Image Credits: Imago Images
The Carabao Cup has once again become a focal point of the English football calendar.
Manchester United’s recent league victory at the Emirates has quietly altered the narrative around Arsenal’s home aura, proving that big results are still possible on hostile ground.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are growing in confidence after a turbulent first half of the campaign, with momentum starting to swing at exactly the right time.
European qualification and domestic silverware remain priorities at Stamford Bridge, and belief inside the dressing room is reportedly high.
One familiar figure has ensured Manchester United remain part of the conversation ahead of a decisive semi-final night.
Alejandro Garnacho may now be wearing blue, but Manchester United are still firmly in his thoughts as Chelsea prepare for their Carabao Cup second-leg clash against Arsenal.
Chelsea head into the tie trailing by a single goal after a dramatic 3-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge, a match that could have looked very different were it not for Garnacho’s explosive second-half cameo.
Introduced from the bench, the winger completely changed the tone of the contest, scoring twice to keep Chelsea firmly alive in the semi-final.
Those goals did more than just shift momentum, as Alejandro Garnacho wrote his name into the club’s history books by becoming the first substitute in 121 years to score two goals in a major domestic cup semi-final.
It was a statement performance, and one that underlined why Chelsea moved aggressively to secure his signature last summer.
The switch from Old Trafford followed a difficult period under Ruben Amorim, with Garnacho struggling to find consistency and clarity in his role at Manchester United.
His departure was far from smooth, and while time has passed, the edge in his words suggests the experience still lingers.
Ahead of the Arsenal clash, Garnacho appeared to take a pointed swipe at his former club while speaking in Chelsea’s official programme notes, as relayed by The Chelsea Chronicle.
“Everyone knows how hard it is to play there.
“When we lost the first game, I saw a lot of people saying, ‘Yeah, but no one won yet at the Emirates’.”
“But now I think the view is a little bit different.
“If, for example, Manchester United can beat them there, we can do it perfectly.”
The comments raised eyebrows, particularly from a Manchester United perspective, as they frame United’s achievement as a benchmark Chelsea expect to match or surpass.
Coming from a former Old Trafford favourite, the remarks felt loaded, especially given the strained ending to his time in red.
For United supporters, it was a reminder that players who leave don’t always leave quietly, and that success elsewhere often brings comparisons back to Carrington.
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