Mauricio Pochettino hails Conor Gallagher as ‘priceless’ as Chelsea snatch 3-1 win at Crystal Palace
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Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (middle) celebrating with his teammates after scoring their third goal against Crystal Palace.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino described midfielder Conor Gallagher as “priceless” after he helped the club rally from a goal down to beat Crystal Palace 3-1 in the English Premier League on Feb 12.
The England international, who spent the 2021-22 season on loan with the Eagles, scored twice after Chelsea had fallen behind to Jefferson Lerma’s opener, before Enzo Fernandez’s 94th-minute goal sealed the victory at Selhurst Park.
Gallagher, who has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in the past two transfer windows, has missed only one of Chelsea’s 24 league games this season when he was sidelined due to suspension.
He has made more than 30 appearances in all competitions and Pochettino said he was a player with “great commitment” to the team.
“Always trying to compensate every situation in an offensive and defensive situation, and that is priceless to have a player like him. I’m so happy for him and I’m so happy for the team because it’s a victory we needed, the three points,” Pochettino said.
Chelsea, who are 10th, had lost to Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last two league games.
Asked about Gallagher’s future, the Argentinian said: “What he told me was to stay at Chelsea. But then it’s about him and the club. I’m not suffering with this type of thing, he still has one year more on his contract.”
The visitors struggled to break down Palace in the first half despite dominating possession and completing 420 passes, the most in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League game without having a shot on target since the 2003-04 season.
Pochettino’s side have struggled to penetrate teams that have defended in a low block this season and found it hard to penetrate Roy Hodgson’s stubborn side.
The Blues manager made changes at half-time and with Christopher Nkunku coming on and Cole Palmer moving out to the right, they seemed to be more fluent in attack.
“We saw two different sides. In the first half, we were so flat and I was so disappointed. In the second half, much better and I am very pleased with how we finished the game,” said Pochettino, who was keen to point out that his side must avoid conceding early goals ahead of a run of tough fixtures, including league matches against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as the League Cup final against Liverpool.
“We need to be more consistent, we need to start the game in a different way. But yes, very pleased in the end because we needed the three points and now to prepare for the next week against Manchester City. That is going to be a good test for us before we prepare the final.”
The result adds to the pressure on Hodgson, whose side have not kept a clean sheet in 13 league matches. They sit 15th on 24 points, five points above the drop zone.
The third goal “led to an aggravated defeat, but I don’t think that’s a fair reflection on the way the game was played. I think we deserved to come off with at least one point,” said Hodgson, who was missing key players like Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Marc Guehi.
“It was extremely cruel, but the game is about goals and, unfortunately, we made mistakes which led to goals.” AFP, REUTERS
