Alejandro Garnacho's actions after Fulham match tell Enzo Maresca all he needs to know

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca can feel confident he has signed a winning personality in Alejandro Garnacho. That's after the former Manchester United winger's post-match actions last season showed his new boss a desirable dedication to self-improvement.

Garnacho, 21, completed a £40million switch to Stamford Bridge in the final days of the summer transfer window. The youngster brought the curtain down on his five-year stay at Old Trafford after reportedly falling out with United boss Ruben Amorim.

But Garnacho's reputation at Old Trafford wasn't always in such a poor state as it was at the time of his departure. And it was only 12 months ago that his dedication following an opening-day win over Fulham left a mighty impression on fans.

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Garnacho came off the bench to assist fellow substitute Joshua Zirkzee for the only goal of the game in a narrow win over the Cottagers in August 2024. But rather than head straight home to revel in his exploits, the South American used his own time to put in extra work following the final whistle.

The Daily Mail reported at the time that Garnacho visited the NAS Elite Sports Performance Centre in Manchester following the Fulham win. The clinic is a favourite for other Premier League stars and offers physiotherapy, osteopathy, strength and conditioning, nutritional support and other services, including phlebotomy, IV drip therapy and vitamin shots.

Former United team-mates Kobbie Mainoo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Sofyan Amrabat are among the centre's past clientele. Former Chelsea full-back Ian Maatsen has also used its services, while Blues defender Tosin Adarabioyo has also been a patron in the past.

And it may impress Maresca to know his new recruit is willing to put that kind of work in to get the most out of his career. While others would be content to celebrate in the wake of a Week 1 win, Garnacho's priority was to ensure he had an optimal recovery post-game.

The prospect may have felt some frustration with his performance at home to Fulham last year given he missed an open goal in the game. That came prior to him teeing up Zirkzee for the decider and perhaps played on his mind despite having a key role in the result.

That's precisely the side of Garnacho's character his new boss will be hoping to nurture in west London. And the early signs are that the winger is going to war in his efforts to make an early impression under Maresca.

Following his first training session as a Chelsea player, Garnacho's comments indicated just how hard he was working to stand out. "Can't move my legs now man," he told a member of Chelsea's media team. "I sprinted in the last one."

Lionel Scaloni didn't select Garnacho in his latest Argentina squad, meaning he has had extra time to train with his new team over the international break. Maresca's men return to action on Saturday when they'll make the short trip to Brentford for a west London derby.

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