“Ganarcho’s attitude on and off the pitch shows that he’s not ready to improve, drop Garnacho and use one of our golden boys from the Academy” – This is according to Didier Drogba as he urges Maresca to drop Garnacho and instead give Chelsea’s “next Hudson-Odoi” a chance to shine

Compared to how things were just a month ago, the atmosphere around Chelsea has completely transformed — and it’s for the better.

Under Enzo Maresca’s guidance, the Blues have strung together three consecutive victories, including a stunning triumph over reigning Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

However, despite the recent upswing in form, not every player has lived up to expectations.

Garnacho’s struggles continue

One clear underperformer has been Alejandro Garnacho, whose start to life at Chelsea has been far from ideal.

The Argentine’s arrival was met with mixed reactions among supporters, partly due to his controversial exit from Manchester United and the reputation that followed him. While there have been flashes of his ability — the same ability that earned him 21 goal contributions for United last season — consistency has been missing.

So far this campaign, Garnacho has featured six times for a total of 273 minutes but is yet to register a single goal or assist. His performances have been particularly disappointing in winnable games, such as the EFL Cup clash with Lincoln City and the recent match against Nottingham Forest.

Against Forest, he was substituted at halftime after a dire showing that included no shots, no key passes, and just seven successful passes — earning a match rating of 3/10 from the Evening Standard, which noted he “ran down blind alleys and produced nothing of danger.”

At this point, there’s little indication that Garnacho’s form will improve soon, and Maresca would be wise to rest him ahead of the upcoming Champions League clash with Ajax.

Who should take Garnacho’s place?

Two young talents — Jamie Gittens and Estevão — might come to mind as potential replacements. However, Gittens has also struggled to impress, while Estevão is better suited to the right wing, where he deserves another opportunity.

Instead, Maresca should consider giving Tyrique George another start, this time on the left flank rather than through the middle.

Although still early in his senior career, George has already shown more promise and determination in limited appearances than Garnacho. His goal and assist against Lincoln helped Chelsea avoid a major cup upset, and his energy and hunger on the pitch have been noticeable.

The 18-year-old academy graduate, once described by respected analyst Ben Mattinson as a “young Hudson-Odoi,” also notched three goal involvements in 12 Conference League appearances last season — an impressive feat for a player his age.

With Ajax being one of the less formidable opponents Chelsea will face in this season’s Champions League, this could be the perfect opportunity for Maresca to reward George with a starting role.

Ultimately, while Garnacho has the bigger name, George currently offers more drive and end product. For now, Maresca should take the bold step of benching the Argentine and unleashing the academy star against the Dutch side.