Alejandro Garnacho sent honest Chelsea verdict after former Man United star suffers fresh blow

Former Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho has been told how he can find success after a challenging start to his Chelsea career

Wayne Bridge has urged Chelsea’s experienced players to support Alejandro Garnacho, having found himself in a comparable situation during his own career. The Argentine has endured a challenging start to life at Stamford Bridge following his £40million switch from Manchester United last summer.

Garnacho, who is currently out with injury in his latest blow, has demonstrated fleeting glimpses of his ability but frequently fails to produce a sustained impact. To reverse his fortunes, Bridge’s advice was straightforward, with the former Chelsea defender keen for someone to mentor him, just as Glenn Hoddle once did for him.

He exclusively told the Manchester Evening News’ sister-title football.london: “Sometimes I look at players with that much potential and wonder if they just need an old head or a father figure to work on the mental side.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

“I’m not saying that is definitely what he needs, but Glenn Hoddle did so much for me when I was young. He believed in me and had me doing visualization techniques and meditation.”

“At an event once, someone asked him who the best player he’d trained was, and he said that while I didn’t believe how good I was, he got players around me to help me believe in myself.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

“I don’t know if Garnacho needs a father figure to ensure he keeps his head straight and does the right things, but there is so much potential there. I think players sometimes just need guidance to ensure they keep heading in the right direction.”

Chelsea possess a notably youthful squad, making it somewhat unclear who might serve as Garnacho’s mentor, though having someone guide him through a difficult period certainly appears sensible.

Had he stayed at United, that may have been more achievable, as there are numerous players with bags of experience under their belts at Old Trafford.

However, United are in a much better position since his exit with a mass overhaul in attack completed after permanent departures for Garnacho and Antony. Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford also sealed loan moves.

Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko all came into the club with the trio playing big roles in securing United’s qualification for next season’s Champions League

The latter duo both scored in the 3-2 win over Liverpool that sealed their place with Arne Slot’s side needing a victory over Chelsea this weekend to all but guarantee a top-five finish.

Given the defeat to Nottingham Forest on Monday was their sixth consecutive in the Premier League, winning the FA Cup will be their most likely route into European competition.

A 1-0 win over Leeds United last month has set up an enticing final against Manchester City at Wembley. Chelsea currently sit ninth in the table but just four points off sixth, currently occupied by Bournemouth, which can be a Champions League qualification place if Aston Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth.

Wayne was speaking to Kieran ahead of the Emirates FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City. To celebrate, Emirates and The FA joined forces, bringing international football fans together with local supporters to experience football culture in the UK, including watching all the action on the pitch.