Conor Gallagher is making his case for Chelsea next season

Chelsea has one of their deepest squads in recent memory. The Blues have also been playing a very specific formation, 3-4-3, with 3-5-2 only being used occasionally as of late. Overall, this means that it is very hard for certain players to find a spot in the team. One of those is Conor Gallagher who, despite looking good in preseason, wouldn’t have realistically had a spot for the Blues this year. So, he was sent on loan to Crystal Palace.

Conor Gallagher is excelling at Crystal Palace. He is making his case for not just a Chelsea first team role next season, but a starting role. With every passing game, it is becoming harder to ignore the young Englishman. Saying he should come back and be fighting for a start isn’t hyperbole. It’s simply evident.

The Crystal Palace victory over Manchester City is just a microcosm of what Gallagher has done all season. For the first goal, he stepped out of midfield to press. He forced Aymeric Laporte into a sloppy pass which Wilfried Zaha latched on to. Receiving the ball with a clear lane to goal, Gallagher stayed calm and made a simple pass to Zaha who scored.

For the second goal, Gallagher took possession of the ball at the edge of the Palace box and laid it off to a teammate on a run. He stayed behind the play as the counter developed, only entering the box at the last moment for a Frank Lampard esqe goal.

What stands out about these moments is how aware Gallagher is of his teammates. That’s been the story of his season. His ability to move and use his teammates has been nothing short of phenomenal. Three goals and two assists for Palace only tells a small part of the story. His pressing, commitment, and energy has been a driving force for the Eagles since the season began.

Playing somewhere between an eight and a 10 in a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1, Gallagher’s position doesn’t necessarily exist in Chelsea’s 3-4-3. Then again, Thomas Tuchel redeveloped Mason Mount higher up the pitch and Ruben Loftus-Cheek lower, neither of whom would have had a natural role in the formation under other managers. Gallagher could just as easily play in the pivot as he could in a forward spot.

Another twist is the 3-5-2 Chelsea has used on occasion. Gallagher, not unlike Mount, could do multiple roles out of midfield in such a shape. As an “eight”, he could get forward to join the strikers or stay back in a pivot with a teammate.

But perhaps more than anything else, Gallagher’s performances are making four at the back look very tempting for next season. If Chelsea fans are impressed by Mount’s ability to move and drive throughout the pitch, having Mount and Gallagher will be like a cheat code.

Furthermore, Gallagher is playing this well at Crystal Palace where he is arguably one of their best players already. What happens when the quality of players around him increases? The same thing that always happens. He’ll be even better than he is now.

Gallagher is going to be at Chelsea next season. With the way he’s been playing, he won’t be in Blue just to fight for a bench spot. He’ll be fighting for the start and he’ll be giving Tuchel some thinking to do.