No último domingo, Ypiranga-RS e Grêmio mediram forças na semifinal do Campeonato Gaúcho e o time de Erechim saiu em vantagem por 2 a 1. O placar surpreendeu a torcida gremista e o elenco de Renato Gaúcho, que chegou com muita moral na fase final da competição.
Após passar 11 jogos invicto, o Tricolor foi um time que pouco fez em campo e saiu em desvantagem para a volta, que será em casa.
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Pedra no sapato
O tropeço diante do Ypiranga-RS não foi inédito nesta edição do estadual. Na última rodada da fase de classificação, o Grêmio visitou o time de Erechim e ficou no empate sem gols.
Na ocasião, o Tricolor entrou em campo com time repleto de reservas e sem o técnico Renato Gaúcho, que optou por se ‘poupar’.
Agora, para avançar no torneio, o Grêmio tem que vencer por dois gols de diferença. Em caso de vitória simples, a classificação será definida nos pênaltis.
أثار حديث محمود عبد الرازق شيكابالا، أسطورة الزمالك المعتزل، جدلًا واسعًا بعدما كشف عن بعض الكواليس الخاصة بـ”أوضة اللبس” قبل نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا عام 2016.
,أشار قائد الزمالك السابق، إلى أن بعض اللاعبين ارتكبوا تجاوزات لم تكن تتناسب مع قيمة النادي في تلك الفترة، وهو ما اعتبره سببًا رئيسيًا في خسارة اللقب.
طالع أيضًا | شيكابالا: الشيشة من أسباب خسارة الزمالك دوري أبطال إفريقيا.. وثلاثي الأهلي “جامدين جدًا”
وقال أيمن يونس في تصريحات عبر إذاعة “أون سبورت إف إم”: “هناك بعض اللاعبين بعد الاعتزال يحرصون على التحدث كثيرًا والظهور في الإعلام، منهم من يسعى وراء التريند، ومنهم من يريد أن يقدم صورة مختلفة لنفسه، وهذا حق طبيعي لكل لاعب أن يتحدث ويكشف ما لديه، سواء أسرار غرفة الملابس أو غيرها”.
وأضاف: “لكن هناك أسرار يمكن الحديث عنها وأخرى لا يجب أن تُقال، لأنه لا يصح أن تقلل من قيمة ناديك تحت أي ظرف، أنا شخصيًا أمتلك أسرارًا كثيرة من فترتي في الزمالك وكذلك من عملي داخل اتحاد الكرة بين 2005 و2011، لكن لم ولن أبوح بها احترامًا للمكان الذي أنتمي إليه، خاصة إذا كانت تلك الأسرار سلبية أو تحمل أخطاء”.
وتابع: “ليس من حق أي لاعب أن يعلن مثل هذه الأمور بطريقة تُسيء للنادي أو تقلل من تاريخه واسمه، يجب أن ننتبه جميعًا، فالاحترام للمكان وتاريخه ولقيمة الزملاء جزء أساسي من مسؤوليتنا”.
واختتم: “إذا وُجدت أخطاء فهذا لا يعني أن نُظهرها للعامة، لا أطالب بإخفائها تمامًا، لكن الأهم ألا نستغلها لزيادة الشهرة أو الظهور، من الضروري أن يعي نجومنا المعتزلون هذه النقطة جيدًا حفاظًا على تاريخ أنديتهم وزملائهم”.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen is currently experiencing difficult times at Barcelona. However, a couple of team-mates have publicly provided him some support.
