Alejandro Garnacho set for Old Trafford return with Chelsea

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Alejandro Garnacho (21) is “ready to start” against former club Manchester United on Saturday, in what promises to be a charged return to Old Trafford.

The 21-year-old winger, signed by Chelsea for £40m in August, has so far featured only as a substitute under Maresca. But speaking ahead of the weekend’s fixture, he suggested the Argentina international is now prepared for a starting role.

Garnacho’s departure from United was far from seamless. As reported by BBC Sport, he was instructed to train apart from the first team by United head coach Ruben Amorim after questioning his exclusion from last season’s Europa League final, which United lost 1-0 to Tottenham. Amorim subsequently made it clear that the player should seek a new club.

The winger could be met with hostility from the stands, but Maresca downplayed the potential impact. “The same happened to Marc Cucurella against Bayern Munich, which is not easy,” he said. “But as a player you have to learn to endure these kinds of things.”

GFN | Finn Entwistle

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