Mauricio Pochettino has insisted Chelsea’s board must act to keep Conor Gallagher at Stamford Bridge.
Gallagher could leave Chelsea this summer, with the Blues’ owners understood to be weighing whether to sell the England midfielder.
Chelsea fans made their feelings on homegrown talent Gallagher clear before the Blues’ 2-0 derby win over rivals Tottenham, unfurling a banner in support of the 24-year-old.
The Shed End Tifo read “Conor Gallagher, Chelsea since birth”, in a pointed call to the Blues’ bosses to keep their home favourite in west London.
Chelsea boss Pochettino insisted he has no involvement in Gallagher’s situation, but admitted he regards the hard-working midfielder as integral to his plans.
Asked about Gallagher’s wider situation, Pochettino replied: “I am not involved, I know nothing, I cannot tell you.
“I think you can see in my starting XI I think, the whole season, was strong with him.
“He’s an important player of course.
“But I’m not involved in the decision, it’s the club and Conor.
“I’m not involved, that’s a situation that they need to fix between the club and the player.”
Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson headed Chelsea to a Premier League double over Spurs, in a result that could cost the visitors Champions League football next term.
The Blues boosted their own chances of European qualification for next term however, in a commanding performance and result.
“For me that’s the game of the season that has made me the most happy, the way we played, the way we competed, that’s what we wanted from the start of the season,” said Pochettino.
“We were so competitive and it shows that we can grow, we can do better and we can improve.”
Academy graduates like Gallagher and Chalobah thrived in the derby atmosphere, relishing sealing the Blues their bragging rights.
And Pochettino admitted their depth of understanding of the derby passion and fervour certainly added to the Blues’ cause.
“They were fantastic of course, and we always talk about the identity of the club,” said Pochettino.
“With players that grow and come through the academy system, they have the capacity in this type of game to give a little bit more because it’s emotional.
“But that doesn’t mean that players that didn’t go through the academy system don’t feel the same.
“You can still build this same bond with your team. The whole team was fantastic, but of course Trevoh and Conor were fantastic within that.”