Barca stars stand by Ter Stegen
'He's still the captain', they say
Goalkeeper currently at war with the club
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Ter Stegen, currently a controversial figure at Barcelona, can count on the support of his teammates Frenkie de Jong and Ferran Torres. Ter Stegen had to relinquish his status as number one to Barca's new signing Joan Garcia. In addition, there have been recent media reports that the German national goalkeeper could also be stripped of the armband.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The German international did not join the Barcelona squad on their pre-season tour of Asia after undergoing surgery on his lower back. The situation further strained his relationship with the club, as reports emerged that the goalkeeper released an individual statement about the procedure without informing Barca beforehand. In his announcement, Ter Stegen stated he would be sidelined for three months — significantly less than the four to five months the club had anticipated. Barcelona were reportedly frustrated, as they had planned to submit medical documentation to La Liga estimating a longer recovery period (which they did this week). This would have allowed them to use 80 per cent of Ter Stegen’s salary to help register new signings under league financial regulations.
As for the captaincy issue, head coach Hansi Flick has already confirmed that he will not be making any decisions, leaving the responsibility on the first-team players, who are expected to conduct voting.
WHAT WAS SAID?
“For me, Marc is the captain of the team, just as he was last season,” De Jong told reporters. “Marc is a world-class player and has always given his all to the club, so I support Marc a lot, and from what I know, the team as well.”
Torres shared his thoughts, too, and provided his backing to the veteran goalkeeper. He said: “I don’t know if there will be a vote or not; we haven’t spoken, or at least I’m not aware of it, but Ter Stegen, just because of his experience and the years he’s been around, I think he’ll be captain.”
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WHAT'S NEXT?
Barca will play another friendly against Daegu FC from South Korea on Monday before returning to Spain. After facing Como in the Joan Gamper Trophy on August 10, the Blaugrana will play their first competitive game of the new season on August 16, away at Mallorca.
State broadcaster PTV suspended coverage of the game due to the superimposed adverts on the outfield
Danyal Rasool27-Dec-2023
The second Test between Australia and Pakistan is taking place at the MCG•Getty Images
Pakistan will be provided an advertisement-free feed of the ongoing Test series in Australia. The broadcast pictures provided to the Pakistani market until now had included a gambling sponsor superimposed into the coverage, and had led to the Pakistan state broadcaster, PTV, not broadcasting the first day of the Boxing Day Test. Ten Sports, which also has rights to air the series between Pakistan and Australia, continued to broadcast the game.However, Pakistan’s Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued a notification on Tuesday prohibiting “broadcast/distribution of advertisement of surrogate companies which are promoting gambling/betting in different sporting events being telecast/broadcast in the country”.That led to concerns the Test wouldn’t be broadcast in Pakistan at all, though Ten Sports continued to broadcast the game from the start of the second day with a betting sponsor superimposed into the on-field coverage.However, ESPNcricinfo understands the feed provided to Pakistan will no longer include any such advertisements that may breach local laws, which theoretically enables PTV to begin showing live pictures from Melbourne as well, even though at the time of writing, coverage on the state broadcaster has not yet resumed. The clean feed provided to Pakistan is expected to begin imminently.PTV had issued a statement yesterday saying they had pulled coverage adhering to the government’s “zero tolerance policy” for surrogate advertising and “had taken up the issue with the relevant broadcaster”, saying the “series will be telecast live once the matter is resolved”.The first Test was broadcast on both the PTV and all private broadcasters without interruption.
Wrexham are being linked with a host of players after their promotion to the Championship but some of the rumours have not gone down well.
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Wrexham preparing for Championship campaign
Rumoured to be interested in Andros Townsend
Fans hit back at transfer talk
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Former Spurs and Everton star Townsend has the dubious honour of becoming the latest player to be linked with a move to Wrexham. The 33-year-old currently plies his trade with Turkish club Antalyaspor after a career that has also seen him turn out for clubs including Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Luton Town, Birmingham City and QPR among others.
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WHAT THE FANS SAID
Yet talk of Townsend heading to Wrexham has not gone down well with fans.
Popluar Wrexham podcast @racecourserambl posted on X: "Tell me you don't have a clue, without telling me you don't have a clue… I present, the worst rumour of the summer."
@schnat8 was also extremely dubious, posting: "Wrexham doesn't use wingers so…."
