Conor Gallagher's move to Atlético Madrid: What it means for Chelsea

With Chelsea's pre-season friendlies kicking off in a few days, the recruitment department has seemingly provided Enzo Maresca with adequate personnel to ready the team for the campaign ahead. Conversely, the offloading of surplus resources is also essential in maintaining a well-balanced squad.

The West London club has already unloaded three Cobham graduates - Omari Hutchinson, Lewis Hall, and Ian Maatsen - for a combined fee of €101 million. As per the latest news from Fabrizio Romano, it seems that Chelsea will add another academy product to that list, who will likely command a hefty fee - Conor Gallagher.

In this article, The Pride of London will analyze what the Chelsea squad will miss next season without the adored tenacious midfielder.

The Mainstay

The cliché - availability is the best ability - is synonymous with Gallagher among Chelsea supporters. In another injury-ridden 2023/24 season for the Blues - according to data from Give Me Sport, Chelsea suffered the highest number of injuries and days missed in the Premier League - the England international's durability and endurance were constantly relied upon by former boss Mauricio Pochettino.

During this time, Gallagher only missed a match due to an illness. Moreover, he banked 3,128 league minutes - the highest in the Chelsea squad. Furthermore, in this period, Chelsea lost multiple midfielders for long spells, including Carney Chukwuemeka, Roméo Lavia, and Lesley Ugochukwu - making Gallagher's durability all the more essential. Thus, Chelsea will lose, and Atlético will inherit a hard-wearing player in the team who can be relied on throughout a season without worrying about injuries.

Out-Of-Possession Machine

Gallagher is rightfully considered one of the best pressing midfielders in world football. His off-ball tenacity and work rate are evident on the field, however, what stands out more is the Englishman's defensive intelligence. Especially under Pochettino last season, Gallagher displayed his complete off-ball expertise through clever defensive positioning, precise press timing, and angle of movement. Gallagher's defensive statistics in the 2023/24 season also demonstrate the same - ranking first in the Chelsea squad, joint third in the Premier League, and joint fourth in the top five leagues for tackles won in the attacking third.

For Maresca to execute his possession-dominant style, he requires proficient out-of-possession players. Gallagher would fit that mold, but if the transfer materializes, the Italian manager will hope that Lavia, Moisés Caicedo, Cole Palmer, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall provide enough cover during offense-to-defense transitional phases. Nevertheless, concern about Gallagher's on-ball quality was probably the driving reason behind the sale.

The Intangible

In a season where Chelsea's young squad was trying to create form and momentum, it was a year where they were also attempting to build their individual character and identity as a team. Captain Reece James and vice-captain Ben Chilwell were going to lead the way after being designated their titles. However, injury setbacks meant Chelsea was short of on-field leaders, barring veteran Thiago Silva.

In came Gallagher, who was handed the captain's armband and entrusted to lead the team by Pochettino for the majority of the season. Although the introduction of Tosin Adarabioyo adds notable leadership qualities, the departure of Gallagher would be significant, considering that Silva also left to join Fluminense this summer.

A year of struggles and moderate success would have matured the Chelsea squad. However, they are still in need of guidance as they voyage into unchartered European territories as a collective. Furthermore, under more pressure to deliver next season, Chelsea will require their players to step up.

Madrid State of Mind

Despite fulfilling the roadmap outlined for the Cobham graduate, from completing loan periods at Charlton Athletic, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, and Crystal Palace to becoming a first-team regular at the West London club, Gallagher has unfortunately not made it into Chelsea's long-term plans. However, this is a consequence of the manager's tactical needs rather than his performance last season, as Gallagher was one of the most consistent players in the squad.

Having bled blue since age eight, Gallagher would call Chelsea his home. However, the time has come for the Englishman to move on. The destination will likely be the vibrant city of Madrid, where he will rock the new colors of red and white. In Diego Simeone's Atlético system, Gallagher will seamlessly fit in. His gritty attitude and doggedness are loved by all fans. But it will be especially appreciated by Atlético supporters as it aligns with the club culture.

Under the Metropolitano Stadium's blinding lights, Gallagher will hope to have found the city where he can accomplish the dreams he built in London.