Conor Gallagher played an instrumental role in Tottenham securing safety in the Premier League.
Tottenham Hotspur made the managerial change with seven games to go, with the team heading in only one direction under interim boss Igor Tudor. Roberto De Zerbi restored confidence within the camp and guided Spurs to safety, the 1-0 home win over Everton on the final day of the season ensuring that they finished above West Ham, who were relegated.
Several players stepped up to the plate in De Zerbi’s tutelage during the relegation run-in. Conor Gallagher was one of those. The England international struggled for form and became a target for the unhappy fans after joining the club from Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window. The central midfielder’s N17 career started slowly as he became a victim of the chaotic managerial cycle.
Eventually, Conor Gallagher found his mojo in De Zerbi’s system. The Italian tactician used the 26-year-old in an advanced midfield role to compensate for Xavi Simons’ loss due to ACL injury, and he flourished. His best game in a Spurs shirt came at Villa Park, where the Englishman opened the scoring with a long-range strike against Aston Villa. That raised his confidence levels, and he ended up playing a pivotal role in keeping Tottenham afloat in the top flight.
Conor Gallagher opens up on his early struggles at Tottenham
Leaving Atletico Madrid and joining Spurs in a tumultuous period midway through the campaign proved to be tough for Gallagher. It was evident from the midfielder’s performances, and being a former Chelsea player added to the pressure of living up to the expectations of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium faithful.
Now, Gallagher has admitted to lacking in confidence in his first few months at Tottenham, opening up on the immense psychological challenges he faced following his move from Atletico Madrid.
“I’ve not really been able to speak to anyone in the last few months,” Gallagher said in an interview with Sky Sports.
“It’s obviously been really tough times for me and the team, and I’ve just been so focused on trying to improve to help the team as much as I can. I was low on confidence, the last manager wasn’t having me, and the fans didn’t think I was any good. I mentally dealt with that really well. I knew I could come back and show the fans what I can really do.
“Hopefully it’s only the start because I’ve got so much to give and looking forward to building an even better connection with our fans.”
"The last manager wasn't having me and the fans didn't think I was any good" 🗣️
Conor Gallagher on re-building his confidence during his time as a Spurs player amid their difficult season ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/KNffMdEULn
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 25, 2026
Gallagher expected to enjoy a better 2026/27 campaign
It is evident by now that De Zerbi likes Gallagher. The player’s work rate, pressing, intensity, closing down and running power made him indispensable to De Zerbi’s side. The ex-Chelsea talent played with renewed energy in the final few weeks of the season and helped his team cross over the line.
After a bedding-in period in N17, Gallagher is expected to only get better next season. A full pre-season should help the tireless midfielder a lot, both from a physical and tactical perspective. There have been reports of the North Londoners looking to cut their losses on the player after his underwhelming returns.
However, those rumours can be put to bed now after Gallagher’s strong finish to the recently concluded campaign.