Former Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher believes he could have been a good fit for new manager Enzo Maresca, despite concerns about whether he suited the Italian tactician’s style of play.
Gallagher recently made a move from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid after a lengthy transfer saga that involved interest from various clubs. Many Chelsea fans may question the decision to let the England international go.
Although not the most flashy or high-profile player, Gallagher was a consistent performer for Chelsea under Mauricio Pochettino last season. There was a possibility that he could have continued to contribute significantly to the team this season.
However, at 24 years old, Gallagher was in the final year of his Chelsea contract. It was logical for the club to sell him this summer rather than risk losing him for free in 2025.
CFC made several new signings this summer, further limiting Gallagher’s opportunities. Overall, there were multiple reasons for the transfer that were unrelated to Maresca’s tactical preferences.
Gallagher transfer: Ex-Chelsea midfielder responds to Maresca claim
“I don’t think that’s true personally. I think last season I had a good season with Chelsea as you could see by Mauricio Pochettino playing me every game and showing his trust in me. And the fans appreciated what I did on the pitch too,” Gallagher told the Daily Mail.
“I’m very grateful for all of that and very thankful to the fans. And very thankful to Pochettino for giving me that platform to go and express myself and show the best version of myself at Chelsea.
“Chelsea make their own decisions and they’ve brought in some top players on long contracts. That wasn’t the situation with me but, in the end, what happened is good for everyone, so everyone is happy.”
