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  "path": "/2026/02/12/joe-cole-responds-claims-chelsea-made-mistake-signing-manchester-united-star-26831421/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-12T00:12:05.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Alejandro Garnacho",
    "Enzo Maresca",
    "Joe Cole",
    "Liam Rosenior",
    "Manchester United",
    "Manchester United Transfer News",
    "Premier League",
    "Ruben Amorim",
    "Transfer News and Rumours",
    "Chelsea",
    "Old Trafford",
    "West Ham",
    "Gary Neville",
    "made a ‘mistake’ signing Garnacho given his poor form",
    "Sign up here",
    "The Sun",
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    "speaking exclusively to **Metro**",
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  "textContent": "Chelsea hero and former England star Joe Cole (Picture: Getty)\n\nJoe Cole claims ‘the sky is the limit’ for Alejandro Garnacho despite his struggles at Chelsea since leaving Manchester United.\n\nArgentine winger Garnacho has only scored one goal in the Premier League since his £40m move to Stamford Bridge last summer.\n\nGarnacho was once one of the most highly-rated players at Old Trafford but he stagnated at United and fell out of favour under former manager Ruben Amorim.\n\nThe 21-year-old had hoped to revive his career at Chelsea, the club he supported growing up, but has so far underwhelmed in west London.\n\nGarnacho was subbed off at half-time during Chelsea’s comeback win over West Ham at the end of January, with Manchester United legend Gary Neville later claiming he looks ‘shot to pieces’.\n\nLiam Rosenior brought Garnacho on in Chelsea’s next two games before the Argentine was an unused substitute in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Leeds United.\n\nIt has been suggested that Chelsea made a ‘mistake’ signing Garnacho given his poor form but Cole believes the former Manchester United star ‘could be anything’.\n\n##  Get your football fix\n\nDon't want to miss the week's biggest football stories? **Metro's** exclusive football newsletter, In The Mixer, is your essential guide.\n\nFrom the latest transfer rumours and managerial moves to analysis of the biggest games and a lot more, our experts have you covered.\n\nSign up here, it's an open goal.\n\nAlejandro Garnacho joined Chelsea from Manchester United (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘I would love to coach Alejandro Garnacho,’ the Stamford Bridge hero told The Sun. ‘He’s such a super-talented footballer.\n\n‘The sky‘s the limit. He could be anything, he really could. I’d love to go through his clips. There’s a few technical things he can do better from a coaching performance in both boxes.\n\n‘Because he’s not like an old-fashioned winger or a number 10, he’s a wing forward. There’s a massive scope if he puts himself in better positions.\n\nTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video\n\nUp Next\n\nPrevious Page\n\nNext Page\n\n‘But I also think he might need a little arm around his shoulder and a little bit of maturity in terms of how to conduct yourself as a footballer.’\n\nDiscussing Garnacho’s attitude after he publicly criticised Amorim towards the end of his United career, Cole added: ‘Let’s just say he’s been controversial throughout his career.\n\n‘I’ve played with players like that and you think the penny will drop when the penny will drop.\n\n##  Was signing Garnacho a mistake?\n\n‘I think Alejandro Garnacho has been disappointing since he signed for Chelsea.\n\n‘It was a mistake to sign him, and not because of his ability, as I think he is talented, but Chelsea have an abundance of great wingers.\n\n‘He can cause havoc on his day, for sure, but one goal so far this season just isn’t enough for the money they spent on him.’\n\nGlen Johnson, who won the Premier League at Chelsea, speaking exclusively to **Metro**.\n\n‘If I was dealing with him, I would have really strict boundaries on the pitch, and off the pitch. Agree them with him, work with him, and just keep reminding him what a talented footballer he is.’\n\nGarnacho is competing with a number of talented wingers for a place in the Chelsea team and Cole believes it is crucial that he feels ‘free’ to express himself on the pitch.\n\n‘If you are going to take the ball into dangerous areas, you are playing a high-tariff game,’ said Cole, who won three Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge.\n\nGarnacho fell out with ex-Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘Sometimes it is going to work, sometimes it is not, so you have to be mentally strong to be that type of player.\n\n‘With him, I would just simplify it. I would get him to get back to the basics of football. Take the pressure off him.\n\n‘Can you get out your full back three or four times a half?’ If you lose it, I don’t care. Give him the freedom to do that.\n\n##  Garnacho looks 'shot to pieces' - Neville\n\n‘Alejandro Garnacho is a player that divides opinion, I think, at times,’ Neville told Sky Sports after Chelsea’s win over West Ham.\n\n‘A lot of people are questioning, is he top-class or where is he? Where is he in the pecking order?\n\n‘What was difficult to watch last night was a young player like that, who’s gone to Chelsea and he looked shot to pieces in terms of his confidence on that left-hand side.\n\n‘I’m not just talking about when [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka kept going off him running forward, but actually when he got the ball, his first touch was back and then he just kept going back and giving it away.’\n\n‘But on the flipside, when we’re off the ball, I won’t accept lack of concentration in defensive responsibilities.\n\n‘Because that’s something that you can work on. You don’t need to be confident to put yourself in the right position.\n\n‘I’m not digging him out. I’m just saying there’s a load of scope for him to improve. And the things that he can improve on are actually the simplest things.\n\n‘He’s got the ability. If he added the other side, a bit more maturity to his game, he would feel so much more free himself.’\n\nAfter failing to feature against Leeds, Garnacho will likely be called upon in Chelsea’s FA Cup clash against Championship side Hull City on Friday night.\n\nThe Leeds stalemate leaves Chelsea fifth in the Premier League, still one point behind fourth-placed Manchester United who could only draw 1-1 with West Ham.\n\nChelsea finished fourth last season while winning the Europa Conference League under Enzo Maresca, who was sacked on New Year’s Day.\n\n**For more stories like this,check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook, **Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments  Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source ",
  "title": "Joe Cole responds to claims Chelsea made ‘mistake’ signing Manchester United star"
}