Enzo Maresca on Garnacho: "He needs work" and "he's not fully fit"

After a long conflict with Rúben Amorim , which led the Portuguese coach to leave him out of Manchester United’s preseason, 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 the match against Brentford in the Premier League this Saturday at 4 p.m. He then added: “ He’s not at 100% .” Given how soon the match is, it’s very likely he won’t feature in Munich either, where the London side will face Bayern in the first matchday 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 clash against Manchester United next Saturday, December 20. This situation would add even more intrigue to a match 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 in second place, just behind Liverpool.

Garnacho will need to get up to speed both physically and in terms of football to adapt as best as 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 a starter, he will compete with the newly arrived Jamie Binoe-Gittens . On the right wing—a position he also played at United—the fight 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 fit in the friendlies . These weeks of adaptation will be crucial for the future of the “Bichito,” who will be looking to feel important again within a squad with a major dream on the horizon: to be part of the Argentina national team squad for the 2026 World Cup.

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