Garnacho achieves an unprecedented milestone in the history of English football

Alejandro Garnacho marked a new milestone for English clubs in the Champions League after scoring against Qarabag.

The Argentine winger came on when Chelsea was trailing 1–2 and shortly after, he scored a crucial equalizer that helped The Blues secure a valuable point in Azerbaijan. That goal not only prevented Chelsea from losing but also held historic significance for Garnacho personally. According to Squawka, the former Manchester United star became the first player to score in the Champions League for two different English clubs at just 21 years old, a memorable achievement in his still young career.

Garnacho developed through Manchester United’s youth academy, where he made 144 appearances and scored 26 goals, including a strike against Galatasaray in the 2023 Champions League. After transferring to Chelsea last summer, the 2004-born talent continued to shine on Europe’s biggest stage.

Despite his personal impact, Chelsea failed to show convincing form. Qarabag fought hard and nearly caused Enzo Maresca’s squad to lose. The draw leaves the group standings uncertain, but clearly, the London club must improve significantly if they want to qualify directly without going through the playoffs.

Coach Enzo Maresca made seven changes compared to the lineup that beat Tottenham 1–0 in the Premier League last weekend. The Italian manager rested key players like Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto, and Garnacho himself for the trip to Azerbaijan. However, the absence of these stars made it difficult for Chelsea against a spirited Qarabag side.

Speaking after the match, Maresca admitted: “When we change the lineup, our goal is always to find the best solution for each game. Today we started well, scoring first but then allowed the opponent to come back. Both goals conceded were from situations we could have avoided, and in finishing, we need to be sharper.”

The 45-year-old coach also explained that he had to rotate players due to fitness concerns: “I’ve said it many times, players can’t play every three days. They need rest, especially after a long season and the Club World Cup this summer. When we win, no one comments, but when we draw or lose, everyone notices the rotation. The important thing now is to recover energy to come back on Saturday.”

Currently, Chelsea stands 7th in the Premier League after 10 rounds. This weekend, they will return to Stamford Bridge to host Wolverhampton in their final match before players depart for international duty.