Foreign media suspect Garnacho of being a mole! Chelsea's lineup leaked twice in a row, digging up his past at Manchester United.
On 18 Mar 2026 GMT+7, in the decisive second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Chelsea hosted Paris Saint-Germain at Stamford Bridge but lost 0-3. The aggregate score was a heavy 2-8 defeat, resulting in Chelsea's comprehensive elimination.
Before the match, a hot issue arose when Chelsea’s starting eleven leaked to French media for the second time that week. This was highly unusual for a top-level team that normally keeps plans and tactics strictly confidential, prompting fans worldwide to question who was behind the leak.
Looking back to 11 March in the first leg in Paris, Chelsea’s lineup was also leaked before the game, which they lost 2-5. Manager Liam Rosenior confirmed an immediate investigation would be launched. However, the same leak reoccurred in the second leg.
Foreign media have focused suspicion on 20-year-old Argentine forward Alejandro Garnacho, who recently transferred from Manchester United to Chelsea last summer. His past behaviors have been brought up for comparison.
Revisiting an old case, Garnacho was once dropped from a Manchester derby match between Manchester United and Manchester City after a lineup leaked to the media before the game.
Reports suggest Garnacho's younger brother might have been responsible for leaking Manchester United’s lineup and tactics before that game, with the starting eleven and strategy revealed nearly 24 hours in advance.
However, another theory claims the real reason Garnacho was dropped then stemmed from personal behavior, after he turned his back and walked away while Ruben Amorim was giving instructions on the sideline just three days before a UEFA Europa League match against Viktoria Plzeň.