Alejandro Garnacho has endured a very difficult few seasons and his loan spell with Aston Villa appears to have got off to a tricky start following his switch from Chelsea
Alejandro Garnacho
Garnacho is set to spend the season on loan with Aston Villa(Image: Getty Images)
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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery believes Alejandro Garnacho still needs time to adapt having played just half an hour for the club. The Argentine forward joined Villa on loan this summer from Chelsea.
There is an obligation to make that move permanent at the end of this season should certain conditions be met. But Garnacho’s contributions in the Midlands have been limited so far.
He has made just three substitute appearances for Villa so far this season, while he has also fallen behind academy graduate George Hemmings in the pecking order. Asked how he has managed to earn that position, Emery has suggested that the youngster is already a Premier League player, while Garnacho still has work to do.
Speaking after his side’s 0-0 draw with Hull City on Saturday, Emery said: “George, he worked last year the whole year with us and played minutes. He is performing fantastic and getting better.
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“He created one assist for Buendia. He is working in the intensity and kilometres we need. He is doing it. I think he is a player now, clearly, to be in the Premier League.
“Then, we have other players who joined who need to adapt to us in training, playing matches, and Garnacho is in this way.
“We need their performance to try to add things, working and getting numbers. Garnacho is in this way. How he is responding, George, is really fantastic.”
Garnacho’s move to Villa follows a very tricky couple of years for him. He fell out of favour at Manchester United, ahead of a switch to Chelsea.
Alejandro Garnacho
Garnacho has yet to start for Aston Villa this season(Image: Getty Images)
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But he lasted just a year at Stamford Bridge, scoring just once in 24 Premier League appearances. He underlined his desire to rediscover his confidence during his time with Aston Villa.
"This is an important club which is going up really quickly, so I can't wait to get started here," Garnacho said after his switch to Villa was announced. "I was looking for a club to get my confidence back, so I can try to become the player I was a few years ago in my first years at Manchester United.
"I spoke with the manager and he gave me the confidence to try to help the team here - that's why I'm here. It is important to play in European competitions and the Champions League is the best one, so the fact we are playing in it this season makes me really happy. Hopefully we can do something important in it."
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