GARNA BE A HANDFUL I coached Chelsea star Alejandro Garnacho – he would argue with me at 10 years old… it wasn’t normal

And that is how the Chelsea star first became a left winger.

Chelsea star Alejandro Garnacho always had a strong character

Garnacho used to argue with his coach at Getafe at the age of 10

Antonio Mellado is the longest-serving coach in the academy of Getafe, the LaLiga side in the southern suburbs of Madrid.

In all his 31 years at the club, Mellado has never seen a talent or a temperament like Garnacho's.

He oversaw the youngster's transition from seven-a-side to 11v11 football at Under-12 level — and Garnacho made it very clear where he wanted to play in the new formation.

Mellado said: "I remember many times arguing with Alejandro in the middle of a game.

"He saw things his way and told them to my face without any beating around the bush. Other guys don't even dare to ask why the coach makes his decisions.

"It's not normal for a ten-year-old boy to tell you so many things about how he saw them. And he'd tell you straight, without any anaesthetic. I told him he was a right winger, and he said no, he was a left winger.

"Probably by now he doesn't even remember these conversations I had with him. I used to tell him, 'You're right-footed, and you play on the right'.

"To motivate him, I'd tell him, 'If you score two goals in the first half, you'll play on the left wing'.

"I told him that once during a match. And he didn't score two goals — he scored FOUR.

"Between you and me, I'll tell you a secret: Alejandro ended up playing on the left wing.

"He scored more goals playing on the left side. He had a striking power with his right foot like a sledgehammer."

Garnacho, the son of a Spanish father and Argentinian mother, began his sporting life at the Arroyomolinos football academy in Mostoles, on the outskirts of Madrid.

He joined Getafe as an Under-ten player and, after two years of seven-v-seven football, he became part of Mellado's 11-a-side that was effectively playing up a year at U12 level.

Mellado said: "This transition is often challenging for many young players. Despite being a small boy, Alejandro demonstrated remarkable boldness and determination.

"Alejandro was a very mature boy for his age. He was a different kind of player in terms of his mindset.

"Technically and physically he was far ahead of the other kids he played with. He was a physical powerhouse.

Getafe's longest-serving coach in the academy Antonio Mellado isn't surprised with Garnacho's success