CONOR GALLAGHER only played five of the 100 games Thomas Tuchel managed for Chelsea – and was sent off in one of those.
Yet he made enough of an impression on the German in their brief time together that Tuchel’s appointment as England boss could be good news for the midfielder.
Gallagher spent most of Tuchel’s Champions League-winning reign at Stamford Bridge out on loan, first to West Brom and then Crystal Palace.
But Tuchel was always a fan of the industrious midfielder, seeing similarities to Chelsea great N’Golo Kante for his energy.
Tuchel pushed for a new deal for Gallagher before his axing in September 2022 – and showed interest in signing the Londoner when bossing Bayern Munich.
It all bodes well for Gallagher’s international prospects, even if the Atletico Madrid man will be taking nothing for granted.
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Gallagher, who has 19 caps, is in Lee Carsley’s squad again for this week’s Nations League clashes against Greece and Republic of Ireland.
He has made just one sub appearance under the outgoing interim boss, so will be hoping for more action when Tuchel’s reign kicks off in the new year.
By then, Gallagher will have hoped to have fully got to grips with his new life in Madrid after an up-and-down start so far.
Put in a situation by Chelsea where if he did not sign a relatively short-term deal of two years plus an option of a further season – relative to the massive contracts the Blues have handed out under Todd Boehly, at least – he would be bombed to the reserves, Gallagher opted for the climes of sunny Spain.
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Atletico made their interest known during the Euros, where the 24-year-old became convinced of the move after chatting with La Liga winner and ex-Rojiblanco Kieran Trippier.
After some late drama which saw Gallagher fly over to Madrid, then back to London, then back to the Spanish capital, Atletico eventually sealed the £36million deal.
It added to their mega-money recruitment drive this summer, which also saw them splash £88m on Julian Alvarez, and that has heaped on the pressure after the team’s inconsistent start to the season.
Off the pitch, Gallagher and his girlfriend Aine May Kennedy have settled in well, wasting no time to move out of a hotel and into a house.
Freddy, their cream-coloured chow chow dog who looks like a fluffy little bear and has his own Instagram account, joined the pair out in Madrid in September.
Gallagher quickly earned a canine-themed nickname himself with the Atletico supporters, who have branded him “Pitbull” for his all-action approach and relentless running.
It is a moniker he enjoys and was particularly relevant to his outstanding display in September’s 3-0 home win over Valencia, where he won nine duels, all four of his tackles and became the first Englishman to score for the club for 101 years.
That great start was followed up a week later with another goal and good performance in the 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano.
But then came a tougher period in October as he came in and out of a team who were thumped at Benfica and lost at home to Lille in the Champions League.
That poor run culminated with Gallagher being subbed off at half-time in the dreadful 1-0 loss at Real Betis.
That defeat drew criticism, particularly after the huge summer spend, with skipper Koke insisting the club must not lose its hard-working DNA despite “the millions that have been spent” and boss Diego Simeone admitting he needed to get more out of the new signings.
Mario Suarez played for four years at Atletico under Simeone and had two stints at the club – so knows what it is like to handle the supporters’ expectations.
The former Spain international, 37, told SunSport: “This year is a lot of pressure on them because they spent a lot of money on signings, including Gallagher.
“The people are demanding this year a lot of the team. They want them to fight.
“In England, people show more respect in the street. You can go more on the street and the people don’t tell you nothing. They respect when you are with your wife and your kids.
“Here in Spain it’s different. If you beat Real Madrid, they will tell you they love you and if you lose, some people can bother you.
“He’s a player with character and he has to handle that pressure. I think he can do it.”
Atletico appear to have turned a corner, having won the last four games, including a smash-and-grab 2-1 victory at Paris Saint-Germain which Gallagher started.
The chance to work with Simeone was a huge reason behind Gallagher’s decision to sign.
But the Argentine does not speak English and Epsom-born Gallagher is only at the start of his journey to learn the Spanish lingo, mainly using online apps at this point.
It means ‘El Cholo’, as Simeone is known, has to use a translator to speak to his combative midfielder.
English-speaking Cesar Azpilicueta and Alexander Sorloth have helped Gallagher’s integration – along with a certain Fernando Torres, now manager of Atletico’s B team.
Simeone has also used Gallagher in a number of positions, from a holder to an attacking, box-to-box midfielder.
Suarez, who was out of his comfort zone linguistically with stints in China, Italy and with Watford, added: “It’s true to not speak the language perfectly is tough.
“But the great players do it. He will need some time, maybe more time than others, but Kieran Trippier managed it in an amazing way, so I think Conor can do it.
“He has to adapt to Spanish football. It’s more tactical than English football, which is more box-to-box, more intensity, less possession.
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“Simeone is like you see on the touchline. He puts intensity into everything he does. He’s a very demanding coach, in the training, the matches.
“Conor is a Simeone type of player. He gives 120 per cent in every action, he fights for every ball, with a lot of intensity and energy.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
