September 14, 2022
Injuries piling up for Deschamps
With the final international break before the World Cup scheduled for next week, France coach, Didier Deschamps, will be one manager in particular who is sweating on the fitness of his players. Influential midfielder, Paul Pogba, injured his knee last month, which he originally opted to treat conservatively, but due to a lack of progress with the healing has now undergone surgery. His recovery date is set to be somewhere towards the end of October, roughly one month before the World Cup commences. While he is still likely to be included in the squad going to Qatar, he will certainly be short on match fitness. Following that blow, Deschamps was dealt two more after defenders: Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez both collected injuries in recent days. Kimpembe will be out for six weeks with a hamstring injury, and Hernandez is facing a similar spell on the sidelines following his adductor problem. These developments rule out all three from the last opportunity for Deschamps to work with his players next week before announcing his final squad. Each player is expected to be part of the French setup this World Cup, as they were in the victorious 2018 edition, but participating in such a massive tournament so closely removed from injury is far from ideal for all parties involved.
Didier Deschamps will not be pleased with the growing injury list he is faced with
Todd Boehly tries to get innovative
New Chelsea co-owner, Todd Boehly, put himself on the map after the £2.5 billion purchase of the West London club, followed by the almost £300 million spent during the summer transfer window. His early firing of club coach, Thomas Tuchel, and the swift replacement of him with Graham Potter—who was poached from fellow Premier League side, Brighton, in the beginning of the season, has also increased the fanfare around the American billionaire. He has now made some controversial comments about football in England that have further increased the publicity he is receiving. Speaking on the state of the sport in the country, something he has only been involved with for six months, Boehly said they could learn a lot from the way American sports are run. One particular idea he floated is what seems to be humourous at best, or pernicious at worst, depending on who is asked. The suggestion of an All-Star game between northern Premier League sides and southern teams, in the middle of the season, is something Boehly thinks would help generate revenue for the football pyramid in England. When Liverpool coach, Jurgen Klopp, was asked about this concept he essentially brushed it off even joking whether Boehly wants to “bring the Harlem Globetrotters as well and let them play against a football team”. Klopp, in addition to his annoyance with current fixture overload, did address the nuance of rivalries that would make grouping players from Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Everton together for an exhibition unlikely—an issue that Boehly seems to be unaware of. Gary Neville, on the other hand, took a more somber approach to the comments about learning from American sports, calling the US ownership presence in English football a “clear and present danger”. Neville has drawn a link between these latest ideas and statements, and the attempt to launch a European Super League last year, which involved three American owned Premier League sides—Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal. Chelsea, now also owned by Americans, was also among the teams willing to join the Super League under their previous ownership. Neville has refused to take Boehly’s comments lightly, and is instead pressing for an independent regulator to be installed to prohibit any resurrection of a breakaway league. Whether Boehly’s idea was something mentioned in passing without realizing the potential gravity it carries, or if he truly believes in such propositions, is something to observe as the new ownership gains more of a footing going forward.
Todd Boehly is ruffling some more feathers with his latest comments and ideas