Garnacho left as unused substitute again as Villa fans fear his loan is already over

Alejandro Garnacho’s loan spell at Aston Villa is deepening into crisis after the 22-year-old was left on the bench for a third straight game across all competitions, this time during a comfortable 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Coventry City on Wednesday night.

With Villa leading by two goals for much of the second half, manager Unai Emery used all five available substitutions — bringing on Emiliano Buendia, Nicolas Jackson, Johan Manzambi and Alysson — without giving Garnacho a single minute. The game had been widely flagged as a prime opportunity for the Argentine winger to force his way into Emery’s thinking.

The decision prompted sharp reaction on social media. “Garnacho is really finished, still can’t start a cup game?” wrote one supporter. Another asked: “Is Garnacho finished here already?” Former Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore was equally blunt: “No Garnacho at all tonight. That last chance saloon closing time is edging ever near.”

Some fans drew comparisons with Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, who endured a similarly fruitless loan at Villa Park last season. “Garnacho is 100% Harvey Elliott Mk II,” one supporter posted.

Garnacho joined Villa on loan from Chelsea in the summer of 2025, having completed a £40 million permanent move from Manchester United to Stamford Bridge earlier that year. The transfer came after a difficult final period at Old Trafford, where he had made 144 first-team appearances, scoring 26 goals and providing 22 assists across his time at the club.

At Chelsea last season he made 43 appearances in all competitions, contributing eight goals and four assists, though the majority of those came from the bench — the same problem that prompted the loan move in search of regular starts.

Despite the mounting concern, Emery has publicly backed the player and suggested patience is required. “We want him at the same level he was for Chelsea in the first part of last season and in Manchester two years ago,” the Villa manager said. “He is a player we have signed for a long time, and we will help him.” Whether that support translates into minutes on the pitch remains to be seen.