ALEJANDRO GARNACHO has zero regrets about leaving Manchester United for Chelsea.
And when the winger was asked if he was at least sad about how things ended at Old Trafford, he gave the same, blunt, single-word answer: “No.”
Garnacho said: “Sometimes in life, you have to change things to take a step forward or to improve as a player.
“I think it was the right moment and also the right club. So it was an easy decision.
“‘I came here to play my football and to show people the player I am.”
Garnacho left for £40million at the end of the transfer window after being banished to the United bomb squad by Ruben Amorim.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the move, the Argentinian revealed the two Enzos — boss Maresca and international pal Fernandez, were key to him choosing the Blues.
Garnacho, 21, said: “I spoke with the manager before I came. He explained a little bit about the project we have here and convinced me.
“He trusts me, that’s the most important thing. We have confidence, between manager and player. He speaks with me every week.
“I spoke with Enzo Fernandez in the summer. He helped me a lot. I know him, of course, from the national team.
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“He was a big part of the deal. I’m happy to work with him because we are really close.”
Maresca made it clear, after Garnacho’s arrival, that the new star needed to improve his work off the ball. The winger has taken the message on board.
And Garnacho said, with a smile: “In modern football, defending is an important part of the game.
“Every team you face is strong and you have to defend with everyone. I know I have to defend if I want to play — he told me this. I just try to do the work he asks, and then, with the ball, he asks me to just go, and if I lose the ball, try to recover.”
Chelsea are also trying to recover from a few setbacks in the last week. Defeat at Leeds was followed by a toothless draw at Bournemouth.
Maresca warned his players there would be no let-up against Atalanta tonight in the Champions League.
The Italian side, under boss Raffaele Palladino, are trying to stay true to the full-throttle football that brought them success with Gian Piero Gasperini.
Maresca said: “Many teams in Italy try to do something similar to what Atalanta has done in the last few years with Gasperini.
“You can see most of the teams played five at the back, most of the teams tried to play man-to-man everywhere. If you go to the toilet, they follow you everywhere.
“I’m in love with Atalanta. Watching them from afar has been great for us Italians. Atalanta has been one of the reasons to be proud.”
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