Chelsea: Enzo Maresca drops Alejandro Garnacho selection hint for Manchester United reunion | OneFootball

Argentine winger returns to Old Trafford, just weeks after his acrimonious £40million summer exit

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dom Smith

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Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Alejandro Garnacho is ready to start for Chelsea against Manchester United.

Garnacho completed a £40million move to Stamford Bridge in late August and faces a quick reunion with his former club in the Premier League this weekend.

The 21-year-old came off the bench against both Brentford and Bayern Munich for his first Chelsea appearances and Maresca says there are no concerns about the reception he might receive on his return to Old Trafford on Saturday evening.

Maresca insists he has no doubts that Garnacho is ready to handle the atmosphere against United.

“It's always difficult (the atmosphere),” he said. “The other day against Bayern Munich, [Marc] Cucurella, every time he touched the ball the noise was not the best one, but you have to learn also to handle these kind of things.”

Garnacho’s departure from United in the summer was acrimonious, with the winger posting a picture of himself on holiday wearing an Aston Villa shirt with Marcus Rashford's name on the back. His brother's social media posts about his transfer to Chelsea also sparked backlash.

Chelsea have not won at Old Trafford for 12 years, and, despite United’s struggles so far this season, Maresca is clear that his side face a tough challenge.

“I think it's always difficult to play United away in their stadium, Old Trafford,” he said. “So I don't think that now is the right moment or next year will be the right moment or last year was the right moment.

“It's always difficult. It's a difficult team, it's a difficult stadium. I watched the games that they play this season.

“Some of the games are not a real result in terms of even the [Manchester] City game. Until 1-0, 2-0 they were in the game. When the game was 1-0, they had a few chances to score and to go ahead. So it will be a tough game, no doubt.”