Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has addressed the limited playing time of Alejandro Garnacho, who has seen just 32 minutes of action since his move from Chelsea. So far, the Argentine winger has not made a starting XI.
Garnacho remained on the bench during Villa's recent victory over Coventry in the Carabao Cup, marking the third consecutive match where he has not featured.
When asked what Garnacho needs to do to earn more playing time, Emery responded:
He needs to keep working. Work, work, train, work. When he gets his minutes, he has to make sure he performs well. He is progressing, but right now there are other players ahead of him.
George Hemmings has been superb. Alisson understands our requirements and provides what I need from him. Ibrahim Mbaye has also been impressive. We need a competitive team and players must fight for their place within our style.
Emery further revealed that Garnacho's progress has been hampered by a facial injury sustained during pre-season:
Garnacho is a bit behind due to some circumstances that arose during pre-season. We need to be patient and give him the time he requires.
Aston Villa have secured Garnacho on loan from Chelsea with a conditional obligation to buy for £42.5 million, which hinges on the number of matches he plays. The precise match count needed to trigger this clause has not been disclosed.
This situation mirrors last season's events when Emery dealt with Harvey Elliott, who was also not used extensively after Villa opted against activating a £35 million option tied to ten Premier League appearances.
