'Unacceptable' - Pochettino slammed for naming Gallagher as captain after Brighton red card

3 Dec 2023 15:10 GMT
5 min read

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has been criticised for naming Conor Gallagher as the club’s captain, in preference to Thiago Silva, following the Englishman’s red card against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Just one week after club captain Reece James was sent off in the 4-1 loss to Newcastle United, Chelsea saw their on-field captain handed an early bath after Gallagher was given two first-half yellow cards by referee Craig Pawson.

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His first bookable offence came in the 31st minute before a mistimed challenge on former Chelsea player Billy Gilmour resulted in a second yellow card in first-half stoppage time.

Gallagher has been heavily criticised by Chelsea fans online, with their side 2-1 up at the time in a crucial Premier League game against an injury-hit Brighton team.

It was the second red card of Gallagher’s senior Chelsea career, with the first also coming in the first-half of a game. In just his second-ever start for the club, the England international was handed a red card after just 28 minutes versus Leicester City last season.

His latest sending off has not gone down well amongst the Blues fanbase, with many taking to Twitter to vent their anger.

What has been said online?

Reece James and Conor Gallagher getting sent off in back to back games. Why did Pochettino decide to give the captains armband to children. Thiago Silva is 39 years old and starting every game. He deserved the armband.
— CfcSheikh (@CfcSheikh) December 3, 2023

Reece James last week and Conor Gallagher this week. Both poor poor red cards.
— Sripad (@falsewinger) December 3, 2023

Conor Gallagher gets sent off, really unnecessary and with us a conceding a goal few minutes before is totally irresponsible. #CHEBRI
— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) December 3, 2023

Your Chelsea captain.

Well done Conor Gallagher. pic.twitter.com/beaVbzp8Xs
— WorldWideChels (@WorldWideChels) December 3, 2023

Conor Gallagher is the first Chelsea player to be sent off in the first half of a Premier League game since ...

Conor Gallagher in August 2022 vs. Leicester #CHEBHA pic.twitter.com/XYLlFnyI1d
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) December 3, 2023

Yeah Conor Gallagher has to be one of our stupidest players oat 🤣🤣🤣
— #8 (@ftblchels) December 3, 2023

Completely unacceptable from Reece James last weekend, and completely unacceptable from Conor Gallagher this weekend.

This team needs to grow up, fast.
— ~ (@CFCdruw) December 3, 2023

Conor Gallagher's second yellow card against Brighton means Chelsea have now received 46 yellow cards this season. That is the joint-highest tally of any club in the Premier League. Arsenal have the fewest with 20 cautions, by comparison.
— Cameron Smith (@_CameronSmith10) December 3, 2023