Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly and sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart attended the club’s annual lavish Christmas dinner earlier this month, where Conor Gallagher made an appearance.
Sitting on a stool next to the club’s former youth product Jody Morris, host Chris Hollins asked Gallagher what the proudest moment of his career had been so far. The midfielder answered without a moment’s hesitation: “I am captain of the team.”
The house erupted in applause and Gallagher’s name was chanted by the crowd in the Great Hall at Stamford Bridge, just as it was in the home stands on Tuesday night when the England international wore the captain’s armband again and became Chelsea’s best player in the Carabao. Penalty shootout victory over Newcastle United in the cup quarter-final.
Ahead of kick-off, Gallagher had more possession in the final third than any other player in Europe’s top seven leagues, and only three Premier League players had more possession in total. When he launched himself onto the Stamford Bridge pitch, it wasn’t hard to see why.
If Gallagher’s appearance and the reaction he received at the annual luncheon were a reminder of why Boehly, Winstanley and Stewart should think twice before using the 23-year-old as a get-out-of-jail-free card on Financial Fair Play, then Tuesday night should have provided just that. It’s clear evidence that January offers should be ignored for him, no matter how long his contract is.
Gallagher struck Newcastle’s crossbar with a beautiful curling shot and produced at least three key blocks in a performance typical of his energetic style. He kept his cool while taking the penalty.
Of Chelsea’s outfield players, only Axel Disasi had played more minutes this season before the defender was substituted in the 78th minute, and head coach Mauricio Pochettino could not give any guarantee that Gallagher would not be sold, insisting it was a decision. for the club and the player.
Gallagher has 18 months left on his contract in the new year and Chelsea have been coy about his future despite making it clear he wants to stay where he calls home. Questions about whether offers would be considered in the next transfer window remained unanswered and speculation was allowed to run wild.
Pochettino faced a similar scenario in 2019 when Tottenham Hotspur sold one of their best players, Mousa Dembele, to secure a transfer fee. Daniel Levy and Spurs may have made a profit, but the Argentine team counted the cost.
Lewis Hall’s Newcastle career may not have taken off yet, but many in the Great Hall for the annual luncheon and at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night will still be wondering why he was allowed to leave.
There was a sense of relief that Gallagher did not leave during the summer, when sources claimed his name was on a list of transfer-ready Chelsea players circulating between clubs.
If West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur or even Newcastle offer £50 million for Gallagher, there’s a good chance he won’t start the season at Stamford Bridge and won’t be around. will take part in the annual luncheon.
Morris still remembers the 13-year-old Gallagher from his time coaching Chelsea’s youth players and told Boehly, Winstanley, Stewart and Co that he was not among the players he believed were heading straight for the top.
But as Pochettino has recognized this season, Gallagher’s attitude, application and ability to learn have catapulted him ahead of perhaps more talented players, and this is also something that has won the fans over in a troubled period for Chelsea.
Gallagher has seen Chelsea spend more than £300 million on four midfielders – Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia – all younger than him over the last 12 months, and yet not once has he hung his head or wavered.
He received a silly red card against Brighton but has generally been a creditable performer in a season full of inconsistency for Chelsea.
Gallagher may not be a social media sensation and signing a new contract may not inspire a series of congratulatory gifs greeting Boehly and Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali.
But as he showed once again on Tuesday night, he embodies the spirit of the club he grew up in and that must be priceless.