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have confirmed they are willing to be aggressive in the transfer market after promotion to the Championship which has brought speculation about a host of former Premier League players potentially arriving at the Welsh club. Former Chelsea star Willian, ex-Manchester United defender Ashley Young, Leicester legend Jamie Vardy and former Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic are just some of the names to have been mentioned.
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WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?
Wrexham have just waved goodbye to club legend Paul Mullin but fans will have to wait and see if any more signings arrive this summer. In the meantime, Wrexham are due to head to Australia and New Zealand next month for a pre-season tour.
Essex became the first team through to 2023 Vitality Blast Finals Day after beating Birmingham Bears by two wickets in a thrilling quarter-final at Edgbaston.The Bears charged through the group stage with 11 wins out of 14 but bowed out at the quarter-final stage for the third successive year in the face of a commanding display from Simon Harmer’s side.Disciplined Essex bowling, backed up by excellent fielding, restricted the Bears to 167 for 6. Sam Hain struck a typically polished 52 (26 balls) but, tied down by Harmer (4-0-20-1) and Sam Cook (4-0-24-2), the home side needed some late flailing from Chris Benjamin and Dominic Drakes to at least approach par.Essex then reach 171 for 8 with two balls to spare. Dan Lawrence underpinned the chase with a high-class 62 (41 balls) and Paul Walter’s violent 15-ball 27 retained his side’s control at a vital time mid-innings. The Bears fought hard in the closing overs and Essex needed three from the last two balls before Shane Snater hit the first of them for six.Essex chose to field and started brilliantly as Daniel Sams delivered a wicket maiden. Rob Yates skied the third ball of the innings to third man and it was not until the eighth that the Bears opened their account with a top-edged two. 5 for 1 from 14 balls was not a start to excite the 10,812 crowd.Glenn Maxwell pulled the 15th ball for six but Alex Davies fell in the next over, adjudged, after an interminable review, to have gloved a pull at Aaron Beard.Maxwell added five fours to his six in a punchy 32 but then pulled Walter to deep mid-wicket where Sams took a calm catch and celebrated with a fist-pump to the raucous Hollies Stand. When, 17 balls later, the Aussie accepted another catch to oust Dan Mousley, this time he turned and shushed the Hollies… it had gone rather quiet.Harmer increased the pressure by conceding just three in his first over and bowling Jake Bethell in his second. Hain posted his 25th T20 half-century, from 33 balls, but then sliced Cook to short third.With Hain went the Bears’ hopes of a really imposing total and it was left to Benjamin and Drakes to eke 34 from the last 21 balls to heave the total over 150.The Bears needed to strike early but Adam Rossington clouted 21 from 11 balls to make immediate inroads into the modest target.Related
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Rossington was run out by smart work from Davies but Essex thundered to 77 for 1 from 41 balls before a wobble arrived with two wickets in three balls, Michael Pepper slicing to short third man and Feroze Khushi socking a Jake Lintott full toss to deep midwicket.Successive sixes by Walter off Maxwell reasserted the visitors’ control and Lawrence continued to work the ball round with consummate skill before his departure set up a tense finish.With seven needed from two overs, Lawrence lifted the next ball, from Drakes, to mid on. A superb over from the West Indian cost just a single and saw Harmer run out from the last ball, leaving six still to find from the last over, bowled by Olly Hannon-Dalby.That came down to three from the last two balls, the first of which Snater socked for a straight six to end Essex’s quarter-final hoodoo against the Bears who won both their previous meetings in the last eight.Having squeezed through the group stage by the skin of their teeth, and now survived a tight quarter-final, Essex will return to Edgbaston for Finals Day on July 15 believing this may well be their year.
