Cole Palmer elusive in 2024
On Boxing Day, England is honoring Player of the Year Cole Palmer. With 28 goals for Chelsea, he impressed everyone. Besides, The Team also talked about it this morning. The French newspaper focuses instead on his touch of the ball which disorients opposing defenses. He is compared to Dennis Bergkamp by Theo Walcott for his “technical finesse” and his “elegance”. Inspired by Riyad Mahrez, he developed a science of oriented control, combining anticipation and explosiveness. But Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca expects more from the 22-year-old. “Goals and assists are important, but he still needs to improve on certain aspects, like staying focused even in frustration”declares the coach. Even Cole Palmer is therefore not safe from being left out of the starting lineup.
Liverpool’s winning recipe
Liverpool are surely the best team since the start of the season. As relayed by Daily Starthe two Dutchmen, Arne Slot and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Leicester coach, will cross swords on this Boxing Day. The opportunity for the media to talk about the Reds’ recipe which makes them successful. This is the rule of “comfort at home» which allows players to sleep at home before home matches. A method particularly appreciated by Virgil van Dijk, who salutes the hard work of his coach. For the defender, his trainer Arne Slot “makes sure his team continues to progress and focus on what’s next.” Answer this evening at 9 p.m.
Bayer Leverkusen pulls out the barbed wire for Wirtz
Florian Wirtz is probably one of the most sought-after young players on the football planet. Fernando Carro, president of Bayer Leverkusen, is aware of this and dropped a bomb on the future of his nugget. He is expected to stay until the 2026 World Cup, curbing speculation about his immediate departure. Wirtz’s contract, currently a key Bayer player, expires in 2027, and negotiations are underway for an extension. However, if no extension is concluded, a departure could take place as early as next summer. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, PSG and other big clubs are interested, but Leverkusen seem determined to keep their talent.
