Conor Gallagher Rejects Claims Chelsea Sold Him Due to Tactical Mismatch

Conor Gallagher Responds to Claims Chelsea Sold Him Due to Tactical Mismatch

Conor Gallagher has pushed back against claims that Chelsea sold him to Atlético Madrid because they believed he was not technically suited for Enzo Maresca’s system. Despite being a key player under Mauricio Pochettino last season, Chelsea invited offers for the midfielder this summer.

Unable to agree on a contract extension with Gallagher, whose deal was set to expire next year, Chelsea excluded him from the first-team squad. Gallagher attracted interest from Aston Villa and Tottenham but ultimately completed a £34m move to Atlético Madrid last month.

Although Diego Simeone, regarded as one of the best managers in the world, was eager to sign Gallagher, reports suggested that Chelsea felt the England international didn’t fit the possession-based style preferred by Maresca, who replaced Pochettino as head coach in June.

Gallagher dismissed these claims, saying, “I don’t think that’s true. Last season I had a good season with Chelsea, and you could see by Pochettino playing me every game and showing his trust in me. The fans appreciated what I did on the pitch. I’m very grateful for all of that, and thankful to Pochettino for giving me the platform to express myself and show the best version of myself at Chelsea.”