EmpiresamDean Saunders Slams Alejandro Garnacho After ‘Surprise’ Aston Villa Signing
8 – 10 minutes
Former Aston Villa striker Dean Saunders says he ‘isn’t a fan’ of summer signing Alejandro Garnacho for a number of reasons.Aston Villa have taken advantage of signing some big-name forwards from top six clubs in recent years, including Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.Neither player ended up moving to Villa Park permanently, but the club decided to do the same by bringing another player who has played for the Red Devils in Garnacho to the Midlands this summer.The loan move came just 12 months after the Argentina international joined Chelsea in a deal worth £40m, with Villa’s agreement including a conditional obligation to buy, which is said to be easily achievable.Unai Emery’s men were in the same boat with Harvey Elliott last summer, but the Liverpool man was frozen out for the majority of the campaign and ended up returning to Anfield instead.
The early signs are that the Garnacho deal could be going the same way, given he has only played 31 minutes of football for Villa so far this term.Garnacho for Aston VillaMatches available for 7Appearances 3Starts 0Minutes 31Goals 0Assists 0His last minutes came on September 5 against Hull City, and he has been an unused substitute in all of their matches since, with Emery clearly not impressed enough to give him further minutes.Now, speaking to Svea Casino, former Villan Saunders says the decision to bring him in this summer was ‘surprising’, and he outlined why he doesnt rate the former Manchester United man.“If I’m being honest, I’m not a fan of Alejandro Garnarcho and his attitude. Look at what happened with him and Manchester United.“When you look at his talent and ability, when I was playing football and we had talented players come in to train with us or sign for us, talent alone didn’t impress me. I wasn’t impressed by people who can do tricks, juggle a ball and beat three men.”I was more impressed with people who were hard to play against, like Jamie Lawrence, who I played with at Bradford. No one liked playing against Jamie. He’d run through a brick wall, tackle someone, chase back, and defend.Some players have nowhere near the talent of Garnacho, but I’d be more impressed with someone who turns up every week, gives a seven-out-of-10 performance, works hard defensively, and provides quality in the final third.”We can all do tricks and skills, but that consistent work rate is what you’re getting paid for. To be honest, I was surprised Villa signed him.”Garnacho Needs to Step Up to Save His CareerAlejandro Garnacho pictured on the substitutes bench for Aston Villa vs Hull City Garnacho has now been bombed out of Man United and Chelsea, and his lack of game time under Emery at Villa is now suggesting that he is the issue, rather than the clubs he is playing for.If he wants to avoid joining the scrapheap that has claimed so many promising players in the past, the 22-year-old needs to make a change and quickly.Clearly, the Argentine star isn’t showing Emery enough in training to prove he is worthy of getting more minutes, which is a damning indictment at a time when 19-year-old George Hemmings is being given plenty of minutes by the Spaniard.Garnacho’s Premier League RecordAppearances 120Starts 72Minutes 6,644Goals 17Assists 14Indeed, Emery has told the forward what he needs to do in the coming weeks.”Continue working. Work, work, train, work.When he can have minutes to play, try to play well. He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now.”George is playing fantastic. Alysson is also understanding things well and is giving us things I want. (Ibrahim) Mbaye also responded well.”We want a competitive team and players to compete in the style we have. Garnacho is a little bit behind because of some circumstances we had in pre-season. It is time to be patient for the time he needs.”As Saunders says, Garnacho clearly has a lot of talent and is capable of the brilliant, as shown by his stunning overhead kick against Everton for United previously.But he needs to show consistency and work rate if he wants to be starting for top Premier League clubs on a regular basis, and only he can make that change.
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