Maresca has bad news over exciting summer signing’s debut this weekend

Enzo Maresca has just taken his first press conference since the end of the transfer window, and of course there were questions about some of the new arrivals.

Maresca questioned about Garnacho fitness

Alejandro Garnacho signs for Chelsea. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)

Alejandro Garnacho was linked to Chelsea all summer but only arrived right at the end of the window. Maresca was asked today whether the Argentine would be ready to face Brentford tomorrow night in Chelsea’s return to league action.

“He’s working well,” the coach said.

“For sure he needs to work because he arrived here probably not 100% fit. So he needs to work. He’s working well and we’ll see. But hopefully soon we can give him minutes.

That sounds like a “no” to us. There’s enough footage of the winger absolutely puffing after training sessions at Cobham in the last week to make it clear he’s still getting up to speed.

We could see him off the bench as a sub for sure – that’s a good way to help him build up, and we may need him. Liam Delap is out, it sounds like Cole Palmer won’t be risked, and we will want to spread minutes around as much as possible with two big games next week.

Maresca on Brentford challenge

Maresca was also asked about the challenge Brentford could present:

“I think it’s always a tough game. It was last year, as you said, in both games. But the Premier League is the best league in the world probably for that because against any club it’s always tough. We play three games, Palace are doing fantastic, Fulham, West Ham, it’s always difficult. So tomorrow I expect exactly the same.”

Brentford can’t be as bad as West Ham – but they probably aren’t as good as Crystal Palace. Hopefully we’ve got the firepower without Garnacho and Palmer to win 3 points.

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