Manchester United secured a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but the post-match scenes highlighted lingering tensions with former Red Devil Alejandro Garnacho. The 21-year-old Argentine, who joined Chelsea for £40 million last summer, faced a frosty reception from his ex-teammates after admitting to questionable actions during his Old Trafford stint.
Post-Match Cold Shoulder
Fan footage captured Garnacho lingering on the pitch as United players headed to the tunnel, with none acknowledging the winger. This silent treatment underscored the rift following his public fallout with ex-manager Ruben Amorim.
Luke Shaw Leads the Taunts
Veteran defender Luke Shaw amplified the snub by sharing an Instagram photo of himself tackling Garnacho to the ground, captioned ‘important win.’ The post drew reactions from teammates and fans alike. Captain Bruno Fernandes replied with a GIF stating ‘That’s a violation,’ while former United full-back Alex Telles added fire emojis and a heart. Businessman Steven Bartlett commented ‘Ahahahahah.’
Garnacho’s Candid Reflections
Garnacho expressed mixed feelings about his United exit in an interview with Premier League Productions. “Maybe yes, because I loved that club,” he said. “They gave me the confidence from the start, from Spain, to bring me to the academy, then they bring me to the first team, so it was like four or five years, and amazing love from everyone, from the fans, the stadium, everything was really good.”
He added, “It’s just sometimes you have to change for the good of your life or the next steps. I only have good memories of Man United.”
Reasons Behind the Departure
Garnacho’s frustrations peaked after Amorim substituted him late in United’s Europa League final loss to Tottenham. His brother Roberto criticized the coach on social media for mistreating him. Earlier, Garnacho posted a photo wearing an Aston Villa shirt emblazoned with Marcus Rashford’s name—another player out of favor under Amorim.
Reflecting on his bench time, Garnacho admitted, “I remember in the last six months I was just not playing like before at Manchester United. I started to be on the bench, it’s not a bad thing, I was only 20 years old, but in my mind it was like I had to play every game. In my mind, maybe it is also on me, I started to do some bad things.”
Despite initial praise from Amorim for adapting to a No. 10 role in a back-three system, Garnacho slipped down the pecking order, prompting his move.
Struggles on the Pitch
Garnacho had a tough night against his former club. He registered no shots, created no chances, and failed most duels in the first half, losing possession four times. His second-half performance yielded little improvement as Chelsea fell to defeat.
