Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel cannot stop raving about Alejandro Garnacho right now.
Mikel has been praising Garnacho following the winger’s brilliant performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.
He provided two assists as Chelsea went on to beat Wolves 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.
With three goal contributions in six Premier League games so far, Garnacho is proving to be a very underrated signing.
John Obi Mikel before the 2025 Champions League final.
Photo by Pau Barrena – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
John Obi Mikel loves how direct new Chelsea signing Alejandro Garnacho is
Mikel is a fan of Garnacho’s directness, which Chelsea supporters got to see during the Wolves game, and has described the 21-year-old as a “really good piece of business”.
Speaking on the latest episode of his podcast, the former midfielder said: “It’s so brilliant to see the likes of Garnacho playing really, really well. When you talk about Garnacho as well, you talk about his performances. A player we got for what, 40 million? That is looking to be a good piece of business.
“Slowly but surely he’s turning out to be a really, really good piece of business because his performances week in, week out. He’s been really, really good. But this Saturday, he absolutely proved why we brought him to the football club, absolutely fantastic performance.
“He’s always direct. I like when he has the ball. He’s always direct. He wants to go forward. He wants to dribble past the man. He wants to create chances. And the first time in his career, to create two, to have two assists is absolutely brilliant.”
It is not just the Premier League where Garnacho has been able to make an impact this season.
Before their win against Wolves, the Argentina international scored an important equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Qarabag. It was also his ball that Richard Rios turned into his own net in Benfica’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.
Following his arrival at Stamford Bridge, Enzo Maresca has done some physical work with Garnacho, which seems to be paying dividends now.
Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho in the air
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
John Terry also a fan of Alejandro Garnacho’s directness
Mikel is not the only Chelsea legend who likes what he is seeing from Garnacho at the moment. His former teammate John Terry has also been impressed with the 21-year-old and his positive wing play.
Terry discussed Garnacho after the Wolves win and said: “Absolutely petrifying as a defender when you’re facing someone that quick, that direct. I think he gives us something the other wingers don’t as well.”
He is keeping Jamie Gittens out of the side, with the former Borussia Dortmund man still trying to adapt.
While Gittens was terrific in the cup win versus Wolves, he has struggled in the Premier League.
The England Under-21 international is yet to score or assist in the top flight and has only made two starts under Maresca so far. However, that display in the Carabao Cup has given Chelsea fans reason to be optimistic about him.
As far as left-wing options go, Garnacho and Gittens are not bad players to have.