A traumatic couple of days for Leicestershire predictably ended on another low note as the Foxes concluded their home fixtures in the Vitality Blast with a crushing 92-run defeat at the hands of neighbours Northamptonshire Steelbacks.Chris Lynn, who has hit Blast centuries against Foxes in each of the last two seasons, continued his assault with 62 from 35 balls, Saif Zaib hitting 55 off 25 as the two piled on 114 off 50 balls for the third wicket in a total of 210 for seven from their 20 overs. Mike Finan took two for 30 as the best of some modest bowling figures.Rehan Ahmed made a spirited 49 off 32 balls but the Foxes were bowled out for 118 in 16.4 overs in reply, Ben Sanderson taking three for 20, with two wickets each for David Willey, Andrew Tye and Justin Broad, with wicketkeeper Lewis McManus involved in a county record five dismissals.Related
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With Leicestershire’s head coach Paul Nixon placed “on leave” by the club on Thursday, bowling coach Alfonso Thomas and batting consultant James Taylor were in charge of the Foxes.The circumstances behind the decision to relieve Nixon of his duties after six years in the job remain shrouded in mystery. The club’s website belatedly carried a statement from chairman John Thorpe essentially explaining that he could say nothing for legal reasons.Chief executive Sean Jarvis was a little more forthcoming in an interview with BBC Radio Leicester, speaking of “comments” and “allegations” as he alluded to events over a period of months, suggesting Nixon’s departure was unrelated to the announcement – also made on Thursday – that senior players Colin Ackermann, Callum Parkinson and Chris Wright would be leaving at the end of the season.Ackermann and Parkinson were both selected to face the Steelbacks, although Ackermann handed captaincy duties to overseas player Peter Handscomb.The Australian won his first toss in the role, asking Northamptonshire to bat first. Steelbacks openers Ricardo Vasconcelos and Emilio Gay needed a couple of overs to get the measure of a slow pitch but still managed to rack up 49 runs in the powerplay.Checked by a tight over by Rehan, they were parted in an excellent over by Callum Parkinson, the eighth of the innings, when a top-edged pull by Vasconcelos dropped safely into the hands of Mike Finan behind square. Aussie Lynn signalled his intent with three boundaries from his first six balls but Gay (30 from 27 balls) holed out to long-on as the Steelbacks reached halfway at 77 for 2.The remainder of the innings was one of increasing carnage for the home bowlers, Lynn and Zaib taking the total to 129 for 2 after 15 overs, Lynn getting lucky on 37 when he was caught off a Finan no-ball, before the final five overs piled on another 81.The third-wicket pair took turns to clear the ropes as Tom Scriven and Matt Salisbury took the brunt of their assault, the former conceding 22 in one Salisbury’s worst over costing 23, including back-to-back sixes by Zaib, who followed his partner in being caught off a no-ball, on 54.After they were parted two balls into the 19th over as Lynn picked out long-on, four more wickets followed, Finan dismissing Tye with his next ball, before Zaib was caught on the boundary. Willey was run out and Broad found the fielder on the cover point boundary to give Scriven some consolation in the 20th, although Broad’s 10 off four balls had taken the total past 200.The Foxes had twice chased more than 211 to win in the Blast, including 219 against the Steelbacks in 2018, but on this season’s form it looked a tall order, more so after Handscomb was comprehensively bowled by Willey for three in the opening over.By the end of the powerplay, the home side were 30 for 4, Rishi Patel caught behind attempting to ramp Sanderson, who then bowled Ackermann first ball and had Wiaan Mulder edging behind. They might have been five down had a Sanderson direct hit been reviewed after Rehan, on six, was judged to have made his ground by the on-field umpire.Rehan, sent in to open the innings with Handscomb, made the most of his reprieve, clubbing Freddie Heldreich for three sixes in an over, but with Nick Welch also caught behind, at the halfway stage in the chase the Foxes at 74 for 5 were scoring at barely half the required rate of 13.4 runs per over.The young England allrounder – about to joins up with Ben Stokes’s squad ahead of the second Ashes Test – looked set to celebrate with a half-century only for his luck to run out on 49 as he miscued Broad to cover, the South Africa-born German international following up by bowling Scriven in the same over.Swindells, who had helped Rehan add 66 for the sixth wicket as the sole highlight in the Foxes innings, perished on 20 when he helped one into the gloves of McManus. Finan belted Heldreich for six but was stumped next ball as the ninth wicket fell in the 16th over before Salisbury was caught at midwicket to put the home crowd out of their misery in the 17th.
