Conor Gallagher awkwardly responds to a young Chelsea fan’s plea for players to play for the badge during the 5-0 defeat at Arsenal.
A sign with that message had been held up by a child as Mauricio Pochettino’s side were embarrassed at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
Arsenal go three points clear at the top of the Premier League with Kai Havertz and Ben White scoring second-half braces after Leandro Trossard’s early opener.
During the game, TV cameras panned to the young Blues supporter who with help from an adult, was holding up a sign which read: “I don’t want your shirt!! I want you to want to fight for ours.”
After the full time whistle, Gallagher was asked to give his thoughts on the sign, and of he felt his teammates had fought for the shirt.
He responded: “We are definitely putting the effort in.
“I know how much it means to all the boys, I know it’s been said many times, it’s a very young squad with not much experience as a team in the Premier League.
“We have had a lots of ups and downs and we are still improving and working together as a team to get to the next level.
“Today was one of those days that we were nowhere near it.
“We need to dust ourselves off and also look at the performance and where we can improve and all the mistakes where we can put it right and move onto the next one.”
“We definitely are putting the effort in”
Conor Gallagher responds to a young Chelsea fan’s request for the players to play for the badge@rioferdy5 and Joe Cole react… pic.twitter.com/MaHaEAAUt2
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 23, 2024
This Chelsea fan 💔 pic.twitter.com/mYGpshtlQZ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 23, 2024
Player ratings
Arsenal: Raya (7), White (9), Saliba (7), Gabriel (7), Tomiyasu (7), Partey (8), Odegaard (9), Rice (8), Saka (8), Havertz (9), Trossard (8).
Subs: Jesus (7), Martinelli (7), Zinchenko (7), Jorginho (7), Vieira (6)
Chelsea: Petrovic (5), Gilchrist (4), Disasi (4), Badiashille (4), Cucurella (4), Caicedo (4), Fernandez (4), Gallagher (5), Madueke (5), Jackson (5), Mudryk (5).
Subs: Sterling (6), Chalobah (6), Silva (6), Casadei (6)
Player of the Match: Kai Havertz
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino to BBC Match of the Day: “It’s not difficult to explain. Everyone saw we didn’t compete from the beginning of the game. After we concede I think the team was so soft. I’m so disappointed with the start because we’re supposed to have full energy and compete better.
“We were not aggressive and we did not concentrate in situations where it is easy to find the solution. That is why we’re so disappointed.
“We were talking at half-time to start in a different way. But we start really bad. In 10, 15 minutes in the second half, when we conceded the third goal we gave up. It was tough on them until the end of the game.”
“We competed really well against Manchester City, it was a fantastic game. But then we did not compete three days later. Maybe we were not fresh.
“It’s not fair to talk about the players we are missing. From the start of the season we have been missing so many players every single week. One team is competing for the Premier League. The other team is competing with all the circumstances we have.
“The team showed a lack of capacity to resist, that is what is the problem.
“Arsenal is a very good team. But I think we allowed them to play. We gave all the possibility to play and create chances [to them]. That is why we’re so disappointed. In some parts of the game it was an even game. But we’re too inconsistent.”
On Cole Palmer’s return date: “We don’t know, we need to assess tomorrow. We will see the squad that we have. We need to deal with the situation.”
On Chelsea’s European prospects: “Now it is difficult to see the future because after this game we feel disappointed. It is difficult to talk about objectives. If we compete like Saturday, OK. But if we compete like today, I think we deserve to go into Europe? I think in this way, no.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to BBC Match of the Day: “I’m really happy with the performance, collectively and individually. To stand up in a big match against a big opponent and to get a result with the performance that we had today, makes me really pleased.
“From the beginning we looked really sharp, really active, sharp, aggressive off the ball.
“I have analysed every game from them [Chelsea] and they have been outstanding. They have played some big teams and were better than them, they’ve deserved better results. I think they are a great team. They are extremely well-coached with good individuals. Credit to our players, they’ve done really well today.
