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.



France Coach Didier Deschamps Says He’ll Leave after 2026 World Cup

France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
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France Coach Didier Deschamps Says He’ll Leave after 2026 World Cup

France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)

Didier Deschamps announced Wednesday that he won’t continue as France coach after the next World Cup.

The 56-year-old Deschamps said in an interview with broadcaster TF1 that he will leave when his contract expires in the summer of 2026.

“I’ve been here since 2012, I’m scheduled to be here until 2026, the next World Cup, but that’s where it’s going to end because it has to end at some point,” Deschamps said in excerpts of the interview to be aired later Wednesday.

“I did my time, with the same desire and the same passion to keep the French team at the highest level, but 2026 is all very well.”

Deschamps started in his role as a successor to Laurent Blanc and led France to victory at the 2018 World Cup, also reaching the final in 2022 and at the 2016 European Championship.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, France reached the final and lost an epic title match to Argentina.

“I’m not here for the records,” Deschamps added. “The most important thing is that the France team remains at the top as it has been for many years.”

Europe will send 16 teams to the first 48-team World Cup, being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026.

Deschamps did not elaborate on his future beyond the World Cup.

“There is a life afterwards,” he said. “I don’t know what it will be.”