Enzo Maresca has been urged to ‘bring Alejandro Garnacho back down to earth’ as the Chelsea summer signing is ‘so full of himself’.
Garnacho has made a subdued start to his Chelsea career following a £40m move from Manchester United over the summer.
The Argentine winger has started just a third of Chelsea’s Premier League games and scored one goal in seven appearances in all competitions.
Garnacho was once viewed as one of the most promising players at Old Trafford but his form stagnated and United boss Ruben Amorim was at times critical of his attitude.
Argentina World Cup winner Oscar Ruggeri has also criticised Garnacho’s attitude, claiming he is ‘full of himself’ and ‘needs to be brought down to earth’.
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‘He’s no better than anyone else, you’re a football player, enjoy it, but you shouldn’t be so full of yourself,’ legendary defender Ruggeri told ESPN.
‘It’s pointless because you miss out on so much. Someone has to bring him down to earth.’
While Ruggeri criticised Garnacho’s attitude, he backed the ‘phenomenal’ Chelsea summer signing to regain his place in the Argentina squad.
Garnacho only has eight caps for Argentina and has not been selected by Lionel Scaloni in a year.
‘They’re not calling him up to the national team,’ said Ruggeri, who played for the likes of Boca Juniors, San Lorenzo and Real Madrid.
‘If he comes back down to earth like he was, Argentina will call him up again because he’s phenomenal on the pitch.’
Garnacho, who made 144 appearances for Manchester United, was rested for Chelsea’s Carabao Cup win over Wolves on Wednesday night.
Speaking before the game, Chelsea boss Maresca said he was pleased with Garnacho but insisted there was more to come from the talented winger.
‘Garna is doing well,’ Maresca said before Chelsea’s thrilling 4-3 win which set up a Carabao Cup quarter-final against League One side Cardiff City.
‘Garna is another player who we are trying to manage him a little bit physically, because he arrived here from United not 100 per cent in his physical condition.
‘He is working hard every day, he is getting better and better, and in this moment we are happy with the way he is playing.’
A shock defeat to Sunderland last weekend left Chelsea ninth in the Premier League, eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
The Blues return to action on Saturday against London rivals Tottenham, who are third under new manager Thomas Frank.
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