John Obi Mikel has criticised Enzo Maresca and his decision-making following Chelsea’s 2-1 loss against Manchester United in the Premier League.
The Blues returned to winning ways in the Carabao Cup with summer signing Facundo Buonanotte impressing during the win against Lincoln City.
Prior to Tuesday’s win, Enzo Maresca suffered his first league defeat of the 2025/26 campaign in a drama-fuelled clash at Old Trafford.
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Man United took a commanding two-goal lead after Robert Sanchez received his marching orders inside the opening five minutes on Saturday before Casemiro was also sent off as he was handed his second yellow card on the stroke of half-time.
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Chelsea produced their worst performance of the season thus far, and now ex-Blues midfielder Mikel believes Maresca made a crucial error in the loss.
Alejandro Garnacho should have played against Manchester United
When discussing the result on his Obi One podcast, Mikel believes Chelsea would have stood a better chance had Alejandro Garnacho been introduced at Old Trafford and blasted the boss for leaving his summer signing on the bench.
“I thought Enzo Fernandez didn’t have his best game, and I just thought that’s where he should have taken him off and brought on Garnacho.
“I just thought that game was crying out for Garnacho. He was crying out for Garnacho. You know, back at Old Trafford, he wanted to show the whole Manchester United fans what they were missing. ‘Why did you let me go?’ He’s got that arrogance – you can see that. Even at some point, when the manager was making tactical changes and talking to his staff, you could see Garnacho was trying to listen.
“He wants to get on the pitch. He’s like, ‘Gaffer, get me on!’ And I thought that game was meant for him. He should have brought him on, but obviously the manager decided he didn’t have to.”
Ruben Amorim informed the Argentine that he was free to find a new club at the end of the season, and as TBR Football revealed, United allowed Chelsea to sign Garnacho in the final days of the transfer window with no other offers on the table.
However, the 21-year-old has already become the recipient of intense scrutiny – Garnacho was scolded for his debut display as he was scapegoated for allowing Fabio Carvalho to score a last-gasp equaliser in the 2-2 draw against Brentford.
Maresca piled on the criticism of his £40 million star after the final whistle, despite assisting Moises Caicedo to take the lead on the day – the Chelsea boss admitted Garnacho must improve defensively.
The Italian then opted to introduce Tyrique George at Old Trafford instead of the Argentina international, a decision that ultimately backfired as the Blues failed to find the equaliser.
Alejandro Garnacho must earn Enzo Maresca’s trust
It is clear from Garnacho’s omission against his former club that he has a long way to go at Stamford Bridge before he has earned Maresca’s trust.
Indeed, he was caught lacking at the Gtech Community Stadium as Carvalho rescued a point for Brentford, but it is perhaps unfair for the forward to be judged based on one error.
With Cole Palmer set for another spell on the sidelines and Liam Delap still rehabilitating from his injury setback, Maresca is surprisingly running out of top-quality options at the business end of the pitch.
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Estevao have performed admirably, but neither boasts the extensive Premier League experience of Garnacho. He will undoubtedly have a significant role to play in the coming weeks, but the writing is on the wall if he doesn’t prove to the Chelsea boss that he can be a reliable option moving forward.