed the South American attacker cared so much about helping his team. He wasn’t at his dazzling best despite his goal, so knows he can show supporters a lot more individual quality.
Incidentally, Chelsea fans were behind Garnacho by criticising head coach Maresca for taking him off against Sunderland.
Alejandro Garnacho shooting and scoring for Chelsea at home to Sunderland in the Premier League.
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
The wide positions still feel up for grabs
Even though Garnacho and Pedro Neto have been the starting wingers in the previous three league matches, it still feels like the wide areas are a major talking point.
Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens are two more wingers at the Bridge pushing to start more often. In particular, the noise around Brazilian wonderkid Estevao is growing louder and louder, so it must harder for him to omitted from the XI on a matchday.
Garnacho can only look to impact games when he’s on the ball pitch, especially by scoring and assisting more. If not, we can see Estevao quickly overtaking him in the pecking order.