Chelsea debutant Alejandro Garnacho was at fault for Brentford’s last-gasp equaliser on Saturday night, Jamie Redknapp has claimed.
Enzo Maresca’s side looked destined to head to the top of the Premier League when Moises Caicedo fired Chelsea ahead with an 85th-minute stunner at the Gtech Stadium, but Fabio Carvalho levelled in stoppage time to earn Brentford a 2-2 draw.
The Blues, who would have gone top of the table ahead of London rivals Arsenal with a win, signed Garnacho for £40million from Manchester United this summer after the Argentine fell out with Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim.
Despite showing flashes of promise on his debut, which came after he was introduced as a second-half substitute alongside Cole Palmer, Garnacho endured a nightmare conclusion to the game as he was caught napping in defence.
The 21-year-old winger was responsible for marking Carvalho at the back post as Brentford prepared to launch a late long throw into the penalty box – and ultimately paid the price for switching off.
In his post-match analysis of the game, Redknapp admitted Garnacho was to blame and blasted the ex-Red Devils star for ‘falling asleep’ at the vital moment.
Jamie Redknapp blamed Alejandro Garnacho (above) for Brentford’s stoppage time equaliser against Chelsea, after the Blues endured a disappointing 2-2 draw at the Gtech Stadium
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He was punished for switching off as Fabio Carvalho tapped home from close range to equalise
‘They obviously made a few changes, Brentford, to try and chase the game,’ Redknapp told Sky Sports as he began to break down Brentford’s equaliser.
‘He brings on Carvalho, he brings on (Kristoffer) Ajer as well. With (Michael) Kayode going off who is throwing the ball with such height and pace, I didn’t even realise they had another long thrower in their midst with Schade.
‘He launches one into the box, you can see you’ve got (Nathan) Collins and Ajer there, and what happens as it develops is this is the key battle here. Garnacho has got a job to do. He’s got to mark Carvalho.
‘That’s your job, simple as that. Don’t lose him, you’re now one of the defensive players in here. If he gets in behind you, it’s on you.
‘Everybody in there is trying to win that first contact, it’s not easy. Brentford have got some big guys. But Garnacho just falls asleep at the vital moment.
‘The ball comes in from Schade, Garnacho’s not concentrating, they get that contact and there he (Carvalho) is at the back post.’
Garnacho looked lively in attack when he came on as a substitute, playing a key role in the build-up to Caicedo’s superb strike late in the game.
Cole Palmer, who was absent for England over the international break through injury, also came off the bench in the second half to equalise for the Blues, pouncing on to a header from Joao Pedro and scoring with a smart first-time finish.
In his post-match analysis, Redknapp blasted Garnacho for ‘falling asleep at the vital moment’
He showed flashes of promise off the bench and played a key role in Chelsea’s second goal
Despite the disappointing late draw, Chelsea remain undefeated in the Premier League so far – placed in fifth after two wins and two draws from four matches.
Garnacho will be eager to win Maresca’s favour quickly at Stamford Bridge after his summer move, given Jamie Gittens, Estevao Williams and Pedro Neto are all vying for spots on the wings.
The 21-year-old winger agreed a seven-year contract with the Blues when he signed on August 30, becoming the most expensive academy graduate sale in Manchester United’s history – overtaking the £24.5m they received for David Beckham in 2003.
