There have been few positives for Chelsea this season and even fewer in April. Chelsea have not won a game and managed just one goal, while the Blues have been knocked out of the Champions League and lost five matches under Frank Lampard.
Chelsea's caretaker boss has acknowledged the difficulties the club is facing and identified the team's lull in confidence and fitness issues as key reasons behind the west London side's struggles. With only six games remaining in the season, it's not a push to suggest that these may be issues Chelsea's next manager needs to resolve, with Mauricio Pochettino leading the race.
Lampard's recent lineups have attempted to rely upon the club's fittest and most ready players to help drive them through their struggles. Few have come out with much merit, but the period has seen Conor Gallagher elevated from substitute to a consistent member of the starting lineup.
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The Blues midfielder netted Chelsea's only goal of the month against Brighton but has shown his ever-present work rate can be directed into efficient forward pressing.
Speaking ahead of Brentford in Chelsea's official programme, Gallagher said: "Yeah, I feel like it's turned out to be quite a big part of my game - pressing and winning the ball back, forcing my opponents into mistakes. That's something I need to continue to do, I think it helps the team win the ball back, often in high positions, to create chances. So I'll always try and be aggressive and do my best defensively when I'm pressing because it can definitely help the team."
The 23-year-old was happy to acknowledge where he needs to improve: "When coming off the bench, you've just got 15-20 minutes to do what you can, so I think it's a bit different. But when I'm starting games, the thing I've still got to improve is controlling the work-rate and decision-making when to run after people and kick them and when not to."
Gallagher undoubtedly offers attributes that would seem to reflect what is perceived as a Pochettino side. The former Crystal Palace loanee has stood out as one of the more physically able players of the current group in Lampard's assessment, which has proved to be of the utmost importance for former Spurs boss Pochettino. Producing on this front, is at the core of the type of player Gallagher is.
He said: "Yeah, I feel like there's people that appreciate the work I put in on the pitch. I always try and work my hardest, and sometimes the team needs that. Sometimes things are not working out for the team on the ball, so you have to do that work off the ball to motivate everyone and get the team up for it. I try to do that, and I think the fans at the stadium appreciate that, so I'll always try and be that type of player."
Reports have already suggested that the 51-year-old coach has impressed the importance of the presence of homegrown players in the Chelsea squad. The Blues will be looking to trim their numbers in the summer and Cobham products will offer the greatest profits that could benefit the club under Financial Fair Play.
Gallagher has drawn interest in the past, with Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Everton all expressing interest in January, while a £45million move was pitched. Graham Potter did not sanction the move, while Gallagher himself was happy to stay at the club while he was still earning opportunities.
The academy star sounds adamant that he wants to help Chelsea put things right next term too.
He said: "A lot of learning, growth as a a person and as a player as well. Obviously, it's been a tough season and I think everyone can say they've learned a lot from it. Hopefully it will only help me moving forward into the seasons to come. There's a determination to put Chelsea back where it should be. No one is happy with how it's gone this season, it hurts everyone here at the club as much as it does the fans and we'll have the mindset of putting it right, certainly next season, but first and foremost at the end of this season as well."
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