Alejandro Garnacho scored his eighth goal of the season for Chelsea in their thumping win over Port Vale as he still looks to win Blues supporters over
Moments after Liam Rosenior told reporters that Jamie Gittens was once again available, the Chelsea winger pulled up in training. On Friday afternoon, in the Blues’ final training session before the FA Cup quarter-final with Port Vale, Gittens felt his hamstring and was subsequently ruled out of Saturday evening’s victory.
“Unfortunately, Jamie, in training yesterday, picked up what looks like a hamstring injury,” said Rosenior not long after the full-time whistle. “We have to scan him and make sure.
“It’s a real shame for him, I think it’s the third time it’s happened. We need to help him and we need to make sure he’s okay. I can’t give you a time frame at the moment.”
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It is, as Rosenior said, a big shame for Gittens, whose debut season at Stamford Bridge has been plagued with injuries, particularly to the hamstring. The 21-year-old winger, signed from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth around £52million last summer, has not played for the Blues since January 31, where he limped off in the win against West Ham United.
Due to injuries, Rosenior has barely been able to use Gittens; with the England Under-21 international making just five appearances since the 41-year-old succeeded Enzo Maresca as head coach. Prior to his injury problems, Gittens was struggling to cement a spot in Chelsea’s first team but his fitness issues this year have made his debut campaign with the club immensely frustrating.
For Alejandro Garnacho, who also arrived last summer, it means potentially more minutes. Less competition on the left wing will surely see the Argentine, who netted the Blues’ seventh goal on Saturday evening from the penalty spot, pushing to start under Rosenior.
Pedro Neto seems to be Rosenior’s go-to option on the left-hand side but Garnacho has started eight of the head coach’s 20 matches in charge to date. The 21-year-old winger now has eight goals and four assists in 37 appearances in his debut season with the west Londoners – a respectable record, though he is yet to win over the supporters.
To Garnacho’s credit, he is, more often than not, in the right positions in the final third. He has registered 69 shots (28 on target) this season – only Joao Pedro (84) has more in the Chelsea squad. Per 90 minutes, only Estevao Willian – averaging 3.5 – shoots more than Garnacho.
For all of the criticism he gets, the Argentine does not shy away. He constantly wants to make an impact. Rosenior likes his players to be brave on the ball, take risks in the final third, and Garnacho, who has a lot of doubters, is the epitome of that.
If he can become deadlier in the decisive moments for Chelsea, then the Blues have a serious footballer on their hands. That, though, is a lot easier said than done.
