Marc Guehi confident Palace can beat Chelsea in FA Cup semi-final without Conor Gallagher
Marc Guehi believes that Crystal Palace can defeat Chelsea in their FA Cup semi-final clash without Conor Gallagher – and says that there is added motivation to get to the final so the midfielder can play for the Eagles at Wembley.
Gallagher, who is nearing the end of his season-long loan spell, will be absent from Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final showdown after the Blues turned down Palace’s official request for the combative midfielder to play.
The 22-year-old has scored eight goals this season for the South Londoners and has been called up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad on two separate occasions during his time at Selhurst Park.
Palace, who have knocked out Millwall, Hartlepool, Stoke and Everton en route to the semi-finals, play Chelsea this weekend for a place in the FA Cup final.
When asked how much Palace will miss Gallagher’s presence, Guehi said: “Yeah, for sure. He is an important player – he’s been vital for us this season.
“But we have got a lot of good players in the side who can come in and definitely do a job.
“We have seen that throughout the season with the substitution that the manager has made and players coming in and really having an impact on the team.
“He’s a big miss, but we have got a lot of good players in this team.”
Regarding whether he believed Palace could still find a way past Chelsea without Gallagher, Guehi said: “We believe so.”
Speaking on whether there was added motivation to get past Chelsea so Gallagher could have the opportunity to play for the South Londoners at Wembley in the final, Guehi said: “One hundred per cent.
“He has been immense for us this season, and the team doing well would permit him to play in that final because of what he has done this season.
“Hopefully we can get there.”
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD
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