Alejandro Garnacho replaced by teenager in Chelsea squad as boss speaks out
Alejandro Garnacho will miss Chelsea’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest, with academy graduate Jesse Derry replacing him
Alejandro Garnacho is absent from Chelsea’s matchday squad
Alejandro Garnacho is absent from Chelsea’s matchday squad to face Nottingham Forest, with 18‑year‑old academy graduate Jesse Derry replacing him. The 21‑year‑old, who featured in recent games as well as in last weekend’s FA Cup semi‑final, is nursing a knock.
Speaking ahead of the match, interim head coach Calum McFarlane said of his absence: “Nothing serious, just both (Garnacho and Pedro Neto) have taken knocks in training. So we’re just managing it.”
Derry, meanwhile, will make his full senior debut on the left‑hand side, earning his third appearance for the club since arriving from Crystal Palace last summer. Derry, the son of Shaun Derry, made his first‑team debut in the FA Cup fourth‑round tie against Hull City in February and has also featured on Chelsea’s bench.
“It’s a great opportunity for Jesse, he’s trained with us a lot,” McFarlane added. “He’s been in squads and played in other games.
“We trust him and we know his talent. I’ve worked with him previously. The boys trust him and he’s trained really well. Really excited for Jesse.”
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It is unclear how long Garnacho will be sidelined, with only three league fixtures remaining after Forest and the FA Cup final on May 16 still to come.
The Argentine joined Chelsea from Manchester United in a £40million deal in August 2025 but has endured an underwhelming spell at Stamford Bridge. He has drifted in and out of the starting XI since former boss Liam Rosenior’s arrival in January.
At Old Trafford, the winger was viewed as a disruptive presence in the dressing room. He publicly criticised Ruben Amorim after being dropped by his former manager towards the end of that spell.
Garnacho has been heavily scrutinised from former United players, who questioned aspects of his attitude and professionalism.
In a recent interview with Premier League Productions, the winger opened up about what it’s like to face such intense criticism at a young age. “I’m still very young, I’m a kid, I play football,” he said. “In this world, you play in front of a lot of people, that’s maybe why people can talk about you but I’m just a normal boy.”
When asked if he’s misunderstood, he replied: “Yes, I think people see for example, the player you are, but then after this, there’s a person there. A lot of people think things about me that are maybe not like this, and they don’t know me, but I know my family loves me and the people around me – that’s the most important thing.
“A lot of people in the world today, they can say anything about you. They think I’m totally different to what I am. Maybe they think I’m arrogant, or not humble, things like this. I’m just a normal guy. The people who I love, they love me, so that’s important.
“Everything you do; if you do your hair, or you (get) tattoos, everyone will know, everyone will speak and say good things and bad things. This is the world we live (in) and I want to live (in) because I love football.”
Garnacho added: “It’s hard sometimes but you have to know that life in football is like this. Everyone says good things about you all the time, it’s impossible, so you have to deal with this.
“You have to know when you do good things and bad things and then try to do your best and then people will talk about you how they want anyway.”
Heading into the summer, Garnacho faces an uncertain future in west London despite his contract running until 2032. He has made 41 appearances across all competitions this season, scoring eight goals and providing four assists.
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