He Falls Asleep!” – Alejandro Garnacho Slammed for Costly Error on Chelsea Debut in Brentford Draw

Chelsea’s hopes of climbing to the top of the Premier League table ended in heartbreak on Saturday as a late Brentford equaliser snatched away victory — and new signing Alejandro Garnacho found himself at the centre of the storm.

The Blues looked set to secure all three points at the Gtech Community Stadium after Moises Caicedo’s 85th-minute strike gave Enzo Maresca’s side a 2-1 lead. But with the finish line in sight, Brentford struck back through Fabio Carvalho in stoppage time, punishing Chelsea’s lapse in concentration.

It was Garnacho, making his Chelsea debut after his high-profile move from Manchester United, who was singled out by former Premier League star Jamie Redknapp for his role in the late goal.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Redknapp didn’t hold back:

“Garnacho has got a job to do. He’s got to mark Carvalho. That’s your job, simple as that. Don’t lose him. You’re now one of the defensive players in there. If he gets in behind you, it’s on you. Everybody is trying to win that first contact, it’s not easy because Brentford have got some big guys. But Garnacho just falls asleep at the vital moment.”

The decisive moment came from a long throw launched into Chelsea’s penalty area — a familiar Brentford weapon. As the Blues battled to win the first header, Garnacho switched off, leaving Carvalho free at the back post to fire home the equaliser.

It was a cruel twist for the 20-year-old winger, who had earlier played a crucial role in Caicedo’s goal, showing flashes of his attacking quality that convinced Chelsea to bring him to Stamford Bridge this summer. But football is often unforgiving, and one defensive lapse overshadowed his positive contributions.

Garnacho’s Mixed Start

“He Falls Asleep!” – Alejandro Garnacho Slammed for Costly Error on Chelsea Debut in Brentford Draw

Introduced as a second-half substitute alongside Cole Palmer, Garnacho looked lively and eager to impress. His sharp movement and creativity helped stretch Brentford’s backline, and his involvement in Chelsea’s second goal showed exactly what he can bring going forward.

Yet, for all his attacking flair, the defensive side of the game remains a weakness — one that was brutally exposed in west London. For Chelsea, who have struggled to maintain leads in recent seasons, the incident was a reminder that game management and focus remain areas to improve.

Redknapp’s Harsh but Fair Verdict

Redknapp went into detail about how the error unfolded, pointing out the key moment where Garnacho lost concentration. “The ball comes in from Schade, Garnacho’s not concentrating, they get that contact, and there Carvalho is at the back post,” he explained.

“It’s a nightmare for a young player making his debut. He’ll learn from it, but at this level, mistakes like that cost you points — and today it cost Chelsea top spot.”

What It Means for Chelsea

The draw meant Chelsea failed to leapfrog Arsenal at the summit of the Premier League, instead settling for a share of the spoils. While there were positives — including the performances of Caicedo and Palmer — the late collapse will sting for Maresca, whose team had worked hard to get themselves into a winning position.

With a Champions League opener against Bayern Munich looming midweek and a huge clash with Manchester United on the horizon, the Blues must quickly shake off the disappointment. Garnacho, in particular, will be under the spotlight, as he seeks to prove he can bounce back from a difficult first outing.

Debuts can define narratives, and for Garnacho, his Chelsea story has begun with a harsh lesson. Still, at just 20 years old, time is on his side. The Argentine has shown he can be a match-winner in attack, but as Redknapp highlighted, the defensive responsibilities cannot be ignored in a side with ambitions of challenging for the Premier League title.