Injury update after the win against Crystal Palace as Chelsea gear up for their final game of 2023. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Mauricio Pochettino has claimed that Conor Gallagher being fluent in English was the main factor in the decision to make him the Chelsea captain over Enzo Fernandez this season.
The England international has already captained the Blues in two games this season, as he led the Blues against AFC Wimbledon and Bournemouth. With skipper Reece James out injured, Pochettino has chosen Gallagher to fill the leadership void.
Ben Chilwell, who has been named vice-captain, was on the bench against Bournemouth. It raises questions whether the full-back is lacking when it comes to stepping up when needed.
Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United showed interest in the 23-year-old Gallagher during the previous summer transfer window, and Chelsea were inclined to sell him. However, Gallagher has remained committed to Chelsea and has started in all five Premier League games, which has seen him handed the captain’s armband.
Pochettino has plenty of options as Enzo Fernandez has shown his captaincy traits on the pitch, but the Argentine considered making Gallagher the captain, as long as Chilwell and James aren’t on the pitch, (h/t Daily Mail) as he explained the reason:
‘’To clarify, I think maybe it was Thiago who gave it to Enzo, but Enzo is still struggling with his English. If we need to communicate with the referee and everything, I think Conor can perfectly do the job, and for me, I prefer Conor to Enzo because I think Conor can speak normally in English.”
Since Gallagher is an English player, it makes sense to make him the skipper. More so, as a Cobham graduate, he will know what it means to don the jersey and go the extra mile.
As a South American, Fernandez would experience communication difficulties while speaking to officials and his teammates . He has aggressiveness that could see him get booked but in the future, especially if his words get taken out of context. The Argentine certainly has the minerals for leadership and it remains to be seen if he will be reconsidered for the tole in the future.
As an academy player and his commitment to the club, Gallagher is seen as the ideal player to lead the team as captain as long as James and Chilwell aren’t playing.
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