There are some really nasty reports coming out at the moment as the Conor Gallagher situation reaches boiling point.
The midfielder’s contract is coming into its final year, and the club are desperate to sell him now to secure a vital FFP and PSR boost. But Gallagher doesn’t want to go – he wants to play for his boyhood club, the team he supports and where he’s been a great asset in the last year.
Instead of offering him a contract he considers acceptable, those making the decisions have decided to go the other way. They’re trying to make things so unpleasant at Chelsea that he will be forced out. Tom Barclay of the Sun today reported that after a meeting with the club today, Gallagher was told he wouldn’t be able to train with the first team when they return from the USA next week.
That’s pure humiliation, and disgraceful treatment of an academy kid who has never given anything but 100% for the club.
Meanwhile Atletico have told Chelsea their offer for Gallagher only stands until the end of the weekend.
I'm told Conor Gallagher has been banished from Chelsea 1st-team. He was in for a meeting at Cobham today, said he'd be open to signing a new long-term deal. But he's been told when he reports to training on Mon, he's not permitted to 1st-team building & won't train with 1st team
— Tom Barclay (@TomBarclay_) August 2, 2024
Chelsea eating itself
The replies to the Tweet above, mainly from supporters of other teams, tell you all you need to know.
“What a disgrace,” “they’re ripping the core out of their team,” “nasty, nasty club.”
Under normal circumstances we’d be defending out team from attacks like that, but in this case, what can you really say? They’re spot on, it’s just taken them longer to clock what’s going on at Stamford Bridge because they’re not watching it happen up close.
The club’s briefings and spin doctors are doing all they can to try and mitigate the damage, just as they did with Mason Mount and Lewis Hall, but there’s only so many times that even the most gullible readers will believe their stories.
There’s nothing “disgraceful” about NOT offering a long-term contract to a guy who’s NOT GOOD ENOUGH and whose attributes are not a good fit for the new manager’s plans. The piece from SuperFrank reeks of sentiment but makes NO footballing sense. Conor Gallagher is great at pressing, but that’s not the asset we need when we expect to enjoy 70% possession against most opponents and need midfielders who can make a turn in the half-spaces and deliver a penetrating pass that unlocks the defence. Can anyone honestly argue those are Gallagher’s best attributes? If so, point to the film where Gallagher has shown himself a reliable technician and make the case. Otherwise, knock off the arguments from pure sentiment—this is professional football for crying out loud.
I expect nothing less from a club with no soul, no class, no clue and certainly no leadership, either on the pitch or in the boardroom!
Would not be surprised if Tommy Robinson was appointed to head of Public Relations, would fit the narrative perfectly!