Gallagher Can Be a ‘Big Asset’ for Chelsea, Says Coach Tuchel

Conor Gallagher of Chelsea tries to control the ball off of a corner kick against Club America during their preseason friendly match at Allegiant Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)
Conor Gallagher of Chelsea tries to control the ball off of a corner kick against Club America during their preseason friendly match at Allegiant Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)
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Gallagher Can Be a ‘Big Asset’ for Chelsea, Says Coach Tuchel

Conor Gallagher of Chelsea tries to control the ball off of a corner kick against Club America during their preseason friendly match at Allegiant Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)
Conor Gallagher of Chelsea tries to control the ball off of a corner kick against Club America during their preseason friendly match at Allegiant Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel said Conor Gallagher could prove to be a "big asset" for the club after the midfielder made his case for a spot in their first-team with a solid performance in a 2-1 pre-season win over Club America in Las Vegas.

Gallagher, who impressed in a loan spell at Crystal Palace last season, played 45 minutes on Saturday as Mason Mount sealed victory for Chelsea in the 83rd minute, after Timo Werner's opener was cancelled out by a Reece James own goal.

"Conor trains at a really high level, and you can clearly see it was the right decision to let him go on loan," Tuchel told reporters after the win. "He made a huge step in his development at Palace and became an England player.

"It was a very good start and a good match for him. Now it's important he gets used to our principles of the game, to understand when to move and when not to move, and his work rate is outstanding... He can be a big asset for us."

Chelsea will also take on Arsenal and Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC in the United States before finishing their pre-season preparations with a game against Serie A's Udinese in Italy.



French Skier Sarrazin out of Intensive Care after Crash and Head Injury

Medical staff are helping France's Cyprien Sarrazin after crashing into protections net during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
Medical staff are helping France's Cyprien Sarrazin after crashing into protections net during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
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French Skier Sarrazin out of Intensive Care after Crash and Head Injury

Medical staff are helping France's Cyprien Sarrazin after crashing into protections net during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
Medical staff are helping France's Cyprien Sarrazin after crashing into protections net during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

French skier Cyprien Sarrazin was out of intensive care after sustaining a head injury in a crash last week.

Sarrazin underwent surgery for a bleed near the brain after crashing on Friday during preparations for the World Cup downhill in Bormio, Italy.

“A long period of recovery and then rehabilitation now begins and the length of his unavailability is currently undetermined,” the French Ski Federation said on Thursday on X. It added he was stable, The AP reported.

Sarrazin, who won the downhill on Bormio’s Stelvio course last year, had the operation at Sondalo hospital near Bormio on the same day as the accident.

The French Ski Federation said he had pain in his foot and knee but “despite the violence of the shock, no other injuries were found.”

It said he was due to return to France on Friday to be admitted to the neurosurgery department of the Medipole de Lyon.

The 30-year-old Sarrazin was the fastest in the first training session the day before his crash. On Friday’s second run he appeared to hit a bump, lost control and was catapulted into the air. He slid a long way down before he was caught in the safety netting.

The slope will be used for the Milan-Cortina Olympics in 14 months.