Enzo Maresca Defends Alejandro Garnacho After Man Utd Fan Taunts

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has moved to shut down a growing theory circulating among Manchester United supporters about Alejandro Garnacho’s absence from the pitch in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford. Garnacho, who made the switch from United to Chelsea in a high-profile £40 million deal this summer, was booed relentlessly by the home crowd — but Maresca insists that had nothing to do with his decision to keep the Argentine winger on the bench.

Garnacho’s Return to Old Trafford: A Heated Atmosphere

When Chelsea visited Old Trafford last weekend, most of the pre-match talk was centred around Garnacho’s return to Manchester. The 21-year-old winger, once considered one of United’s brightest prospects, had been frozen out of the squad under Ruben Amorim before sealing a late-summer transfer to Stamford Bridge.

The Theatre of Dreams faithful did not roll out the red carpet for their former starlet. From the moment he began warming up on the touchline, Garnacho was met with a chorus of boos and jeers from the home support. Social media quickly lit up with theories suggesting that Maresca opted against bringing him on to spare him from what could have been a hostile cameo.

But Maresca, speaking in the aftermath of Chelsea’s narrow defeat, was quick to pour cold water on that idea.

Maresca Explains Why Garnacho Didn’t Feature

“No,” Maresca said when asked if the decision was influenced by the jeering fans. “He was ready, he was literally about to go on, and then Wesley Fofana asked for a change.”

That change altered the dynamic of Maresca’s plan. Chelsea were pushing hard for an equaliser late in the game after both teams were reduced to ten men, and instead of turning to Garnacho for extra attacking threat, the Italian coach prioritised stabilising his back line. Tyrique George and Malo Gusto came off the bench as Chelsea sought to keep their shape intact.

Maresca stressed that he had no hesitation in playing Garnacho in such a heated environment. “He was prepared, and we had no concerns about the atmosphere. The timing simply changed because of the substitution request,” he explained.

Garnacho’s Chelsea Start: Slow but Promising

Maresca

Despite not getting his chance against United, Garnacho has already featured for Chelsea since his summer move. The Argentine made his debut in the dramatic 2-2 draw with Brentford on September 13, coming off the bench and showing flashes of the electric dribbling and directness that made him such a hit at Old Trafford early in his career.

He was also used as a substitute in Chelsea’s Champions League opener against Bayern Munich, though his side were ultimately beaten 3-1 by the German champions. Those minutes suggest Maresca does see him as an important piece of his squad, even if competition for starting places is fierce.

Chelsea’s £40m Gamble on Garnacho

Garnacho

Chelsea’s decision to spend £40 million on Garnacho raised some eyebrows, particularly given his complicated exit from Manchester United. The winger had been training away from the first team in the weeks leading up to his move after a reported falling out with Amorim.

For Chelsea, though, the deal represented an opportunity to snap up a player with huge potential who already has Premier League experience. Maresca has repeatedly spoken about building a younger, hungrier Chelsea squad that can grow together over the next few seasons. Garnacho, still just 21, fits that profile perfectly.

There is little doubt the boos from the Old Trafford crowd will have stung — they were a clear reminder of the fractured relationship between the player and his former club. But Garnacho’s focus will now be on making his mark in blue rather than dwelling on the past.

What’s Next for Chelsea and Garnacho

Chelsea’s schedule doesn’t get any easier. The Blues are back in action on Tuesday night when they travel to face high-flying League One outfit Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup. It could be the perfect opportunity for Garnacho to get more minutes under his belt and stake a claim for a bigger role in the weeks ahead.

After that, Chelsea host Brighton at Stamford Bridge in what will be a crucial Premier League clash. With the Blues looking to climb the table after a mixed start under Maresca, Garnacho will no doubt be pushing hard in training to earn his first league start for his new club.

Maresca has made it clear he wants to carefully manage the minutes of his young attackers, including Garnacho, George, and Noni Madueke, as Chelsea continue to fight on multiple fronts this season. But if Garnacho continues to impress in training and off the bench, it feels like only a matter of time before he becomes a regular feature in the starting XI.

Final Word

The speculation about why Garnacho didn’t feature against Manchester United might have made headlines, but Maresca’s explanation makes sense. This was not about shielding his player from boos — it was simply about game management in a tense, chaotic match.

For Garnacho, the real focus will be on writing new chapters in his career rather than reliving the old ones. Stamford Bridge has already given him a warm welcome, and with Chelsea needing more attacking spark, his chance to shine could come sooner rather than later.