“The energy, the belief in the team, every time we had the opportunity to go forward we did.”
On Kai Havertz: “His overall contribution in every phase of play was tremendous. When you add the two goals he scored and some of the link-up play that he had in big moments, [it was] a great performance.
“Individually we had some great performances. We have to do our job. Now we have to wait and see [for Liverpool and Manchester City’s results].”
Arsenal goalscorer Leandro Trossard speaking to TNT Sports: “I think the early goal helped us and after that we played so well. We had a lot of chances and we turned them into goals. It’s a great night.
“They say clean sheets help you win games. We know if we score the goal we can win 1-0. But, obviously, we want to go for more. Today is the perfect night. I think everyone works so well and hard. I am really happy to be here.”
On the title race: “We can only do our own job and that’s winning games. We are on track now and we will try and win the rest of the games and we will see what happens.”
Arsenal defender Ben White to BBC Match of the Day: “The first goal I was just in the right place at the right time. The second one was a bad touch and it went in.”
On Kai Havertz’s performance: “Amazing. He deserves it. He’s been outstanding since he’s come in. You don’t realise how good he is until you play with him.
“Amazing performances from all of us. It’s important to keep going and play our best. Obviously it’s a massive game. I hope they [Liverpool and Manchester City] are all watching. We can only do what we can do.”
This is how Twitter users reacted as Conor Gallagher awkwardly responds to a young Chelsea fan’s plea for players to play for the badge…
@mackkerz: Sounds like he’s on the verge of tears here. Wtf is wrong with this club that it’s gotten to the point where an academy player in his second season is fielding questions like this? No matter what you think of his ability there’s something wrong with that.
@theocj66: “Tonight was one of them nights” ???? Is he taking the fucking piss, how many times have we been embarrassed this season and absolutely nothing changes
@LampardLateRun: “Gallagher has been magnificent alongside Palmer” I’m convinced pundits like Keown don’t watch football. Players like Gallagher being in the squad, let alone the captain sums up what a mess we are. Him, Chilwell, Sterling and Mudryk have to be sold
@CFC_merchants: Worst part about this defeat is that no one at the club will try to apologise, not the club, not Poch and not the players. The only person that will even think of apologising is Thiago and he leaves in the summer, shows the kind of state we are in.
@Garysonfire: Sorry Conor but if this is putting effort in then it’s even worse than it looks already
@TheHazardFan: He did not lie. He’s putting the effort in, he’s just a garbage footballer.
@JdpKevin: If that’s “putting the effort in” liquidate the whole fucking club
@CFCkeemo: He’s holding back tears but you’re not good enough man, you are part of the problem.
@cfca1017: “Effort” got you a 5-0 drilling rude boy get outta here man
@thomashope1998: Putting effort in is the only thing this man can do technical ability of a championship player get rid
@dougie000272: Absolutely disgusting ‘footballer’ and this criminal of a manager now only plays him hit made him captain. Get both these criminals out my club
@Daniely79: Haha they never put any effort in when they play arsenal watch how hard they work off the ball when we play them. Embarrassing club
@Zolawonderland: ‘putting the effort in’ by collapsing when the 2nd goal went in because for the 3rd-4th time in the game we didn’t shut down a short corner because no one could be bothered. what a joke of a bunch of players we’ve got. Poch is shit and these players don’t care 👍🏻
@BackseatPundit: Pochettino should be there standing alongside him. He’s been brought in to manage these young players and abandons them on and off the pitch time and time again #cfc
@TrentWa52026329: Of course Joe Cole defends the fucking golden boy! Can’t wait to see the back of Poch and Gallagher
@batchels__: Mentality speaks for itself. You’re not fucking trying and you have no accountability. we lost 5-0 shut the fuck up and take some responsibility
@CFCBrowdz: Effort and running only gets you so far lads. You HAVE to be tactically top now, even teams like Wolves & Palace have a top system while we rely on pressing and counter attacking.
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