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Football Insider

Gary Neville’s Critique of Alejandro Garnacho’s Struggles at Chelsea and Liam Rosenior’s Tactical Decisions

Gary Neville has raised concerns about Alejandro Garnacho's confidence and performance at Chelsea, while also questioning Liam Rosenior's approach in a recent match against West Ham. Read on for a detailed analysis of their struggles and the team's overall performance.

Gary Neville’s Critique of Alejandro Garnacho’s Struggles at Chelsea and Liam Rosenior’s Tactical Decisions

Gary Neville believes Alejandro Garnacho’s confidence has been “shot to pieces” at Chelsea, with the former Manchester United winger putting in a “horrible” performance for the Blues against West Ham. He was dragged out of that contest at half-time, with Liam Rosenior’s side battling their way back to claim a 3-2 win. Questions are being asked of Garnacho’s contribution to the collective cause.The Argentina international swapped Old Trafford for Stamford Bridge during the summer of 2025, as a £40 million ($55m) transfer was completed. He has struggled for a spark in west London, registering just six goals - with only one of those coming in the Premier League - across 26 appearances in all competitions.The 21-year-old hit a new low when lining up against the Hammers in Chelsea’s latest fixture. He was awarded a starting berth, but failed to contain the threat posed down his flank and was removed at the interval with Rosenior’s side trailing 2-0.Neville, who saw plenty of Garnacho during his time with United, was on co-commentary duty as Chelsea prevailed in a five-goal thriller with London neighbours. He delivered an assessment of Garnacho on his self-titled podcast for Sky Sports.The United legend said: “In the first half, I have to say that West Ham were absolutely fantastic. They dominated the game, even though they didn’t dominate possession, they dominated the game. They had the best chances, they were more physical, and that left side of Chelsea was obliterated.“Alejandro Garnacho is a player that divides opinion, I think, at times. A lot of people are questioning, is he top-class or where is he? Where is he in the pecking order? What was difficult to watch was a young player like that, who’s gone to Chelsea and he looked shot to pieces in terms of his confidence on that left-hand side.“I’m not just talking about when [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka kept going off him running forward, but actually when he got the ball, his first touch was back and then he just kept going back and giving it away. It was an awkward, very horrible experience for both [Jorrel] Hato and Garnacho on that left side, and [Benoit] Badiashiele. But once he changed it, the complete and utter transformation of the game occurred.”Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!Neville added on Chelsea as a whole, with Rosenior having made sweeping changes to his side against West Ham in the wake of a Champions League win over Napoli: “I watched Chelsea and honestly I can look at them, they look like an under-10s team when they play for parts of matches and then all of a sudden they can turn into what looks like a real good football side, that’s got a real energy about them and some good quality players.“You’d have to say Liam Rosenior would look back upon it and he made the seven changes, which I’m not going to criticise him for because I actually think that can be deemed as brave. A lot of managers talk about trusting their squad, but they play the same team near on every single week. They don’t trust the squad. Actually to change your players when he’s had the run of games that he’s had is in some ways admirable.“He said to those players, I want you to go out there. He said to [Jamie] Gittins, he said to [Liam] Delap, he said to Garnacho, he said to [Jorrel] Hato at left-back, get out there, go and play, I trust in you. But too many changes, it’s too many changes.”Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingChelsea sit fifth in the Premier League table, a point behind fourth-placed Manchester United, and Neville expects them to compete for Champions League qualification without pulling up any trees.He added: “They’ve won in Napoli, they’ve come back from 2-0 down against West Ham, they’ve demonstrated that they’ve got the quality to win in difficult places or come back in games where they look beaten. That’s a really good thing for them. They’re not the real deal, but they should be in the top five.”Chelsea will be back in cup action on Tuesday when taking in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Arsenal. The Blues currently trail that contest 3-2 on aggregate.

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Alejandro Garnacho's Struggles at Chelsea

Gary Neville recently commented on Alejandro Garnacho's lackluster performance in a match against West Ham, where the young winger was subbed off at half-time. Neville expressed concerns about Garnacho's confidence being 'shot to pieces' and highlighted his struggles both defensively and offensively. The former Manchester United player has only managed to score six goals since his £40 million move to Stamford Bridge, with his form in the Premier League particularly underwhelming. The criticism from Neville raises questions about Garnacho's ability to contribute effectively to Chelsea's success.

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Liam Rosenior’s Tactical Decisions

Neville also scrutinized Liam Rosenior's tactical decisions in the game against West Ham, where the manager made seven changes to the starting lineup following a Champions League victory over Napoli. While Neville commended Rosenior for showing faith in his squad, he also suggested that too many alterations can disrupt the team's cohesion. The match against West Ham saw a drastic turnaround after the changes were made, leading to a thrilling 3-2 comeback win for Chelsea. Neville's analysis provides insights into the complexities of managing a squad and the balance between rotation and consistency.

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Chelsea's Performance and Prospects

Despite the criticism, Neville acknowledged Chelsea's resilience and quality in securing victories against tough opponents like Napoli and West Ham. He noted the team's ability to overcome deficits and win crucial matches, highlighting their competitiveness in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League. While Neville believes Chelsea are not yet the finished product, he expects them to maintain their challenge for Champions League qualification. With an upcoming Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal, Chelsea will have another opportunity to showcase their mettle and push for silverware under Rosenior's guidance.

Published on Feb 3, 2026