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The winger’s pre-match swipe at Manchester United didn’t go down well — and after Chelsea’s limp defeat, neither did his team.
Garnacho’s Dig Turns into a Meme
Alejandro Garnacho might want to keep the pre-game banter to a minimum after his latest jab spectacularly backfired. The 21-year-old Chelsea winger, who exited Manchester United last summer in bitter fashion, landed himself in hot water with fans after his smug comparison to his former club went sour.
Before Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal, Garnacho confidently claimed: “If, for example, Man United can beat them there, we can do it perfectly.” United had beaten the Gunners recently, but Chelsea didn’t follow suit — instead, they fell 1-0 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate, courtesy of a late Kai Havertz goal.
Cue the internet.
Fans lit up social media with gleeful jabs at the Argentine. “Didn’t age well,” one wrote. “Well, that went well didn’t it,” added another. A third simply asked: “How did that work out for you?” Accompanied, of course, by laughing emojis.
United’s Surge Makes It Worse
What stings more for Garnacho is United’s recent uptick in form. Under interim boss Michael Carrick, the Red Devils have racked up wins over Manchester City, Arsenal, and Fulham — reclaiming a top-four spot and some much-needed swagger. Meanwhile, Garnacho’s new club just flopped out of a cup competition with barely a whimper.
It’s a harsh twist for a player who left Old Trafford after being iced out by former manager Ruben Amorim. Garnacho joined Chelsea for £40 million in search of minutes and a fresh start — but his latest comments just handed fuel to United fans still smarting from his departure.
Chelsea Slump, Arsenal March On
Chelsea’s performance didn’t help his case. The Blues looked flat for most of the game at the Emirates, mustering only two shots on target in a performance that Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson didn’t hold back on.
“I’m flabbergasted,” Merson said. “You’ve got international players, a World Cup winner — and they go out like that? No fight, no fire.”
Merson wasn’t alone. Fans and pundits alike questioned why Chelsea never really went for it, despite trailing the tie. Defender Wesley Fofana had the most touches in the Arsenal box, and even he was in tears after the whistle, seemingly aware it was a wasted chance.
Rosenior Defends the Setup
New Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior pushed back against the criticism, saying punditry and hindsight go hand in hand.
“If I go and press high and we concede two early, people say, ‘What’s he doing?’” Rosenior said. “If you lose, you’re criticised. If you win, you’re a genius. It’s usually somewhere in between.”
But for fans, excuses don’t erase what felt like a wasted opportunity. With Arsenal now headed to their first final since 2020 and chasing trophies on multiple fronts, Chelsea are left licking their wounds — and Garnacho’s pre-match swagger is still echoing in the background.