Tottenham Hotspur will hope to end the campaign on a high note, which may breed optimism for what Ange Postecoglou hopes is a strong transfer window in N17.
Tottenham Hotspur's potential summer transfer activity
Despite mixed feelings from supporters towards Daniel Levy, there hasn’t been a total lack of spending under Ange Postecoglou. Yet, the durability of his fragmented squad has been repeatedly called into question amid a lengthy injury crisis.
After spending much of the campaign without key stars, the Premier League outfit’s season now essentially relies on winning the Europa League. Domestically, Spurs have been knocked out of both cup competitions and appear destined to record a bottom-half finish in the top flight for the first time since 2008.
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Understandably, the focus in North London has veered towards potential new arrivals. Koni de Winter is said to be on Tottenham’s radar after a stellar season at Genoa, potentially providing versatility in defence or holding midfield.
Further up, Leroy Sane’s availability on a free transfer has been floated to Postecoglou. Rather than biting at the first inkling that he could be on the move, his situation is being monitored ahead of the summer window.
Tottenham Hotspur’s next five fixtures
Fulham (A)
Premier League
Chelsea (A)
Premier League
Southampton (H)
Premier League
Eintracht Frankfurt (H)
Europa League
Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)
Premier League
Much of the frustration at Spurs hasn’t come at the level of expenditure distributed on incomings. More than anything, it is at how those resources have been utilised. Buying into potential is a long process, and you may have to be patient to reap the rewards. Nevertheless, supporters will be intrigued by Tottenham’s latest target, as Postecoglou looks set to play a key role in convincing the talent to join his project.
Ange wants to convince Angel Gomes to join Tottenham
Per Football Insider, Tottenham boss Postecoglou is ‘very interested’ in Lille midfielder Angel Gomes amid his availability on a free transfer this summer.
The England international is set to court attention from several clubs, leaving Spurs with work to do in convincing the Manchester United youth product to move to North London. West Ham United are mooted to be circling alongside their divisional rivals.
Labelled “sublime” by Matthew Upson, Gomes has scored twice and laid on a solitary assist in 20 appearances this campaign. Stepping up their hunt for midfield reinforcements, Tottenham also retain an interest in Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton with the window drawing closer.
In spite of his slight frame, the 24-year-old Gomes has won 31 duels on league duty for Lille and created 14 chances, illustrating his capacity to thrive no matter the capacity in the engine room.
Behind the scenes, Postecoglou and company will need to devise a plan to make sure they don’t miss out on a bargain. Can they pull off that feat? It remains to be seen once the summer rolls around.
