Chelsea claimed a 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, as the Blues consolidated fifth place on the Premier League table.
Chelsea won thanks to a Cole Palmer first-half hat-trick before tailing off in the second 45, letting their foot off the gas.
To spark life into the game, Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior introduced Alejandro Garnacho for Palmer on 61, but he struggled to impact the game.
The Chelsea winger is going through a rough patch and is off the boil.
In 30 minutes, Garnacho did not manage a shot or beat his man. He lost possession three times from 16 touches. He also lost his only ground duel.
‘He has the footballing equivalent of the yips when there’s a full-back for beating one-v-one,’ the Daily Mail wrote.
Garnacho desperately needs to find his feet soon. With Jamie Gittens out, he can consolidate that position on the left flank.
However, he will need to earn it with much better performances than he put in today.
Pedro Neto isn’t doing much better form-wise, meaning Garnacho has every chance of reclaiming the starting berth if he gets going.
But Chelsea cannot head into another campaign relying on potential or flashes of promise from their left-wing options.
The Blues need a clear upgrade in that position this summer, someone who can consistently beat their marker, stretch defensive lines, and still deliver decisive end-product.
Neto, Gittens, and Garnacho have each shown moments of quality, but none have demonstrated the reliability or match-winning consistency required.
Chelsea’s rebuild has focused heavily on youth and long-term development, yet certain areas demand immediate elite-level output, and left-wing is one of them.
If Chelsea are serious about bridging the gap to the Premier League’s title contenders, difficult decisions may be required.
One or possibly two of the current options could need to make way for a winger capable of providing both penetration and productivity every week.