Enzo Maresca on Garnacho: "He needs work" and "isn't fully fit" | OneFootball

After a long conflict with Rúben Amorim, which led the Portuguese coach to leave him out of Manchester United’s preseason plans, Alejandro Garnacho left the club where he made his professional debut to join Chelsea for 46 million euros. The Spanish-born Argentine was presented at his new club two weeks ago, but he did not arrive in top physical shape, which is why his debut with the Blues will have to be delayed.

“He’s fine, but he needs work,” admitted Enzo Maresca in a press conference before Saturday’s Premier League match against Brentford at 4 p.m. He then added: “He’s not at 100%.” Considering how soon the next matches are, it’s very likely he won’t feature in Munich either, where the London side will face Bayern in the first round of the Champions League group stage.

With another week of training under his belt, Garnacho’s first start could be none other than in the match against Manchester United next Saturday, December 20. This situation would add even more intrigue to a clash that is already one of the most attractive in the English league.

After their surprising Club World Cup triumph, the Blues started their Premier League season on the right foot. With seven points out of a possible nine, they are second, just behind Liverpool.

Garnacho will need to get up to speed both physically and in terms of football to adapt in the best way possible to a system that already seems well-oiled. Even though Chelsea will compete in four tournaments this season, the 21-year-old winger faces tough competition for his spot. In addition to Pedro Neto, currently the starter, he will compete with the newly arrived Jamie Binoe-Gittens. On the right, a position he also played at United, the battle for a place is even tougher, with names like Cole Palmer and Estêvão in the mix.

Moreover, the Madrid-born player is at a disadvantage because he lacks match rhythm. While all his competitors played in the Club World Cup and had a good preseason, Garnacho trained with his teammates but didn’t get match sharpness in the friendlies. These adaptation weeks will be crucial for the future of “El Bichito,” who will be looking to feel important again within a squad with a big goal on the horizon: making Argentina’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.