Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel spotted jumping in anger at Conor Gallagher against West Ham

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel fumed at Conor Gallagher for not playing a pass quickly enough in the Blues’ Premier League clash with West Ham, a video of the German has shown. Gallagher had the opportunity to play a pass to Reece James as the midfielder ventured forward against the Hammers but the attack was soon closed down.  

Tuchel could be seen urging his team forward with the score at 0-0 in the first half. Gallagher dribbles forward with the ball and Reece James can be seen speeding forward on a marauding overlap. 

Had the former Crystal Palace loanee played the pass, James might have had enough space to have a shot on goal. But Gallagher dallies in possession as West Ham quickly close down the chance. 

What was initially an excellent chance to threaten West Ham’s goal soon ends with Gallagher turning around and passing the ball backwards. Tuchel fumed at the 22-year-old for failing to create the opportunity. 

The Chelsea head coach is seen urging Gallagher to make the pass, and grows tetchier the longer the academy graduate stalls. As Gallagher turns backwards, Tuchel jumps, turns around and claps in anger. 

Tuchel is then seen furiously gesturing and shouting about Gallagher’s failure to play a better pass as Chelsea’s defenders begin building an attack from deep. 

Gallagher apparently took the brunt of a lot of frustration by his boss. The Evening Standard report that Tuchel was frequently giving the player “aggressive instructions” in the first half. Gallagher was taken off on the hour-mark. 

It comes just seven days after Tuchel told Gallagher that he had to take “responsibility” for the sending-off that put his team-mates at a major disadvantage against Leicester. He was red-carded in the first half for a second yellow card, with Chelsea able to overcome the numerical advantage by winning 2-1. 

Tuchel said afterwards: “I think we were in total control, had big chance, more than a chance with Ruben [Loftus-Cheek], had the penalty and marginal offside but it looked like not offside on our mobile devices. Suddenly, you’re one man down with Conor.

“We were sloppy on the set-pieces and concede on the counter-attack. It was a bad decision from Conor and it gives you a disadvantage. He is responsible for what he did and of course he knows it was a huge mistake.”