Sport
Gallas Says Cole Palmer is Like Zidane for Chelsea and the Team Depends on Him
Former Chelsea defender William Gallas has compared Cole Palmer to Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane, saying the young midfielder has quickly become the heart of Chelsea’s squad. Speaking in an interview with Prime Casino, Gallas explained that Palmer’s role in the team reminds him of how Zidane was the key figure for the French national team, stressing that Palmer’s influence at Chelsea is undeniable and he needs to be protected.
“Cole Palmer reminds me of Zidane with France, in terms of his value to the team,” Gallas said. “Everyone knew Zidane was the main man and you see the same thing with Palmer at Chelsea. It just comes naturally to him, and that’s why he must be protected.”
Palmer left Manchester City for Chelsea during the 2023 summer transfer window after struggling to get regular playing time under Pep Guardiola. Since then, he has cemented his place as a vital part of Chelsea’s attack. Despite not having the most impressive year so far, with only three goals to his name in 2025, the England international played a crucial role in Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League final victory, providing two assists as they beat Real Betis 4-1.
Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has opened up about a difficult period in his career, revealing that he almost stepped away from football.
Speaking during a recent interview, Bassey shared that he once made a personal promise to himself to quit pursuing football professionally if he failed to secure a spot at a professional club.
“I remember being 15 and going into my final year, and I told myself that if I didn’t get into a professional club, I would quit football. It was that simple,” he said.
“I would just stop pursuing it seriously and only play for fun. Thank God I eventually got a club, because I honestly don’t know where I would be otherwise.”
It has been reported that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) fined Egypt $5,000 following their clash with Zimbabwe for failing to manage post-match media obligations.
It was noted that after the match, the Egyptian players ignored the media. This action was said to be a violation of CAF’s media regulations, which led to the fine being imposed.
Head of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, shared that the big-name players on the team are not happy about being benched.
He recalled when he took out Samuel Chukwueze during the match against Tanzania.
“Yes, of course, we’ve in this team a lot of big names. They are competitors; they aren’t happy when they go to the bench,” Chelle said at his post-match interview.”
“My job is to make choices, and we’re playing a 4-4-2 diamond, and at this moment I feel we have to protect the wing.”
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Super Eagles Star Calvin Bassey Opens Up on Nearly Walking Away from Football
