Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho was dropped to the bench for the club’s Champions League clash against Atalanta after sparking backlash with remarks made in a pre-match press conference.
The 21-year-old angered Italian fans and media on Monday when he admitted he had not watched Atalanta «in over a year,» adding:
«The last time I saw Atalanta was two years ago, in the Europa League final they won.»
Italian outlets accused him of «snobbery,» and supporters blasted the comment online.
Garnacho began the match at the New Balance Arena among the substitutes, a decision many in Italy saw as fitting after the controversy.
Chelsea took the lead through Joao Pedro in the 25th minute, but Atalanta hit back — former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca equalised shortly after halftime before Charles De Ketelaere sealed a 2–1 comeback win with under 10 minutes remaining.
Despite his benching and limited impact, Garnacho insisted he has «no regrets» over leaving Manchester United in the summer.
«Sometimes in life you have to change things to take a step forward,» he said, calling Chelsea «the right club» for his development.
The Argentine has scored twice in 14 appearances since joining Chelsea in August.
Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has unleashed a blistering critique of his successor Gianni Infantino, accusing him of politicising football, sidelining players and transforming the governing body into a tool for world leaders.
