Jamie Redknapp was seen unhappy with Garnacho after the game between Chelsea and Brentford. He pointed out the youngster’s costly mistake in the late stages of the match.
Jamie Redknapp has called out Garnacho after his debut
Alejandro Garnacho arrived at Chelsea for £40m from Manchester United. He looked set to silence the doubters with a lively debut.
The Argentine winger played a key role in Moises Caicedo’s stunning late goal. That strike looked like it had sealed three points against Brentford. The Blues had fought back from a goal down, the Bridge was rocking. Garnacho had his first assist in blue as well.
But, football is cruel, and within moments all that promise turned sour. Fabio Carvalho’s stoppage-time equaliser left the Blues deflated.
As per Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports, Garnacho was at the heart of the error. The pundit accused him of “falling asleep” defensively when it mattered most.
This wasn’t the first time Garnacho’s work rate off the ball was questioned. At United, he had already been frozen out by Ruben Amorim during pre-season. The Utd boss was having doubts over his attitude and discipline. His first appearance for Chelsea suggested the same faults.
Redknapp may feel like he is being harsh, but his comments emerged from a simple observation. The wingers in the PL cannot afford to disengage. Garnacho’s exciting offensive moment was enough to enthrall the crowd. But, he needs to work on his defensive workrate as well.
Defensive discipline still missing
For all his attacking flair, Garnacho’s reluctance to track back remains the elephant in the room. Chelsea fans have seen this before. The Blues had other wide players who dazzled in flashes but failed to deliver the complete package.
Redknapp’s words carried weight because Brentford’s equaliser didn’t come out of nowhere. It came from Garnacho losing his marker at the worst possible time. That single lapse turned three points into one. That also left the Blues with their second draw in just four league games.
Garnacho has the talent, no question. Talent can only take you so far in this league. Should he want to be a success in West London, he has to show that he can work hard.
Author’s opinion:
Garnacho is talented, but Redknapp is right as well. The winger has to do the hard work off the ball too. Until then, Chelsea will have a hard time relying on him in important situations.
