After bumping into Conor Gallagher at a restaurant, Thomas Tuchel revealed he apologised to him. Gallagher will be forced to miss Sunday's FA Cup final due to loan rules.
Crystal Palace requested special permission to allow England midfielder Gallagher to play against his original club at Wembley, but the request was denied.
Patrick Vieira, the Eagles' manager, was understandably frustrated to be missing one of his important players, describing the scenario as "frustrating for his development" and admitting that the circumstance had a temporary impact on Gallagher in training.
'I got the opportunity to speak with Conor, and I could understand his frustration,' Tuchel added. We met at a restaurant a few weeks ago, I believe after the international break, by chance, and had a chat, and the subject came up, and I apologised because I know how competitive he is and how much I like him.' I'm familiar with his personality, so having him here in pre-season was a treat. That's the way things are. 'We play to win the game, and the rules were clear when we made the loan, and I completely understand Vieira's dissatisfaction, as well as Connor's disappointment, but these were the rules when we made the loan, and we don't want to suffer because of them.'
After his superb performances this season, the midfielder's absence is a significant setback to Vieira's club.
Gallagher has made an impact since joining the Eagles on loan, helping Vieira's team reach the last four of the famous cup competition at Wembley Stadium.
With his remarkable play this season, he has even gained the attention of England manager Gareth Southgate, and he might be on the plane to Qatar in November for the 2022 World Cup.
Last week, the Eagles manager questioned whether the FA and Premier League are harming young players' development by not allowing them to play against their parent clubs.
'I'm not sure if that's a bad rule, but it makes me think it's not the best rule since Conor will be the only one who loses,' he continued.
'This is a semi-final, and it's a really interesting game about how you'll manage yourself and prepare for the game during the week.'
‘Playing a game of this magnitude is an experience that players are missing, and I'm disappointed for him since he's already completed all of the games.' Because of his performances, he is deserving of a place in the semi-final.' Chelsea sent him out on loan so he could play these types of games, and we now have the chance to play a crucial game, one that will boost his confidence and belief. 'He's been outstanding since he's been with us, and not having a chance to play in that game is frustrating for his development.'
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