Timing can make or break a footballer’s career, and for Conor Gallagher and Tottenham Hotspur, the clock has hardly been kind. The Irish midfielder arrived at the North London club in January, having completed a £35 million switch from Atletico Madrid. Within a matter of weeks, the managerial landscape shifted dramatically when Thomas Frank was sacked and Igor Tudor took over. Gallagher later admitted that Tudor "wasn't having me" as a player, and the team found itself embroiled in a relegation battle that threatened its Premier League status.

Those early months were undeniably difficult for both the club and the young midfielder. Tottenham were fighting for survival, and Gallagher struggled to find a clear path out of the gloom.

Yet the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as head coach in March marked a turning point. Under De Zerbi’s guidance, Spurs avoided the drop to the Championship, and Gallagher began to feel his role evolve, even if he confessed in a candid end‑of‑season interview that he still hadn’t fully showcased his abilities to the fans.

Now, with a new season looming, Gallagher says the time has come to write the next chapter of his Tottenham story. "It’s time to kick on and show the supporters what I can do," he told Sky Sports. "I want to be at my best and help the club reach the heights we deserve.

Everyone goes through tough periods – it’s just life – but I’m grateful we got through it and I finished the season on a good note." He added a hopeful note about his future: "Hopefully this is only the start of my Spurs career." The optimism in his voice is palpable, a stark contrast to the uncertainty that lingered just weeks ago. Much of that renewed confidence can be attributed to De Zerbi, who arrived at the club with a reputation for demanding intensity and a clear tactical vision. Gallagher explained how the new manager helped him rediscover his self‑belief: "For me it was mainly a confidence issue, plus a bit of a physical side that comes from playing more games.

I wasn’t used to that at the time. The manager gave me a lift in confidence and I started getting more consistent minutes on the pitch. A lot of credit goes to him, but for him it’s only the beginning as well." De Zerbi’s reputation for high expectations initially intimidated Gallagher.

"He was a bit scary the first time we met, but after a while it changed," Gallagher recalled. "He’s actually a very nice person, but you can’t mess around.

You have to train properly, give 100 per cent, and do the right things." The Italian coach’s philosophy centres on belief in his players. "He’s the kind of coach you want to impress. He shows a lot of faith in his squad and instils confidence in us.

He makes you want to give your best for him and work as hard as you can," Gallagher said. De Zerbi often reminded his team, "If you listen to me, stick with me and believe in me, we’ll be fine." Those words resonated during the club’s difficult final months of the previous season, when the squad needed a unifying voice. During pre‑season in Sydney, De Zerbi praised Gallagher, noting that when the midfielder is at his peak, it feels as if Tottenham have an extra player on the field – a dramatic shift from the months when Gallagher was fighting for minutes. Gallagher smiled at the compliment: "It’s nice.

I always try to give my best whenever I’m on the pitch. I feel like I’m entering my prime years.

I’ve already played for several clubs and loved every experience, so now I want a bigger role and to lead by example both on and off the pitch." Tottenham have shown their faith in De Zerbi by splashing close to £200 million on new signings this summer, all of whom bring Premier League experience. Early arrivals such as Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Andy Robertson have already begun to gel, giving the manager a solid foundation to build upon. For De Zerbi, forging strong relationships is as vital as tactical preparation, and Gallagher appreciates the emphasis on team bonding.

"We have a great group of players, and the gaffer loves team dinners, a few drinks, and bonding nights out," Gallagher said. These social moments complement De Zerbi’s broader vision of a cohesive unit that plays with a collective personality. A glimpse of that vision came in a pre‑season friendly against Chelsea – a club with which Gallagher has a personal connection, having previously played for the Blues. The match turned out to be a fiery encounter.

Gallagher’s aggressive tackle on Dario Essugo drew a reaction from the crowd, prompting him to hold his head in his hands and laugh. "The tackle looked worse than it was; I had no intention of hurting anyone," he explained.

De Zerbi’s tactical blueprint emphasises ball possession and control. "He wants us to dominate every aspect of the game," Gallagher noted.

"He expects us to win every match, like any manager would, but he believes we can dominate any opponent if we play the right way and with the right mindset." The upcoming season will test whether Tottenham can translate that philosophy into results after two consecutive 17th‑place finishes. The club’s supporters will be watching closely to see how Gallagher, now seemingly comfortable under De Zerbi’s guidance, contributes to the team’s resurgence.

In his own words, Gallagher feels he has finally found his place: "It feels perfect here," he concluded. "Perhaps now really is my time at Spurs."