Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher paid Newcastle United a huge compliment amid the backlash of defeat at St James’ Park.
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The game may have ended in controversy as Kai Havertz had to be restrained and other Chelsea staff and players needed to be calmed down after the game. But the England star could not deny Newcastle their moment.
Speaking after the 1-0 defeat on Tyneside, Gallagher said: “I don’t think we were good enough and I think Newcastle deserved to win.
“We’ve got to be better and we need to take a look at ourselves. Physically, they were stronger than us and a lot more intense and that’s something we need to improve on.
“If we want to be challenging for titles and things like that, then we need to be so much better and Newcastle showed that. So we need to look at ourselves because we know there’s a lot to improve on.”
Gallagher thought he was close to an equaliser when Nick Pope made the save of the game late on and he reflected afterwards: “I thought it was a bit of a soft shot to be honest and knowing how big Pope is, he got across to cover the goal well.
“I was obviously hoping it would creep in, which would have been nice. When you’re not playing that well and you get a goal, it brings you back in the game and gives us a chance to go on and win the game. As it turned out, we conceded soon after that chance and that’s really disappointing from our perspective.”
On the recent poor run of form, Potter added: “Credit to Newcastle who are in a good moment. This is a tough place to come. It is not nice for us. We are in a bad moment. We take the break to recharge and go again.
“There won’t be many of us. A lot of the guys go away. But those that remain will work and go again.
“We have had a tough period and there have been a lot a positives but also some negatives. Sometimes you have to accept the struggles you have. It is about regrouping and starting again. It is the second half of the season and there is a long way to go.”
After the World Cup break, Graham Potter’s Chelsea will be back in action with a home game against Bournemouth on December 27.
