Conor Gallagher has been an extremely important player for Chelsea this season.
However, Mauricio Pochettino was forced to take him off in Chelsea‘s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final over the weekend, explaining after the game that the midfielder was tired.
Chris Sutton, though, is not buying that Conor Gallagher was out of energy and thinks the player could have continued. The former Blues striker was speaking about the Wembley showdown on the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast.
Gallagher actually had chances to win Chelsea the game but fluffed them, resulting in some fierce criticism from ESPN journalist Julien Laurens.
Still, it has been a bright season for Gallagher overall. He is currently the second-highest rated Chelsea player on WhoScored.
Chris Sutton not buying Conor Gallagher tired excuse
Sutton is not having that Gallagher was too tired to continue playing what was left of extra time.
On the 24-year-old, he said: “He hooked Gallagher. Oh, knackered. We’re all knackered! We’re all tired, but hang on a minute, you don’t take your leader off in that moment.
“Did Gallagher want to come off? I don’t know, maybe he’s injured, maybe I’m wrong, but surely you can see it through. I’m not buying the knackered thing. I’m really not.”
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Should Mauricio Pochettino have taken off Conor Gallagher?
If Gallagher really was tired — and there is not a reason for Pochettino to lie about that — then it is obviously the normal thing to do.
And in terms of Chelsea creating chances and finishing them off, would keeping Gallagher on have helped the Blues?
Probably not, with the Englishman himself missing a few good opportunities during the game. Ultimately, a lack of clinical finishing is what you would have to say cost Chelsea in the end. And if Gallagher had his shooting boots on that day, the game would not have even got that far.
The Blues can still end the season with some silverware if they are able to go all the way in the FA Cup.
