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.



Nice Extends Great Home Run with 3-2 Win over Plucky Rennes

Rennes's midfielder #75 Seko Fofana passes the ball next to Nice's Ivorian forward #29 Evann Guessand during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Stade Rennais Football Club at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on January 3, 2025. (Photo by Frederic DIDES / AFP)
Rennes's midfielder #75 Seko Fofana passes the ball next to Nice's Ivorian forward #29 Evann Guessand during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Stade Rennais Football Club at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on January 3, 2025. (Photo by Frederic DIDES / AFP)
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Nice Extends Great Home Run with 3-2 Win over Plucky Rennes

Rennes's midfielder #75 Seko Fofana passes the ball next to Nice's Ivorian forward #29 Evann Guessand during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Stade Rennais Football Club at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on January 3, 2025. (Photo by Frederic DIDES / AFP)
Rennes's midfielder #75 Seko Fofana passes the ball next to Nice's Ivorian forward #29 Evann Guessand during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Stade Rennais Football Club at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on January 3, 2025. (Photo by Frederic DIDES / AFP)

Nice beat Rennes 3-2 to move into fourth place in Ligue 1 on Friday.
Both sides produced chance after chance in an entertaining match and it was the home side which took the lead after 12 minutes, The Associated Press reported.
Tanguy Ndombélé’s superb lofted pass put Evann Guessand through on goal and he held off a grappling defender to side-foot the opener.
Arnaud Kalimuendo equalized after 27 minutes for Rennes but Sofiane Diop put the home side ahead again seven minutes later when he picked up a poor pass by goalkeeper Steve Mandanda and fired home.
Former Rennes player Gaëtan Laborde made it 3-1 in first-half stoppage time with the aid of a neat assist from Guessand.
The visitor got a goal back three minutes into the second half when the keeper spilled a long-range shot and Adrien Truffert followed up to poke into the empty net.
Both sides pushed for more goals but Nice held on, even after Pablo Rosario was sent off in stoppage time for a high tackle.
The result preserved Nice’s unbeaten home record and lifted it on to 27 points, equal with Lille and two points ahead of Lyon.
Rennes remained 12th.