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When will Garnacho's potential end?

Alejandro Garnacho is standing on a fine line between a highly anticipated talent and a player who must prove his true worth.

ZNewsZNews07/02/2026

Alejandro Garnacho has yet to prove his worth at Chelsea.

Alejandro Garnacho has never lacked talent, nor has he ever lacked attention. But at 21, after years of being hailed as a "rough gem," the question is becoming increasingly clear: when does potential translate into consistent class?

Modern football doesn't wait long, and what's happening at Chelsea shows Garnacho is entering the most crucial phase of his career.

When patience is no longer a given.

Garnacho was very protected at Manchester United. He was a homegrown player, given opportunities, and even his mistakes and lackluster performances were accepted.

But that tolerance ended when his relationship with Ruben Amorim broke down. Being dropped from the first team was not just a professional decision, but also a clear message: potential cannot be a permanent shield.

Moving to Chelsea for a fee of around 40 million euros, Garnacho entered a completely different environment. At Stamford Bridge, there is no concept of "need time because he's from the academy." Fans demand immediate results, especially with expensive signings. And so far, Garnacho has not lived up to those expectations.

After 27 appearances for Chelsea, Garnacho has only played two full matches. He scored 6 goals, which isn't bad at first glance. But only one of those goals came in the Premier League. The other two were against Cardiff City in the League Cup, and one against Qarabag in the Champions League.

Garnacho anh 1

Alejandro Garnacho is still considered a talented player.

Those statistics clearly reflect the reality: Garnacho still appears, still has his moments, but he lacks the necessary impact on the most important stages.

The League Cup semi-final against Arsenal is a prime example. Introduced when Chelsea needed a game-changer, Garnacho played unusually safely, making more backward and sideways passes than direct runs.

Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp both pointed out the problem on television. It wasn't just an isolated match, but a worrying trend.

Talent, personality, and the limits of self-confidence.

Garnacho is only 21 years old, and that's a point worth emphasizing. He's been facing Premier League defenders since he was 17, so the impression of him looking older than his actual age is sometimes misleading.

At that age, inconsistency is not uncommon. Football history has shown many wingers who needed a lot of time to perfect their final decision-making abilities.

Ryan Giggs once said that a player might dribble 10 times, lose the ball 9 times, but the 10th time will decide the game. Garnacho has that quality. He dares to take the ball, dares to confront opponents, and dares to try the hard.

That's the kind of courage an attacking player needs. George Best was like that. Giggs was like that. Cristiano Ronaldo and Eden Hazard too.

Garnacho anh 2

Alejandro Garnacho has been underwhelming lately.

But this is also the starting point of the downside. Confidence can easily turn into arrogance if left unchecked. Garnacho sometimes shoots from unnecessary angles, ignoring more sensible passing options. When these wrong decisions are repeated, the problem is no longer about form or mentality, but about the mindset of the game.

At Chelsea, manager Liam Rosenior faced a difficult dilemma. The tactical system prioritized ball control and a slow tempo against opponents who played defensively. The lack of overlapping runs by the full-backs meant Garnacho often found himself in a one-on-two situation. That didn't help him, but it couldn't be the only excuse either. Big players find ways to adapt. Young players have to learn that faster.

The order of priority on the wing for Chelsea also speaks volumes. Pedro Neto and Estevao are considered the favorites. Garnacho is only behind them, ahead of Jamie Gittens. With Estevao on special leave and Gittens injured, opportunities open up for Garnacho. But opportunities only mean something if they are seized.

The biggest question remains: Who exactly is Garnacho? A winger who explodes in the moment, or a player who can consistently make an impact week after week? Sir Alex Ferguson himself once said he hated the word "potential," because potential without action is just an endless promise.

Garnacho has the ability to turn things around. Chelsea believed in that when they decided to spend the money. Enzo Maresca once stated that Garnacho was easy to work with, eager to learn, and had a positive attitude. But top-level football isn't measured by goodwill. It's measured by making the right decisions in crucial moments.

At 21, Garnacho isn't too late. But he's not too young either. There comes a time in every young player's career when their potential truly blossoms. And if that doesn't happen quickly enough, football, an impatient industry, will provide the answer for everyone.

Highlights Chelsea 3-2 West Ham: In the early hours of February 1st, Chelsea came from behind to beat West Ham 3-2 in the 24th round of the Premier League.

Source: https://znews.vn/garnacho-bao-gio-thi-het-tiem-nang-post1625856.html


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