Conor Gallagher impressed on loan last season with Crystal Palace, and was retained by Thomas Tuchel for the 2022-23 season.

Tuchel has however told Gallagher that he has to fight for a spot in the Chelsea team.

The competition for places in the middle of the park is tough, and Tuchel has told Gallagher that it’s ‘life at a big club’.

“To be honest, it is a very tough fight for him. It seems we only have two places in central midfield. Given the amount of players we have for central midfield, it isn’t ideal I agree,” Thomas Tuchel said when asked about Conor Gallagher.

“But we have to do what’s best for the squad not just each individual player, so these thoughts are not 100 per cent about the formation. But at the moment, he is absolutely fine.

“I am a huge fan of Conor. He is a fantastic guy and this is what we already knew. In the first weeks of training he has shown how much of a step he has made through having so much playing time, through his personality on the pitch.

“It is a very, very normal situation and development at the moment that after some fantastic training sessions in the beginning, there is a little dip in his form and freshness which he suffers.

“On top of that, there’s a huge competition with N’Golo, Jorgi and Kova, who are used to playing with each other. This is also life in a big club like Chelsea, so everything is in its right place.

“We are happy with him. He keeps on fighting and this is what he does. I think he has everything to become a very important player in the next years at Chelsea.”