Alejandro Garnacho of Aston Villa
Alejandro Garnacho of Aston Villa(Image: Joaquin Corchero/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Former Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey has called on Alejandro Garnacho to shut up pundits who have criticised him over the past 18 months.
Garnacho joined Chelsea from Manchester United last summer but struggled to impress at Stamford Bridge before joining Villa on loan in July.
The 22-year-old will become a permanent member of Unai Emery’s squad once he makes a certain number of appearances for the club, but he has made just three Premier League appearances so far this season.
Having not featured in Villa’s last four matches, Garnacho has started to make a better impression over the past fortnight after working closely with Emery during the international break. He also scored in each of Villa’s friendlies against Southampton and Sevilla.
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Former striker Heskey wants to see the Argentina international make significant strides at Villa and fulfil the potential he showed at Manchester United a few years ago.
"With young players like Alejandro Garnacho, I would like to see less talking and more action. Less talking and more action, please,” Heskey told Betarades.gr.
“He is not a bad player, but I don't want to hear anything from him. I just want to see him playing football.
Alejandro Garnacho of Aston Villa
Alejandro Garnacho of Aston Villa(Image: Joaquin Corchero/Europa Press via Getty Images)
"Do it the simple way. Come play the game and love the game. We don't need the exaggerated celebration or anything. You need to show us why we are wrong and we should shut our mouths."
Garnacho was one of a number of new additions that Villa made in the summer, given that they lost over half of the starting XI which played against SC Freiburg in the Europa League final.
"Considering the team has been torn apart, they have actually done reasonably well in the transfer market,” Heskey continued. ”The players that left, I mean oh wow. You've got to give it to them that they have made some good business.
"Of course, it's sad that they had to sell all their best players, especially as they are playing in the Champions League. Obviously, it has something to do with Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) as well. They struggled in that sense.
"But they have done quite well getting the squad they have now. They probably have one of the best managers, for sure."
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