Liam Rosenior, the newly appointed Chelsea head coach, has expressed his satisfaction with the depth and quality of his squad, particularly highlighting players like Alejandro Garnacho. Rosenior, who took over on January 6, 2026, after Enzo Maresca's departure, has emphasized the importance of tactical discipline, work rate, and structure from his players.

In his first match in charge, Chelsea secured a 5-1 victory over Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup third round. However, despite the comfortable scoreline, Rosenior identified areas for improvement, especially concerning Garnacho's performance. According to reports, Rosenior was repeatedly instructing Garnacho to stay wide and attack the flank, rather than drifting into central areas, a tactic designed to stretch the opposition's defense and create space for other players. While Jamie Gittens, on the opposite wing, executed this plan effectively, Garnacho struggled to adapt, often narrowing the pitch and disrupting Chelsea's attacking flow.

Garnacho's individual performance against Charlton was underwhelming. He lost a majority of his duels, failed to register a single defensive action, and struggled to consistently beat his full-back. This led to frustration both for Rosenior on the touchline and for sections of the home crowd, who reportedly booed Garnacho during the match.

Despite this, Rosenior appears to see Garnacho as a valuable asset to the team. In a recent statement, Rosenior said he is "lucky" after Alejandro Garnacho struck twice to keep Chelsea's Carabao Cup hopes alive despite a 3-2 opening-leg semi-final defeat to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Garnacho was introduced by Rosenior on 53 minutes and halved Chelsea's deficit just four minutes later. Rosenior said of his decision to introduce Garnacho: “I am lucky. A coach is only as good as his players".

Rosenior's focus extends beyond individual talent, emphasizing the collective energy, determination, and intensity of the team. He aims to instill a never-give-up attitude, with players who are willing to fight, run, and press. He stated, "I am not asking for time because we are good enough to win now but I need to put my stamp on the team otherwise there is no point me being here".

Looking ahead, Rosenior anticipates the return of Cole Palmer and Reece James from injury for Chelsea's next match against Brentford. He also acknowledged the absence of Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens from the first leg due to illness, highlighting the challenges of managing a squad amidst unforeseen circumstances.

For Garnacho, the path to securing a regular role under Rosenior requires improvements in decision-making, defensive effort, and positional discipline. While his debut under the new manager presented challenges, Garnacho's talent remains undeniable, and Rosenior's guidance could be pivotal in unlocking his full potential within Chelsea's evolving tactical framework.