He was struck on the helmet by Mohammed Siraj on the opening day and, through a different blow, also suffered a small hairline fracture in his left elbow
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Feb-2023David Warner has been subbed out of the second Test against India in Delhi due to concussion and has also suffered a small hairline fracture in his left elbow after copping multiple blows while batting on the opening day.Warner has been replaced in the Delhi Test by Matt Renshaw under the concussion substitute rule but he is set to remain on tour for now as he was likely to bat again in the match despite the small fracture had he not been ruled out with concussion.Warner was struck on the helmet by Mohammed Siraj at the end of the 10th over having previously taken a painful blow on the left elbow in the eighth over. Both times he was struck he had tried to pull a Siraj bouncer but was beaten for pace. The first blow hit the forearm near the left elbow. The second time, he got a top edge flush into the grille of the helmet and his left jaw as he turned his head to the leg side.Warner received prolonged treatment from the Australia team doctor and physio for the blow on the elbow and was in quite a lot of discomfort. He had the elbow strapped before continuing to bat. But after the second blow on the helmet he did not undergo a concussion test or get his helmet changed. Warner changed his gloves at the end of the 10th over and the team doctor came out to check on him. The doctor had a brief discussion with Warner about where the ball hit the helmet but went back to the dugout without closely examining Warner or the helmet itself.Related
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He continued to bat on before edging Mohammed Shami to the wicketkeeper for a laboured 15 and didn’t field late in the day when Australia began bowling.At the time he was described as not feeling “100%” and after further assessment during the evening, he failed a concussion test and has been withdrawn from the match.”Warner will now follow the graduated return to sport protocols ahead of the third Test in Indore in line with Cricket Australia guidelines,” a CA statement said.Warner also had a scan on his arm which revealed he had a small, stable hairline fracture in his left elbow. It is understood he was going to bat again in the game but would not have fielded. He would have been able to open without fielding given he suffered an external blow and there were no concerns about further damage to the elbow. But the concussion made that a moot point.It is understood a small, stable hairline fracture of the elbow would normally take a minimum of six weeks to heal properly meaning Warner would not be at 100% fitness and would likely have to play through pain if he were to play again in the Test series or the ODI series that follows. The IPL also starts in exactly six weeks’ time. But speaking after play on day two, teammate Nathan Lyon believed Warner could still play a part in the final two Tests of the series.”Talking to the medical staff, it’s one of those ones where you could potentially play if you rest it over the next few days and we’ve got a decent break after this Test match,” Lyon said.”If he’s recovered well, I wouldn’t be surprised if you see him out there again.”Warner’s withdrawal continues a difficult start to the tour for him after twin failures in Nagpur which have thrown the spotlight on his future in Test cricket. He now averages 21.78 in Tests in India, the lowest of any opener to play 10 Tests in the country.Renshaw will open the batting in the second innings but ICC match referee Andy Pycroft confirmed he will not be allowed to bowl as Warner’s replacement. Renshaw played in the first Test in Nagpur but was left out following the innings defeat to accommodate the return of Travis Head.”There’s no slight on him,” selector Tony Dodemaide had said on Renshaw’s exclusion. “He’s very much a valued player in our team planning moving forward. He was quite stiff, particularly in the first innings [in Nagpur]. So he hasn’t been dropped for those performances.”Although Renshaw made his comeback into the Test side this season via the middle order, he has experience at the top – he opened throughout the first phase of his career from 2016-17.Australia have had a number of injury problems on this tour. Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc did not recover from their broken fingers in time to make the team in Delhi while Josh Hazlewood has also missed the first two matches.
Enzo Maresca labelled Chelsea’s 3-0 thrashing at Brighton & Hove Albion last month the “worst performance” of his tenure to date.
Goalkeeping misery, more so, gave Aston Villa an in one week later, but Chelsea have since defeated Southampton – and comfortably at that. Obviously, tougher tests await, but the Blues are fifth in the Premier League and just two points away from third-placed Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, it’s patent Chelsea need to strengthen across a number of areas this summer, with the goalkeeping department, central defence and centre-forward spots all in need of facelifts.
That said, Chelsea need to rally, overcome their tactical and injury issues and make headway over the coming months, finishing in a position that can plant seeds of success for next season.
Maresca doesn’t want the west Londoners to be branded a ‘one-man team’, but Cole Palmer is clearly a cut above most attacking players in English football, and when he’s off the boil, it’s going to be keenly felt.
Cole Palmer's recent form
The sun will shine again for Palmer, one of England’s most awe-inspiring and mercurial talents in a generation.
However, there’s no question he’s in a rut right now, dejected after the final whistle screeched at Stamford Bridge in midweek. Chelsea’s 4-0 win against Southampton made it seven matches without a goal contribution for the 22-year-old.
