Fans claim Man Utd and Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho is ‘finished’ after latest embarrassing Aston Villa setback

ASTON VILLA manager Unai Emery has admitted that Alejandro Garnacho is “behind” in the pecking order just weeks after joining the club. Garnacho signed for Villa on loan from Chelsea in July with a conditional £43million obligation to buy at the end of the season. Alejandro Garnacho is ‘behind’ in the pecking order at Aston Villa Credit: Getty Unai Emery says the winger needs to continue to work hard Credit: Alamy The 22-year-old is yet to score in the Premier League and has not featured in any other competition. He was even left on the bench during Aston Villa‘s 3-1 Carabao Cup win against Coventry City on Wednesday. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! His absence left fans questioning what his role at the club is, with one person taking to social media to write: “Garnacho is really finished, still can’t start a Cup game?” While another questioned: “Is Garnacho finished here already?” Emery shed light on the winger’s position after the Coventry match, admitting his disruptive pre-season – which included his transfer and a facial injury – has impacted his involvement. The Villa boss explained: “(He has to) continue working. Work, work, train, work. When he can have minutes to play, try and play well. He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now. “George (Hemmings) is playing fantastic. Alysson is also understanding things well and is giving us things I want. (Ibrahim) Mbaye also responded well. “We want a competitive team and players to compete in the style we have.” Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS He continued: “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.” Garnacho fell out of favour at Chelsea in his only season, starting just 14 Premier League games last term. He may now be at risk of suffering the same fate as Harvey Elliott at Villa Park. Elliott joined Aston Villa on loan from Liverpool last summer with a £35m conditional obligation to buy. The move would have been made permanent if Elliott had made 10 appearances, but he was limited to nine across the entire season. At the end of the campaign, Emery admitted: “It is something embarrassing for everyone involved in it. My apologies for Harvey Elliott are every day in my mind. “But it is the responsibility. We have our responsibility and Liverpool have their responsibility. “As a human and as a person, how the season has gone has been difficult.” Harvey Elliott was limited to nine appearances for Aston Villa while on loan Credit: Getty Comment now