Emery tells struggling Garnacho to 'work, work, work' as Villa boss names players ahead of him

Alejandro Garnacho was left out of Aston Villa’s matchday squad entirely as his side beat Coventry City 3-1 in the Carabao Cup fourth-round qualifier on Wednesday, with manager Unai Emery delivering a blunt message to the on-loan winger: “Work, work, train, work.”

The 20-year-old joined Villa on loan from Chelsea this summer after a difficult spell at Stamford Bridge, where he scored just eight goals in 43 appearances following his £40 million departure from Manchester United in 2025. The loan deal includes an option for Villa to make the move permanent at the end of the season, but Garnacho has so far managed only three substitute appearances in the Premier League and was not among the five substitutes used at Coventry.

Emery was candid when asked why Garnacho received no minutes, pointing to three players who have moved ahead of him in the pecking order. “George [Hemmings] is playing fantastic. Alysson is also understanding things well and is giving us things I want. [Ibrahim] Mbaye also responded well,” the Villa head coach said. “We want a competitive team and players to compete in the style we have. Garnacho is a little bit behind because of some circumstances we had in pre-season. It is time to be patient for the time he needs.”

Despite the public demotion, Emery struck a longer-term tone when addressing Garnacho’s prospects at the club last week. “We want him at the same level he was for Chelsea in the first part of last season and in Manchester two years ago,” he said. “He is a player we have signed for a long time, and we will help him to feel comfortable and confident to get his quality.”

The comments suggest Villa remain committed to the player’s development but are unwilling to fast-track his return to the starting XI. For Garnacho, who was a regular starter under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford before his move to London, the challenge now is to recapture the form that made him one of the most exciting young wingers in English football.