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Conor Gallagher has admitted that meeting Mauricio Pochettino had an influence on his decision to stay and fight for his place at Chelsea.

The 23-year-old has been a revelation under the new management at Stamford Bridge, starting every game since the beginning of the campaign.

Fans have been very impressed with Gallagher, who has also captained Chelsea on several occasions this term.

The Chelsea academy product was close to exiting Stamford Bridge over the summer after receiving offers from other clubs, but in the end, chose to remain and play for the club.

In a recent chat with TNT Sports, Gallagher recalled his first meeting with Pochettino, and how they have struck up a friendship between them these past few months.

“To be honest, before I met Pochettino, the manager, I wasn’t sure because there was so, so much going on at the club, so many players leaving, so many coming in,” Conor Gallagher said about his feelings ahead of meeting the new boss in the summer.

“Until pre-season started with the gaffer now and he just seemed to have a connection with me as a player.

“And he seemed to like me a lot and we have a good relationship, and after that kind of carried on and the preseason was brilliant, the start of the season brilliant, in terms of me playing games, which I didn’t have so much last season.

“Yeah, I was buzzing to play under him and stay at Chelsea and prove myself to the club and the fans.”