ALEJANDRO GARNACHO joining Chelsea was a signing clouded by questions not around his ability, but more his attitude.
Many insisted his petulant attitude, shown amid his Man Utd exit, would infiltrate a Chelsea dressing room that had symphonic harmony after winning the Club World Cup.
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Alejandro Garnacho impressed many with his support of Jamie Gittens against BurnleyCredit: PA
He was filmed encouraging the winger during half-time despite not playing in the gameCredit: Alamy
However, his arrival has shocked people and made many Chelsea fans eat their own words.
Not only has Garnacho been a model performer on the pitch, but off it too, with his weekend act of supporting Jamie Gittens against Burnley not going unnoticed.
Garnacho was filmed at half-time walking out with Gittens, encouraging him to go out and perform, before commenting on his post-match Instagram post to further support his competition.
As well as this, the Argentine seemed one of the happiest players to go over to the away end at Turf Moor, despite not playing a minute.
Perhaps Manchester United were the problem…
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BATTLE OF THE TEENS
MUCH of the build-up for Tuesday’s game has seen comparisons drawn between the two youngest jewels in the crown of world football, Lamine Yamal and Estevao.
With Estevao really bursting onto the scene this season, and Lamine Yamal already having been known for the best part of two years, despite still being 18, there have been a lot of calls for Estevao to start more games for Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca, though, has been managing the minutes of his bright Brazilian talent, meaning it is hard to truly compare the two in terms of ability.
To do so, you have to judge their stats per 90 minutes played, because Estevao often has appeared from the bench for the Blues, whereas Yamal has established himself as not only Barcelona‘s best player, but one of the world’s finest.
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Estevao will hope to show off his talents against Barcelona this weekCredit: Getty
He will face off against fellow youngster Lamine Yamal when Chelsea play BarcelonaCredit: Getty
If you are to compare the two brutally in terms of stats per 90, this is how they stack up: Yamal is evidently the more clinical shooter of the two, with his 0.5 goals per 90 beating out the 0.26 of Estevao, while the Spaniard actually has a lower total expected goals per 90 of 0.34 compared to Estevao’s 0.46. When it comes to assisting metrics, the story is similar.
Yamal’s assist numbers are almost 3x as good in LaLiga as Estevao’s in the Premier League, with 0.75 assists per 90 beating out Estevao’s 0.26.
Again, Estevao’s expected assists per 90 are higher than Yamal’s, though, implying he is being somewhat let down by whoever is on the end of his passes.
Unfortunately for the Brazilian, it’s the same too when it comes to dribbling.
Yamal completes 5.1 successful dribbles per 90 minutes, with a 51.3% success rate, compared to Estevao’s 3.71 dribbles with a 43.8% success rate.
Ultimately, when it comes to Estevao vs Yamal, you are comparing very good to greatness.
Across both of their short careers, they have put up sensational numbers already, and have come from very different backgrounds – Estevao emerging from Brazil and now thriving on his move to Europe, while Yamal thrust his way into a top Barcelona team and has performed ever since on the International stage too.
In their first 100 games of professional football, Estevao has put up 47 goals and assists (1.24 per 90 mins), whereas Yamal put up 49 (0.66 per 90 mins).
Even Chelsea’s Jorrel Hato said the only other teenager as good as Lamine Yamal that he has seen is Estevao, so while the comparisons inevitably have credibility, there is a gulf in class in terms of output for now at the top level.
EARLY BIRDS
NEVER back the early kick-off. Unless it’s Chelsea playing, that saying might be true.
The Blues, though, seem to love playing at 12:30 on a Saturday, as they have recorded eight straight wins in those fixtures.
Only Manchester City have had a longer run of successive victories in that specific timeslot, with nine wins recorded between May 2021 and October 2022.
Enzo Maresca’s side will have the chance to match that record when they face Newcastle at 12:30pm on Saturday 20th December.
Chelsea are on the verge of breaking Pep Guardiola’s Man City record of early kick-off winsCredit: Getty
POINT TO PROVE
MARC CUCURELLA made just ONE appearance for Barcelona after years in their famed La Masia academy.
