What “positionally perfect” £40m signing has to do to become Enzo Maresca’s favourite option

There were a lot of exceptional Chelsea performances on Saturday evening, with Moises Caicedo and Estevao Willian dominating the headlines after the win.

That meant that Alejandro Garnacho probably didn’t get the credit he deserved for a great showing against the Reds. He’s still getting up to speed physically, but that didn’t stop him running around like a madman, as they noted on the London is Blue podcast.

Garnacho already offers great physicality without full fitness

Enzo Maresca embraces Alejandro Garnacho. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

“It was his first 75 minutes appearance in 154 days. So he’s still getting up to speed, he’s not played 90 minutes so far, for a third of a year. So you expect him to tire out,” their analyst noted.

“I think there was a moment where he had a shot from outside the box that I would have expected him to bury, that was very very close,” Nick Verlaney added.

“But other than that it was a positionally perfect game from him, and the effort with which he was running forward with I think really picked up the team to move forward more and maybe not be as conversative.”

You can see their discussion in the clip embedded here:

⚡️ @nickverlaney & @CFCCentral3 on Alejandro Garnacho's performance vs Liverpool, and why he will only get better in coming games.

🎧👉 https://t.co/YUpcHmocWRpic.twitter.com/IxS64Thjt1

— London Is Blue Podcast ⭐️⭐️ (@LondonBluePod) October 7, 2025

Garnacho set to be Maresca favourite among competition

That’s what we noticed too. He isn’t always the most efficient or effective with the ball, but he will put the effort in to win it and to provide options to his teammates.

We hope that enthusiasm doesn’t dim with time. His strengths are in his running and pressing and harrying, and he needs to make sure he keeps bringing that to the team, especially with the competition there is out wide now that Estevao is showing his ability.

Garnacho should continue to be a Maresca favourite once he’s fully fit, but only for as long as he stays motivated and disciplined.