Alejandro Garnacho Told to Suppress Ego Following Diminished Role Under Liam Rosenior at Chelsea

Shaun Wright-Phillips warns Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho that his "not good enough" consistency and ego could lead to a permanent bench role in 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 10, 2026, 3:24 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Football365

A Struggle for Consistency in North London

Alejandro Garnacho’s transition from Manchester United to Chelsea has reached a critical crossroads. After being offloaded by United in a £40 million deal last summer, the 21-year-old has struggled to replicate his flashes of brilliance on a consistent basis in the Premier League. Despite showing initial promise, Garnacho has managed only one goal and four assists in 20 league appearances this season. While his domestic cup form has been more robust—tallying six goals in eight matches—critics point out that four of those strikes came against lower-tier opposition, such as Wrexham and Cardiff.

The Warning from a Club Legend

Former Blues standout Shaun Wright-Phillips has publicly challenged Garnacho’s current mindset, suggesting the Argentine needs to "put his ego a little bit in check." Speaking to Sky Bet, Wright-Phillips emphasized that Chelsea fans demand a "110%" work rate, regardless of a player's previous reputation or transfer fee. The former winger noted that in a competitive environment like the Premier League, half a season of sporadic performance is insufficient for a player at a club of Chelsea’s stature.

Relegation to the Substitution Bench

The dip in performance has had immediate tactical consequences under manager Liam Rosenior. Garnacho has started only three of Chelsea’s last nine fixtures, as Rosenior seeks a more reliable offensive output during a period where the club has won just twice in nine games. Wright-Phillips warned that with the emergence of Jamie Gittens and the abundance of other wide options in the squad, Garnacho faces the prospect of permanent bench life if his "levels of performance" do not improve immediately.