Enzo Maresca has admitted that Alejandro Garnacho will take time to adapt to life at Chelsea as he criticised the winger’s defensive work.
Garnacho made his Chelsea debut off the bench against Brentford last weekend following a £40million late summer move from Manchester United.
The 21-year-old endured a mixed evening, playing a vital role in Moises Caicedo’s goal which put Chelsea 2-1 up in the 85th minute, before losing Fabio Carvalho from a long throw-in as Brentford snatched a stoppage-time equaliser.
Speaking ahead of Garnacho’s return to Old Trafford on Saturday, Maresca said the Argentine was ready to start but still needed to work on the defensive side of his game.
“It’s something that we said many times; players need time to adapt,” said the Chelsea boss.
“When we conceded the second goal against Brentford, two or three minutes before we conceded exactly the same throw-in and exactly the same chance, and the player behind Garnacho was alone again.
“So it happened twice, not only one time. But it’s a process, when a player joins a new club, to understand we work on different things.”
Maresca also said of Garnacho: “In the last two games, he was very good when he came on.
“So, we are happy with the way he has adapted to our style and what we want from the winger. I think he is ready to start.”
Chelsea are looking for their first win at Old Trafford in 12 years on Saturday, and Maresca could turn to the former jewel of United’s academy to end that long hoodoo.
