CONOR Gallagher described last night’s Carabao Cup penalty shootout win over Newcastle as the best moment of his Chelsea career to date.
The academy graduate led out the Blues as skipper and was among the quartet of Chelsea players to score from the spot in a 4-2 penalties success over the Geordies.
Chelsea had trailed for most of the game in normal time to Callum Wilson’s 16th minute opener, but they got their just rewards in stoppage time when substitute Mykhailo Mudryk capitalised on Kieran Trippier’s mistake to set up the penalty drama.
Gallagher told Chelsea TV: “It is the best feeling I’ve had in a Chelsea shirt I think so far, and I don’t think we’ve had enough of those feelings and those kind of games. I’m hoping we have many more of them.
“I thought we were brilliant today to be honest. I thought we dominated the game.
“Obviously it was disappointing to go one down from a goal we shouldn’t have conceded, but we stayed focused, stayed professional, kept playing and being patient.
“Thankfully right at the end Missha (Mudryk) poked it in.”
Gallagher believes last night’s goal will help lift the Ukrainian’s confidence after a tough start to life at Stamford Bridge since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk just under a year ago.
“I think it will do a lot,” he said.
“That’s all we want from him – to come on and get us back into the game.
“And he did, so everyone is buzzing for him.”
As for Gallagher, he had no doubts whatsoever about what the outcome of the penalties would be.
He added: “I was confident going into the shootout, just from the performance and how we were.
“I felt we were a lot better than Newcastle.
“We were confident on the ball and in everything we did, so I felt confident going into the shootout.”
Stamford Bridge was buzzing throughout last night’s tie and Gallagher wants more of the same between now and the end of the campaign in SW6.
“It makes so much of a difference,” the Blues ace explained.
“The fans were excellent and it means a lot to us.
“It helps us drive forward and run even more. We really appreciate it and keep doing it!
“In a way, the feeling we had today is a better feeling than if we won two or three nil.
“To come back and win a penalty shootout brought a togetherness I feel and I really enjoyed it.
“Everyone else did as well.”
Gallagher was also beaming with pride about being handed the captain’s role on what proved to be a night to remember for everyone at the club.
“It means so much,” he said.
“A lot of my friends and family were here tonight so it meant a lot.
“I’m really proud to wear the armband, to get the win and have the fans go home happy tonight.”
