Liam Rosenior could hardly have asked for a better start as Chelsea manager. A 5–1 victory in his first match in charge delivered the perfect result on paper. However, despite the comfortable scoreline, there were clear moments of frustration for the Chelsea head coach, particularly involving Alejandro Garnacho.
Throughout the game, Rosenior was repeatedly heard shouting instructions at Garnacho from the touchline. The message was simple and consistent.
Rosenior Wanted Garnacho to Stay Wide
According to The Athletic, Rosenior was constantly urging Garnacho to stay wide and attack the flank rather than drifting into central areas. The same instructions were given to Jamie Gittens on the opposite wing, but the contrast in execution was obvious.
Modern wingers are often encouraged to cut inside to shoot or create chances. Rosenior took a different approach against Charlton. His tactical plan was designed to stretch a compact low block and create space elsewhere on the pitch.
By keeping the wingers wide, Chelsea were able to open up central areas for inverted full backs such as Jorrel Hato and allow midfield runners like Enzo Fernandez and Facundo Buonanotte to exploit the gaps.
Gittens followed the plan well and produced one of his best performances in a Chelsea shirt. Garnacho, however, repeatedly moved inside, narrowing the pitch and slowing Chelsea’s attacking rhythm.
A Disappointing Performance From Garnacho
Despite Chelsea scoring five goals, Garnacho endured a frustrating afternoon on an individual level. The former Manchester United winger struggled to make an impact against Championship opposition.
He lost seven of his nine duels, failed to register a single defensive action and was unable to beat his full back with any consistency. When he did find space, his crosses and shots were frequently blocked.
The performance did not go unnoticed by the crowd, with Garnacho being booed by sections of the home support during the match.
Karen Carney’s Verdict
Pundit Karen Carney also voiced her frustration with Garnacho’s display during TNT Sports coverage.
She pointed to his decision making as the main issue, explaining that Garnacho repeatedly chose to come inside when the situation called for him to go on the outside and stretch the game. Carney stressed that Garnacho is at his best when he creates problems for full backs by widening the pitch and forcing defenders into difficult situations.
What It Means for Garnacho Under Rosenior
With Chelsea’s attacking options set to increase as players return from injury, Garnacho’s place in the starting eleven looks uncertain. Rosenior has already shown that he demands tactical discipline, work rate and structure from his wide players.
While several Chelsea players impressed in the win over Charlton, Garnacho’s performance stood out for the wrong reasons. Many fans felt a rating of four out of ten was generous.
If Garnacho is to secure a regular role under Rosenior, improvements in decision making, defensive effort and positional discipline will be essential. Otherwise, opportunities could quickly become limited despite Chelsea’s strong start under their new manager.
