Garnacho gets Chelsea welcome gift from UEFA after Champions League clash

Alejandro Garnacho has been given a welcome gift from UEFA following his move to Chelsea from Manchester United.

The 21-year-old winger left Old Trafford under a cloud in the summer after falling out with head coach Ruben Amorim.

His start to life at Chelsea following a €46 million transfer has not been stellar either as he has struggled to earn regular game time in Enzo Maresca’s stacked squad. Indeed, only two of his four appearances for the Blues have come as starters.

Without a goal or an assist to this point, there were concerns that Garnacho would be handed the dreaded ‘007’ tag, jokingly given to high-profile offensive players who fail to score or produce a decisive pass in their first seven matches for a new club.

UEFA has stepped in to ensure that Garnacho will not be the recipient of this in a move that one fan on social media branded “diabolical”.

Remarkably, the former Atletico Madrid youth has been credited with an assist for Chelsea’s goal against Benfica in midweek, despite the fact that it was put through his own net by Richard Rios.

Garnacho found space on the left and delivered a hard, low cross that was hacked high into his own goal by the Colombian defender in a moment that should have been far better policed.

Generally, own goals are not typically credited with assists, but UEFA’s official site has granted Garnacho with this one.

Maresca on Garnacho

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca explained after the fixture that he feels there is much more to come from Garnacho and fellow winger Jamie Gittens, who has had an even more difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge.

“That was probably the first Champions League game that Garna had started,” the Italian commented. “He was very good. I think Gittens was too – he tried in the last 20 minutes he was on. Both are going to be better and better game after game.”

UEFA crediting Garnacho with the assist for the goal lifted some of the pressure that was starting to build on the former Man Utd star, who was struggling to live up to his price tag.

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