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.
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Gallagher has already sat out of two league fixtures against Chelsea this season, with Palace losing 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the season before narrowly losing a more even contest 1-0 at Selhurst Park in February.
“It’s not the best rule because the only one who will lose is Conor,” said Vieira. “Paying that kind of game, the importance of it, it’s an experience the player is missing and I’m disappointed for him. He has played all the games so far and if there’s somebody who deserves to be in the semi-final, it’s him because of his performances. I’m disappointed he won’t be able to play.”
He added: “I think the decision for Chelsea to send him on loan is to play these kinds of games. We have, as a group, an opportunity to play an important game and that game will give him more confidence and belief. We could lose but for him to be on the field is what he needs to keep developing himself.
“Since he has been with us he has been fantastic and for him not to have a chance to get involved in that game is frustrating for his development. I feel for him because he will want to play in that game — every player would want to play in that game.”
Gallagher played a key role in helping Palace blow away Everton 4-0 at Selhurst Park in the last round of the FA Cup and book the club only their fifth ever appearance in the competition’s last four. They didn’t have long to wait before finding out their opponents either, with Chelsea drawn out of the hat to face them at Wembley that same day.
Knowing that he would likely not be granted permission to play in the game, Vieira explained how the usually exuberant figure of Gallagher was anything but during their next training session together.
“The next day in training he was, of course, affected by that,” Vieira added. “He knew straight away that it was a game that he would not have the chance to get involved in. We feel for him.
“It will be more difficult when we enter that week of the game. Of course, this week we are preparing for the Leicester game. It will be challenging for him, looking at the team, preparing himself and not getting involved. That will be challenging for him."
