August 18th 2024.
Throughout the summer, there has been speculation linking Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid. But it wasn't until Chelsea supporters heard their team was down 1-0 to Manchester City at Stamford Bridge that they began chanting his name. Enzo Maresca's first game as Premier League manager had a promising start, but City quickly gained momentum and scored in the 18th minute due to some lackluster defending from Chelsea.
The goal came from Bernardo Silva, who received the ball from Jeremy Doku and then passed it to Erling Haaland. Haaland skillfully maneuvered past Marc Cucurella and chipped the ball over Chelsea's goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, breaking the deadlock. The fans at Stamford Bridge could be heard chanting for Gallagher, who was surprisingly not included in Maresca's squad for this high-profile match.
There were reports at the beginning of the transfer window that Chelsea was willing to sell Gallagher, along with other homegrown players, in order to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules. This was despite Gallagher's standout performance last season, where he scored five goals and made seven assists in the English top flight.
Atletico Madrid was eager to secure a deal for Gallagher, but unfortunately, the move was put on hold due to Samu Omorodion's failed transfer to Chelsea. Along with Gallagher, notable names like Romelu Lukaku, Armando Broja, Ben Chilwell, and Raheem Sterling were also left out of the first-team squad to face Manchester City.
Lukaku and Broja are both expected to leave before the transfer deadline, while Sterling, who was looking forward to playing against his former club, was left out without any explanation. Sterling's camp released a statement calling for clarity on his situation, stating that he is committed to the club and its fans and has been training diligently under the new coach.
In his pre-match interview, Maresca addressed the tough decision of leaving out players like Sterling and Gallagher, stating that it's a normal part of being a manager. He also reassured that it was a technical decision and not personal, and that he will be making more decisions in the coming days.
It's not uncommon for managers to face criticism for their choices, and Maresca seems to be handling it with grace and professionalism. As for Gallagher, it remains to be seen where his future lies, but for now, he finds himself in a state of limbo, waiting for the transfer situation to be resolved.
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