PFA chief criticizes Thomas Tuchel’s comments about Cole Palmer and suggests a way to fix this ‘unhealthy’ issue.
Maheta Molango, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, has responded to Thomas Tuchel’s criticism of Cole Palmer after Palmer pulled out of the latest England squad.
Palmer, along with Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, and Tino Livramento, withdrew from international duty due to minor groin injuries and discomfort. Tuchel questioned Palmer’s commitment, saying, “He misses too many opportunities… He misses way too many camps with injuries, and I only want to rely on what I personally witness and what I see within my team. And for that, you have to be in camp.”
Molango sees things differently. He feels Palmer is a victim of an overwhelming football schedule that’s become too much for players. At the FIF Pro Performance Summit in London, Molango said, “When England have five players who need to withdraw, even though playing for the national team is the proudest moment for any player, you have to ask, what’s wrong with the industry? Palmer would have played four straight summers if he’d gone to the World Cup. He’s missing because of the calendar, and that needs to ring alarm bells.”
Molango also disagreed with Tuchel’s comments, explaining that the busy football schedule is a real reason for players like Palmer to rest and manage their load. “They love playing for England and their country, but the body has its limits. You can’t cheat biology.”
Interestingly, Palmer’s break came at a time when Chelsea don’t have European games this season, meaning his schedule isn’t as full as usual. Teams playing in Europe often have three games in just seven or eight days, but Chelsea have the chance to rest players midweek, which should help in the long run.
While Palmer got a break during this international period, other players have been less lucky, with several Premier League stars getting injured. Netherlands players Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo picked up injuries during a 1-1 draw with Germany. Arsenal’s Kai Havertz also got injured in the same match. France’s Kylian Mbappe is expected to miss two weeks after a knee injury during their 1-0 win over Turkey.
Molango questioned if this is the kind of football we want. “Is it the football where the stars who inspire us just can’t perform? It’s very worrying. The system is sick because it’s mostly about getting votes and power.”
To fix this, Molango suggested a mandatory three-week summer break plus a three-week retraining period each summer. The Premier League’s chief footballer, Rebecca Caplehorn, was said to support this idea, but it isn’t possible right now.