Clean slate: Graham Potter’s arrival has been a welcome one for Conor Gallagher
(Picture: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)Conor Gallagher has responded to Graham Potter’s methods at Chelsea, producing a man of the match display in the 3-0 win over Wolves.
The 22-year-old earned his first start for Potter after his match-winning 90th-minute goal against former club Crystal Palace last weekend.
This week his influence was more subtle, but those inside the stadium at Stamford Bridge gave a standing ovation to the Cobham academy graduate, after a complete midfield performance where he began the match almost opening the scoring after two minutes with a good effort.
Soon he turned creator, setting up Kai Havertz as a combination of Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Cesar Azpilicueta caused damage down Wolves’ right-hand side.
In a moment that typified what makes the Blues no23 so special, his chasing of a lost cause led to a corner in first half-injury time. Chelsea would almost score from that corner, only for the ball to fall to Mason Mount who would cross for the opening goal. Kai Havertz’s looping header was too good for an in-form Jose Sa to stop.
Having linked up well with Mount, who he has been playing with since his schoolboy days, it was Gallagher providing for Havertz just after half-time. With his blonde hair slicked back like a young David Beckham, he produced a pin-point cross from the right in the 51st minute to almost set up Havertz for another, only for Sa to produce an impressive save.
Mason Mount would again be the provider, this time for Christian Pulisic to make it 2-0, and Armando Broja sealed the win with his first goal for the club.
It was a glorious afternoon for Chelsea and their new manager who has led the club to three wins in a row for the first time in over a year. It follows impressive results away at Palace last weekend and at home to AC Milan in midweek.
This run is down to the whole squad coming together and propelling themselves into the top four after a slow start to the season.
With strong performances from the likes of Pulisic, Trevoh Chalobah and Azpilicueta, Gallagher wasn’t the only player out of the seven changes to make a statement about their future selection. However, he was the one who truly stood out.
It turns around what was a dismal start to the season for him personally after a red card against Leicester and after earning heavy criticism for his display away at Leeds.
Former manager Thomas Tuchel was often seen berating him during matches at the start of the season. It might be that Potter’s softer touch will allow this graduate to realise his potential.
