The Maresca Dilemma: Can Garnacho Shift the Narrative at Chelsea? | OneFootball

It feels there is always a new crisis around the corner at Chelsea. Gallows humour amongst supporters will chuck out the scenario of the manager getting sacked in the next six months after a major triumph. Not down to self-loathing, but because of the club’s predictably unpredictable nature.

From European Cup winners to sanctions in under 12 months. From 1st to near the relegation zone before Christmas. Equally, it can flip the other way. From Lampard’s sacking to Tuchel’s triumph in Porto. Or AVB’s misery to RDM’s delight. Enzo Maresca is not the first nor last since 1905 to contend with this frantic pendulum of differing fortunes.

Chelsea prepare for Saturday’s clash with Brighton amidst a wave of growing concern. The disastrous night at Old Trafford, a highly concerning first half at Lincoln and reports of growing unrest between coach and board – oh, is it that time again?

The Premier League table does not indicate such hostility. Although Chelsea trail leaders Liverpool by 7 points, they sit only 2 behind 2nd place, 1 above Manchester City. They are through to the next round of the Carabao Cup and have seven Champions League games to remedy their opening night disappointment in Munich.

But that does not reflect the whole story. Chelsea’s performance levels have veered from erratic to underwhelming. They are starting games horrendously, finding themselves trailing in 5/8 games so far. Maresca’s rotation decisions are not paying off and players are making a series of boneheaded errors.

Their savior? Step forward Alejandro Garnacho. The most divisive transfer of the summer by some distance. Garnacho felt like a transfer purely forced through at the whims of the club’s sporting directors. On the SD’s, the jury very much remains out on their reputation, despite the seeming unflinching backing by the club’s hierarchy.

With injuries hurting Maresca’s options, the squad’s limitations are already being exposed. Goalkeeping fragility, a lack of defensive quality without Levi Colwill, and attacking fears without the injured Cole Palmer. There is some concern too that Maresca, despite publicly not showing otherwise, was not happy with the club’s transfer business.

Garnacho feels like one of those moves that has to work out. He comes with doubters aplenty following his acrimonious exit from Old Trafford. There are question marks over his ability to stand up when things are challenging.

However, the justification for his signing always was in the data, which suggested a player producing highly impressive numbers in a pretty terrible environment. Purely on goals, Garnacho was only one behind Noni Madueke’s tally of 7 in the Premier League in 2024/25.

He has yet to start a Premier League game for Chelsea, denied coming off the bench against his former club last weekend due to Wesley Fofana’s fitness concerns. A start seems unlikely, which means that Garnacho will have to make a quick impact in limited minutes.

Maresca needs a win to simmer any sense a winter of chaos is around the corner, which may give Garnacho the perfect opportunity to prove his worth and boost his reputation.

You can follow my coverage of Chelsea on YouTube at SonOfChelsea. More written coverage of the club on Substack. Follow me on X for more thoughts, along with listening to the podcast.