Garnacho Yet to Break Into Aston Villa Side Since Loan Move

Alejandro Garnacho has played only 31 minutes for Aston Villa since joining on loan from Chelsea, and Unai Emery says the winger needs time.

Alejandro Garnacho's early spell at Aston Villa has produced little playing time. The Argentina winger, who joined on an initial loan from Chelsea in July, has appeared three times as a substitute for a total of 31 minutes, with a 15-minute stint against Hull his longest outing. He has been an unused substitute in each of Villa's past four matches, including Saturday's 3-2 win at Tottenham.

Manager Unai Emery has pointed to competition within the squad and a disrupted pre-season, after Garnacho suffered a facial injury in early August that kept him out of the Super Cup loss to Paris Saint-Germain. "Continue working. Work, work, train, work," Emery said when asked about the player's absence. "When he can have minutes to play, try to play well. He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now."

Others have moved ahead of Garnacho in the pecking order. Academy product George Hemmings has started the season well, while Ibrahim Mbaye, a 47 million pound arrival from Paris Saint-Germain, made his first Villa start in the Carabao Cup win at Coventry. Garnacho was even left on the bench for that match despite Emery making seven changes.

The 22-year-old moved to Chelsea from Manchester United for 40 million pounds last year but managed one goal and four assists in 24 Premier League appearances, prompting the summer move. His loan to Villa is believed to include an obligation to buy tied to appearances, though Villa's handling of Harvey Elliott last season, when the Liverpool loanee made only four top-flight appearances, shows such clauses are not automatically triggered.

Garnacho, who has eight Argentina caps and was part of the 2024 Copa America-winning squad, has not added to his international tally since November of that year. Emery has a record of easing new signings into the side gradually, and the winger's chances depend on earning the manager's trust in training.