The roar of the Metropolitano. The celebrations of Diego Simeone. It wasn’t a objective however the response to Conor Gallagher’s full-blooded back-to-back tackles late on in Atletico Madrid’s 1-0 win towards Athletic Bilbao served as a reminder of his vital function within the Spanish capital.
Now nicknamed ‘El Pitbull’ for his tenacious hounding of opposition defenders and skill to quickly cowl floor, the England worldwide is an ideal match for El Cholo’s Atletico and helps to gasoline the depth of the group’s problem for silverware on three fronts.
That prime-octane urgent will probably be acquainted to Chelsea supporters. So will his versatility and flexibility.
These viral tackles – which helped safe a win which retains Atletico Madrid’s LaLiga title bid on monitor – had been from a left midfield place.
The sport earlier than, in a 4-4 Copa del Rey first-leg draw at Barcelona, Gallagher had performed extra conservatively on that facet, serving to to double up on Lamine Yamal. Earlier than that, he was contributing an help by means of the center of the pitch towards Valencia.
At Chelsea final season, he was used a holding midfielder, a part of a double-pivot, as a front-foot presser additional up the pitch and whilst a false 9. His place modifications at Atletico have as a substitute been horizontal, with a profitable stint on the left away to Paris St-Germain proof Gallagher might nonetheless contribute exterior of his most popular central function.
The England worldwide has purchased into the ethos at Atletico. The all-for one, one-for-all tradition constructed by Simeone. He might not begin each match and he could also be utilized in completely different positions however it’s clear he has the belief of Simeone to have an effect from the primary whistle or as an alternative.
That’s significantly evident at dwelling, the place Gallagher turned the primary Englishman to attain for Atleti in 101 years when he hit the online on his first begin on the Metropolitano. He rises to the all-action calls for of the Atleti dwelling help – a key consideration made by the Spanish membership once they signed him final summer season for £38m.
However Gallagher believes he has additionally proven tactical enchancment this time period. He is not the primary England common to really feel that manner at Atletico, with Kieran Trippier additionally crediting his time with Simeone for enhancing him defensively.
Gallagher has at all times beforehand performed for high-pressing groups. At Atletico, usually the tactic is to sit down again in formation earlier than bursting forwards with long-range counters. That completely fits the engine and drive of Gallagher.
It’s understood Gallagher has no regrets in regards to the swap and is happy by the longer term at Atletico. He enjoys the town and is working exhausting to study the language. That transition is all the simpler when the group is successful and Atleti have completed loads of that this season.
They go to the Bernabeu on Tuesday night time not as favourites however as formidable neighbours, forward of Actual within the LaLiga title race and with the benefit of enjoying the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at dwelling.
For Gallagher – enjoying in his first season within the Champions League as a game-by-game common – it’s a thrilling alternative. And one he will certainly respect all of the extra after being forged apart by Enzo Maresca at Chelsea final summer season.
Conor Gallagher’s stats for Chelsea final season
On the ultimate day of final season, underneath Mauricio Pochettino, Gallagher led his boyhood membership out at Stamford Bridge as captain. Within the stands, a tifo learn ‘Chelsea since delivery’.
It was a nod to the 18 years he’d spent on Chelsea’s books and a response to the uncertainty surrounding his future on the time. Finally, regardless of that help, he was bought, a sufferer of Chelsea’s must money in on homegrown expertise for monetary causes and questions over the place he would match into Maresca’s system.
However their loss has been Atletico’s achieve. Gallagher – usually – has charged into the problem.
He’ll be hoping to attract extra roars of appreciation from his membership’s supporters and head coach this week on the Bernabeu and past as Atleti pursue the massive prizes in the course of the enterprise finish of this season.
