{"id":1417,"date":"2026-04-27T16:25:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T16:25:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=1417"},"modified":"2026-04-27T16:25:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T16:25:41","slug":"garnacho-still-not-able-to-raise-his-game-as-blues-win-semi-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=1417","title":{"rendered":"Garnacho still not able to raise his game as Blues win semi final"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Chelsea were almost universally improved yesterday afternoon \u2013 but one player struggled to match his teammates.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Chelsea got a long awaited win yesterday afternoon against Leeds, showing much improved performances all around compared to the dire showings of recent weeks.<\/p>\n<p>A glance at the stats shows that the team almost universally performed really well. Robert Sanchez made some crucial saves, the defence kept Leeds at bay, Enzo Fernandez and co. were tenacious in the middle and Joao Pedro did a great job holding the ball up.<\/p>\n<h2>Garnacho can\u2019t match his teammates in raising his game<\/h2>\n<p>But there was one player who was unable to join the team in seeing his form improve. Alejandro Garnacho had yet another stinker out on the left wing.<\/p>\n<p>FotMob had him as a 6.6 rating, while every other teammate but one was in the 7s and 8s.<\/p>\n<p>Once again he had a frustrating game failing to create anything in attack, and he was also less focused in defence that most of his colleagues.<\/p>\n<p>With Estevao and Jamie Gittens out injured, Calum McFarlane doesn\u2019t have many other options out there on the left. But Garnacho is playing so poorly that drastic measures may be needed.<\/p>\n<h2>In other news\u2026<\/h2>\n<p>Trevoh Chalobah tried to explain how this team had suddenly raised their level so significantly after a horrible run of defeat.<\/p>\n<p>Chelsea\u2019s domestic cup record has been a disaster for almost a decade now \u2013 a win in the FA Cup final would change all that.<\/p>\n<p><strong>DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES \u2013 STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips\u2019 SPTC podcast here:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SPTC Podcast: Leeds fan Jack Durkin joins Jai Mcintosh to preview the FA Cup Semi Final!\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/td3C9ns6uiU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<section class=\"more-stories std-mgn-b\">&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<header class=\"col-s-12 std-mgn-t\">More Stories about <span class=\"topic\">Alejandro Garnacho<\/span><\/header>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-79-190x107.jpg.webp 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-79-245x138.jpg.webp 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-79-320x180.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-79-414x233.jpg.webp 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-79-630x354.jpg.webp 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-79.jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-159620 has-webp lazyload\" alt=\"Alejandro Garnacho warms up for Chelsea.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-79-190x107.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-79-245x138.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-79-320x180.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-79-414x233.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-79-630x354.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"\/><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Chelseas-player-at-the-final-whistle-190x107.jpg.webp 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Chelseas-player-at-the-final-whistle-245x138.jpg.webp 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Chelseas-player-at-the-final-whistle-320x180.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Chelseas-player-at-the-final-whistle-414x233.jpg.webp 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Chelseas-player-at-the-final-whistle-630x354.jpg.webp 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Chelseas-player-at-the-final-whistle.jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-159425 has-webp lazyload\" alt=\"Chelsea's player at the final whistle.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Chelseas-player-at-the-final-whistle-190x107.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Chelseas-player-at-the-final-whistle-245x138.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Chelseas-player-at-the-final-whistle-320x180.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Chelseas-player-at-the-final-whistle-414x233.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Chelseas-player-at-the-final-whistle-630x354.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"\/><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-52-190x107.jpg.webp 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-52-245x138.jpg.webp 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-52-320x180.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-52-414x233.jpg.webp 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-52-630x354.jpg.webp 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-52.jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-155817 has-webp lazyload\" alt=\"Alejandro Garnacho frustrated.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-52-190x107.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-52-245x138.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-52-320x180.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-52-414x233.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-52-630x354.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"\/><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<p><!-- Article End -->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chelsea were almost universally improved yesterday afternoon \u2013 but one player struggled to match his&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1417"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1417\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}