The Blues defender, 27, started his career with Espanyol’s academy before joining Barca’s youth ranks in 2012.
Cucurella left permanently for Getafe, following a couple of loan moves, in 2020 before making a switch to Brighton a year later and then, eventually joining Chelsea.
But his Barca grounding has been incredibly helpful for Chelsea, especially under Enzo Maresca.
Marc Cucurella will hope to inspire Chelsea against former employers BarcelonaCredit: Getty
Chelsea’s frizzy-haired full-back made his name at Brighton for his incredible energy up and down the flank.
But Maresca prefers to use Cucurella as a left-back who steps into midfield when on the ball, all thanks to his technical ability.
Maresca, who became a manager after being inspired by Pep Guardiola‘s Barcelona, feels that the defender’s La Masia education means he is uniquely equipped in the Blues squad to play such a demanding role.
And tonight it could be crucial to getting one over on his former club as he faces them for a seventh time.
SQUAD COLES
CHELSEA’S overreliance on Cole Palmer has been well documented ever since he started shining for the Blues.
However, the emergence of Pedro Neto, Joao Pedro, and Enzo Fernandez in terms of sharing goals for the Enzo Maresca’s side has seen the gaffer more pleased than if it were the likes of Erling Haaland banging in 40-a-season.
Only Manchester City have scored more goals than the Blues, but their top scorers, above, only have four goals each, compared to Haaland of City scoring 14 goals himself.
The spread of goals around the Chelsea team is also only good news for Palmer when he returns.
Chelsea’s habit of sharing the goals can only be a good thing ahead of Cole Palmer’s returnCredit: Getty
It goes without saying that when in the team, Palmer is the jewel in the Chelsea crown. but now he doesn’t have to worry so much about being relied upon so heavily for output.
The times where Palmer has dipped in form, it has been visible that he is overthinking chances in front of goal, and that undoubtedly comes from the pressure that he not only puts on himself, but the external pressure put on him to carry the team.
When he is back fit, though, he will feel as though his teammates, particularly those aforementioned names, are more capable of helping out their star performer.
JACK IN THE BOX
NICOLAS JACKSON looks set for another summer of unrest.
The Senegal striker joined Bayern Munich on loan from Chelsea on deadline day in a deal which nearly collapsed following injury to Liam Delap.
Nicolas Jackson could find himself looking for a new club when his Bayern loan endsCredit: AFP
Bayern will be obligated to make the move permanent if Jackson makes 40 starts for the German giants, which looks unlikely.
Reports in Germany suggest that there is little appetite for keeping Jackson beyond this season, while he has no desire to return to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were keen to move Jackson on last summer, but it appears they have not completely forgotten about him.
Chelsea fans heading to Stamford Bridge tonight can still see the former Blues striker displayed outside the ground!
Posing in this season’s kit, the striker is pictured alongside midfielder Enzo Fernandez outside the west London stadium.
ANDREY THE GIANT
ANDREY Santos was Chelsea’s player of the match against Burnley, and it was a performance that showed exactly why Chelsea were so keen to hold onto him this summer.
Amid interest from the likes of Manchester United and PSG, the Blues stood firm in their determination to keep the Brazilian midfielder.
Santos has often been used as a number eight this season, alongside Moises Caicedo, but Enzo Maresca thinks his best position is as a number six, the same role that Caicedo usually occupies.
Andrey Santos is showing why Chelsea held onto him this summer after his display vs BurnleyCredit: Getty
Enzo Maresca has been experimenting with the Brazilian’s positionCredit: Getty
Maresca, after the Burnley game, said: “Andrey’s position is the position that he played today.
“With us, most of the time he plays a little bit higher, a little bit in the pocket, but it’s because in that position we have Moises, so we try to find solutions, space for Andrey.
“We are aware and we know that Andrey’s position is the position that he played today.”
It’s a sentiment that Santos himself doesn’t necessarily agree with, and thinks he can be just as useful in either role.
Santos told SunSport: “It’s hard to say one position because I like to play like a number eight or like a number six.
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“I think it is efficient for the coach if he thinks that the better I play like a number eight, I will do my best.
“But if he thinks that I can play like a six, like today, I will do my best.”
