Confidence Crisis? Why Alejandro Garnacho Is Fighting to Prove His Worth at Chelsea

‎Alejandro Garnacho has been a polarizing figure since his summer switch from Manchester United to Chelsea, and recent performances have increased the scrutiny surrounding him. After a disastrous opening 45 minutes against West Ham, Gary Neville suggested the winger’s confidence appeared completely broken — an assessment that has gained traction.

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‎Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho faces growing doubts after inconsistent performances, with scrutiny increasing over his confidence, role, and long-term place in the squad.

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‎Chelsea believed they had secured strong value when signing Garnacho for £40 million late in the transfer window. Yet half a year later, the Argentine still hasn’t delivered the impact many expected.

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‎His poor display against West Ham emphasized his difficult start, especially after Liam Rosenior substituted him at half-time before Chelsea staged a remarkable comeback.

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‎With supporters already uncertain about his arrival, Garnacho must now overcome rising skepticism and prove his value.

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‎Chelsea knew they were taking a gamble last summer. Garnacho was available following a highly public fallout with former United coach Ruben Amorim after the 2024-25 campaign. Amorim reportedly removed him from his plans, citing concerns about behavior and training standards, and even warned him he might struggle to find a new team after Garnacho criticized United’s season following their Europa League final defeat.

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‎Chelsea had monitored him for months and ultimately waited until the final days of the transfer window to negotiate his price down from £70m to £40m, believing they were acquiring a high-potential young Premier League player at a reduced cost.

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‎So far, however, the move has not produced the desired results. While adjustment struggles were understandable given his unsettled summer and late arrival, Garnacho has yet to show his peak ability.

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‎Although he has nine goal contributions, most came against weaker opposition. His most significant moment remains his two goals against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, though it didn’t change the final outcome. His only Premier League goal came months ago against Sunderland.

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‎More worrying than the stats is his declining attacking influence. Attacks often slow when he gets possession — the opposite of what once made him dangerous at United.

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‎Supporter frustration continues to grow. Already viewed with suspicion due to his United background and reputation for arrogance, crowd frustration is becoming louder when he opts for safe passes.

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‎His performance against West Ham highlighted these struggles dramatically. The opposition targeted his flank repeatedly, with Wan-Bissaka dominating him physically. West Ham’s goals both came from his side, and Garnacho lost possession 12 times in the first half despite avoiding risky dribbles.

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‎Neville noted his lack of confidence during commentary, pointing out his tendency to pass backward rather than attack defenders. He also questioned why Rosenior waited so long to replace him given Chelsea’s defensive issues on that flank.

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‎Chelsea still won dramatically thanks to Enzo Fernandez, but Garnacho was part of a halftime triple substitution alongside Hato and Badiashile. Their replacements played key roles in the turnaround.

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‎Despite the victory, Neville later described Garnacho as lacking confidence and highlighted how Chelsea’s left side had been completely overrun before the tactical changes.

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‎Concerns about his role deepened when he was left on the bench in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal despite injuries to other wingers. Instead, Fernandez and Delap played out wide.

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‎During his late cameo, Garnacho improved slightly but remained ineffective as Chelsea exited the competition.

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‎With Gittens now injured and Neto struggling for form, opportunities may increase. However, Craig Burley believes Garnacho is best used as a late substitute rather than a starter.

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‎Evidence supports this idea. Opta data showed Garnacho had the most substitute goals in the Premier League by mid-January. Garnacho himself has acknowledged that matches often open up later, allowing substitutes to exploit space.

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‎Rosenior has defended him, saying Chelsea’s poor first half against West Ham was a team issue rather than an individual failure. He also praised Garnacho’s positive moments against Arsenal and insisted he will play an important role moving forward.

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‎Still, Chelsea is not known for long-term patience. Garnacho must quickly rediscover his confidence and attacking threat if he wants to remain part of the club’s future plans. While Rosenior backs him publicly, Chelsea’s recruitment structure has shown little hesitation in moving players on if necessary.

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‎At 21, Garnacho still has time to improve. Tactical systems under current and previous coaches may not perfectly suit him, and improved form from Cole Palmer could help. But under Chelsea’s model, consistent performance is essential.

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‎With injuries affecting the squad, the upcoming Wolves match could provide the perfect stage for Garnacho to restart his Chelsea journey. If he fails to impress in the near future, another summer decision could be looming.