Garnacho’s Struggles at Chelsea: Navigating Pressure and Expectations

Alejandro Garnacho’s arrival at Chelsea in August 2025 stemmed from growing frustration during his time at Manchester United, where he fell out of favor under manager Ruben Amorim. The £40 million transfer was perceived as a significant acquisition for the Blues, yet the 21-year-old has found it challenging to recapture the dynamic form that endeared him to fans at Old Trafford.

Since his move to London, Garnacho has featured in 27 matches across all competitions, starting 17 times as he seeks to achieve consistency. Although he has displayed glimpses of his undeniable talent, his tally of six goals—only one of which has come in the Premier League—has left many questioning his overall impact. His most notable performance was in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal, where he scored twice to bolster Chelsea’s hopes; however, the team ultimately lost 3-2 (4-2 on aggregate).

The increasing pressure on Garnacho became apparent during Chelsea’s recent 3-2 win over West Ham, where he was substituted at halftime after a lackluster showing. Former United player Gary Neville heavily criticized his performance, while pundit Pat Nevin expressed concern over the decline in Garnacho’s confidence. He drew a troubling parallel to Raheem Sterling’s struggles in his final days at Chelsea and suggested that fans would prefer the club retain Noni Madueke rather than trade him for Garnacho.

Nevin recounted, “I was at the West Ham game, and numerous fans approached me asking, ‘Why are we letting Noni Madueke go while bringing in Alejandro Garnacho?’ It was somewhat disheartening to see Garnacho taken off; the last time I witnessed something similar at Stamford Bridge was with Sterling. If a player’s confidence wanes significantly, it can lead to a downward spiral.”

Despite his sympathy for Garnacho, Nevin firmly stated that the young player must accept the responsibilities associated with being a high-earning first-team player. “To silence the doubters, hard work and performance are essential; complaining about a lack of respect or hostile crowds is unproductive,” Nevin asserted. “As a professional footballer, one must face the criticism head-on. If you perform well, the fans will appreciate you. If not, and if you don’t demonstrate effort, you’ll face greater scrutiny.”

The discourse surrounding Garnacho often touches on the mental strain of competing under such intense pressure. However, Nevin contended that this scrutiny is an inherent aspect of a professional contract. While recognizing the growing awareness of mental health in modern sports, he maintained that players must accept criticism as part of their role.

“In today’s world, there is a greater understanding of mental wellbeing, but most players realize that criticism is part of the job. It’s inherent in the profession,” Nevin concluded. For Garnacho, the challenge now lies in rediscovering those standout moments, such as his brace against Arsenal, and demonstrating the mental resilience required to flourish at Chelsea.