Alejandro Garnacho endured a nightmare start to his Garnacho Chelsea debut, as his defensive lapse allowed Brentford to snatch a late equaliser in Saturday’s Premier League clash. The Blues were moments away from going top of the table after Moises Caicedo’s 85th-minute goal, but Fabio Carvalho’s stoppage-time strike meant the match ended 2-2 at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Garnacho, who joined Chelsea this summer from Manchester United, came off the bench in the second half. While he played a role in creating Caicedo’s goal, his failure to track Carvalho during a long throw-in proved costly. Brentford capitalised on the lapse, with Carvalho sneaking behind the winger to convert at the back post.
Former Premier League star Jamie Redknapp was quick to criticise the youngster on Sky Sports, saying: “Garnacho has got a job to do. He’s got to mark Carvalho. That’s your job—simple as that. Don’t lose him. At the vital moment, he just falls asleep. Brentford have big players, they fight for that first contact, and once it drops, Carvalho is there at the back post. That’s on him.”
The result denied Enzo Maresca’s side the chance to leapfrog Arsenal and claim first place in the league. Instead, Chelsea left West London with only a point and a major talking point surrounding their high-profile signing.
Despite the mistake, Garnacho did showcase flashes of creativity, linking well with fellow substitute Cole Palmer and helping set up Chelsea’s second goal. Still, his defensive awareness will now come under scrutiny as Maresca looks to tighten up his side ahead of crucial fixtures.
Chelsea will next face Bayern Munich away in the Champions League on Wednesday before meeting Manchester United in the Premier League next weekend. For Garnacho, the upcoming matches present an opportunity to redeem himself and show why Chelsea invested in his talent.