Cole Palmer stats v Southampton
Match Stats
#
Minutes played
90
Goals
0
Assists
0
Expected goals (xG)
1.35
Shots (on target)
7 (3)
Accurate passes
39/47 (83%)
Key passes
1
Dribbles
2/3
Duels won
3/7
Stats via Sofascore
Palmer has the mindset of a champion, though, and his missed chances rankled some, for he has been the architect and arbiter of attacking success since joining the Blues from Manchester City in a deal worth £42.5m in August 2023.
He’s still rather good, of course. The Three Lions star has racked up 14 goals and 6 assists from 27 top-flight fixtures this term, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher even calling him “the best player in the Premier League” at the beginning of October.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer with manager EnzoMarescaafter being substituted
Around the same time, former Chelsea superstar Cesc Fabregas hailed Palmer as a “gamechanger,” similar yet different to his own stomping days at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer is his own player, and though he’s a playmaking genius, he operates a different realm to the Spaniard. However, another member of Maresca’s squad is stepping up right now, and might prove to be the club’s next version of their one-time midfield maestro.
Chelsea's next Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas earned his stripes at Arsenal before leaving for Barcelona in a deal worth £35m in 2011. He was 24 years old.
Chalkboard
A deep-seated connection with London and the Premier League saw him move to Chelsea in 2014, then aged 27 and cultured as one of Europe’s most talented and intelligent deep-lying playmakers.
Since stats-led site WhoScored began collecting data in 2009/10, Fabregas has been recorded as having played out his career with an 85% pass success rate across various clubs and for his country.
Moreover, the 2010 World Cup winner averaged 2.1 key passes per game, serving as an accurate barometer for his gifts on the ball.
Fabregas played the full gamut of midfield roles throughout his playing career, thriving in a deep-lying playmaker’s role when Chelsea stormed to the Premier League title under Antonio Conte in 2016/17.
Previously, he’d been more advanced in his maiden year for the Blues, winning the Premier League for the first time for the legendary Jose Mourinho.
What never faltered was his creativity and willingness to make things happen. Anyway, what does all this pertain to? Well, Chelsea have found their new version of the Spain star in Enzo Fernandez.
Most Assists in Premier League History
Rank
Player
Apps
Assists
1.
Ryan Giggs
632
162
2.
Kevin De Bruyne
278
118
3.
Cesc Fabregas
350
111
4.
Wayne Rooney
491
103
5.
Frank Lampard
609
102
Stats via Premier League
Like Cesc, Fernandez had earned himself a World Cup winner’s badge before moving to Stamford Bridge, leaving Benfica for Chelsea in a whopping £107m deal in February 2023.
He was the talk of the town to be sure, with talent scout Jacek Kulig even hailing him a “phenomenon” in the overtures of his transfer to England.
There’s no doubting the Argentina international’s struggles throughout his two years at the club, himself acknowledging back in December it was “very difficult” to begin with.
He’s starting to come into his own this season. The 24-year-old has notched four goals and eight assists from 31 appearances – many of which coming in a flurry from November through to December – but the overall influence of his performances are shown through impressive progression metrics.
As per FBref, Fernandez ranks among the top 17% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 16% for assists, the top 5% for shot-creating actions and the top 14% for both passes attempted and progressive passes per 90.
Further, he’s averaging 2.1 tackles and 4.4 ball recoveries per Premier League match, as per Sofascore, bespeaking his tenacity and willingness to get stuck in across the park.
His skill as a dictator of play could hold the key for Chelsea’s lasting success as a European superpower. The club’s form is temporary, and Maresca has shown through early-season promise that he’s got the nous and wherewithal to lead this outfit to success.
Back in December, The Athletic’s Liam Twomey noted Fernandez’s role in Maresca’s system may be somewhat nebulous, but that he’s “too valuable not to include”.
When at the top of his game, Chelsea’s stars such as Palmer will go from strength to strength, feeding off the South American’s impetus, technique and intelligence.
Forget Fernandez: Chelsea's 20y/o "superstar" could be their next Lampard
Chelsea appear to have a star who could dislodge Enzo Fernandez and emulate Frank Lampard.