Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira says he’s disappointed in Chelsea’s decision not to allow Conor Gallagher to play in their FA Cup semi-final next week and said the whole purpose of the Blues sending him on loan to the club was for him to play in important games like this one.
Chelsea rejected Palace ’s request to give Gallagher special dispensation to face his parent club in the cup, meaning he’ll play no part in the semi-final after featuring in all four previous rounds for the Eagles.
Vieira, who is busy preparing for Palace’s Premier League trip to Leicester on Sunday, said in his pre-match press conference that the only person losing out in the scenario created by Chelsea was Gallagher and that he was disappointed for the midfielder. This season has seen the 22-year-old break into the senior England team off the back of some stellar performances from Palace, where his high-energy playing style and eye for goal have earned him plaudits from across the board.
