Captaining Chelsea is an honour for any player but for Conor Gallagher, wearing the armband carries an extra inch of significance.
The Academy graduate has skippered the Blues in recent weeks with Reece James injured and wore the armband again in last night’s 2-0 win against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The midfielder, one of the more experienced players in the squad despite being just 23 years of age himself, put in a display of real leadership to help us earn the three points from our near neighbours, with Mykhailo Mudryk and Armando Broja the Blues on target.
For Conor, wearing the armband and helping the side to victory means just that bit more for a player who has supported Chelsea all his life.
‘It’s a really proud moment for me whenever I captain the club and to do it a few times now, it means so much to me,’ Conor explained.
‘Chelsea is my club, I’ve supported them all my life and I just want to do so well whenever I step onto the pitch in a Chelsea shirt.
‘To captain this club on the few occasions I have now is amazing and I just want to keep performing as well as I can to help the team to win games.’
Gallagher certainly did all he could to help the side at Craven Cottage, with the midfielder running 12 kilometres in the victory – more than anyone else on the pitch.
Leading by example on the pitch, as well as becoming more ‘disciplined’ in his play, is something that the England international prides himself on and hopes it helps our young squad succeed going forward.
‘We’ve got a very young squad here and I would say I’m probably one of the more senior players now in terms of Premier League experience,’ added the midfielder.
‘I’ve tried to be a bit more disciplined and to be more of a leader on the pitch. I’d even say off the pitch as well, to help set a good example at all times.
‘You need lots of leaders though, everyone has to play their part. We are a young squad, but we have lots of talented players and we are trying our best to work together and understand each other’s games, which I think you saw against Fulham.
‘That’s important for a team to succeed and we’re going to work hard and do our best to achieve that. This win is a big one for us and it’s important now that we build on it.’