Pochettino ‘upset’ by Gallagher situation as Chelsea release statement

Mauricio Pochettino spoke up about the online bullying Chelsea player Conor Gallagher faced recently.

The 23-year-old midfielder was wrongly accused of racism because of a misleading video. The video made it seem like he ignored a high five from a club mascot at Stamford Bridge.

But the truth is, Conor was caught up in greeting his former teammate Josh Cullen and didn’t notice the mascot. This happened during the 2-2 match against Burnley. The clip went viral internationally, but it wasn’t shown in the UK due to blackout rules on Saturdays.

Conor received a lot of hateful messages on his Instagram and X accounts, formerly known as Twitter. This forced the club to release a statement in his support.

Pochettino expressed his disappointment, saying nobody wants to hurt others intentionally. Conor often engages with fans through videos and photos. He’s a good kid who cares about everything. When you’re focused on playing, sometimes you miss things.

But some people are quick to jump to conclusions and cause trouble. Pochettino knows Conor well and believes he would never do something like that on purpose. He urged people to stop spreading hate and pay less attention to those who try to stir up trouble.

The club also stood by Conor, emphasizing that the video was taken out of context and the abuse he faced was unacceptable. They reiterated their commitment to being an inclusive club where everyone feels welcome.

Nicolas Jackson in support of Conor Gallagher via Instagram ???? pic.twitter.com/vMu3EiOFea

— CFC-Blues (@CFCBlues_com) April 3, 2024