Garnacho was very poor on the day Chelsea defeated Nottingham

New winger Alejandro Garnacho delivered a lackluster performance in Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the 8th round of the 2025/26 Premier League.

Victory at City Ground helped Chelsea strengthen their position among the top teams. However, while most Chelsea players showed confidence and effectiveness, Garnacho continued to disappoint and risks losing the trust of coach Enzo Maresca. Starting on his favored left wing, the Argentine only played 45 minutes before being substituted in the second half. Statistics from Sofascore partly explain this decision.

Garnacho had no shots or key passes but lost possession 6 times, succeeded in dribbling only once, and had almost zero impact in attack, despite an 88% pass accuracy with 7 out of 8 passes completed. Meanwhile, on the opposite wing, Pedro Neto performed well with a goal and an assist. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens replaced Garnacho and played better. Based on his performances so far, it is clear that Garnacho is gradually being pushed down the pecking order in Maresca’s lineup.

Since joining Chelsea, the 21-year-old forward has yet to score or assist in 6 appearances across all competitions. Many fans have started questioning the decision to sign him from Manchester United, and these doubts are gaining ground. Chelsea faces two important matches against Ajax and Sunderland next. If he does not improve quickly, Garnacho could be dropped from the starting lineup, putting his future at Stamford Bridge in serious jeopardy.

Garnacho emphasized that Chelsea can compete for the Premier League title and at least one trophy this season: "We are in a good position in the table [5 points behind leaders Arsenal], especially after some bad luck with red cards. For example, in the match against Brighton, we should have taken 3 points. And in the game against Man United, if Chelsea had played with 11 men, I feel we would have been the stronger side.

But the team is still fine. The important thing is to build on the win against Liverpool and keep winning to stay in the top positions. Chelsea can compete in the Premier League and for other trophies. We want to fight to win at least one title. With the team’s current form and the club’s strength, Chelsea can challenge for major honors."

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