Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher recalls awkward encounter with former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher has revealed in an interview with Skysports(h/t Express), the amusing story of bumping into former Blues manager Thomas Tuchel during a lunch outing with his family last year.
Gallagher was on loan at Crystal Palace for the 2021-22 season and helped the Eagles reach the FA Cup semi-finals against his parent club Chelsea. It was a fruitful spell for the youngster who won the club’s player of the year award at Selhurst Park.
With Gallagher ineligible to face his own team, his dad cheekily asked Tuchel for special dispensation during a random pub encounter.
“I was out for lunch with my parents and my girlfriend. He [Tuchel] turned up with a couple of the staff, It wasn’t even me [who spoke to Tuchel], it was my dad! He goes, ‘any chance of him being able to play in the semi-final? and Tuchel just went, ‘no chance’. He just laughed it off.”
Conor Gallagher revealed his father approached Tuchel directly to lobby for his selection in the Cup semi-final. But the German manager instantly dismissed the request with a wry laugh during the impromptu pub meeting.
Chelsea went on to knock Palace out 2-0 at Wembley and Gallagher was forced to watch on without playing. A year later, the 23-year-old has been handed leadership duties by new Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino. It is fair to say that his standing is on the rise in West London.
Gallagher has skippered Chelsea on multiple occasions this term after being named vice-captain. He has played 10 matches for the Blues this season across all competitions and to his credit, has delivered consistent performances throughout.
It’s a remarkable rise considering Tuchel’s lack of faith in him previously led to Gallagher being limited to minimal game time at Stamford Bridge. The academy product has used that setback as motivation, establishing himself as a key figure under Pochettino.
His hilarious account of his father’s botched appeal to Tuchel during their surprise pub encounter underscores how far Gallagher has come. From having no chance of facing Chelsea to now captaining his boyhood club, Gallagher is relishing his transformation. Let’s hope it continues for a long time.
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