West Ham Players to Show Support for Hospitalized Antonio before Wolves Match in Premier League

Football - Europa League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - West Ham United v Bayer Leverkusen - London Stadium, London, Britain - April 18, 2024 West Ham United's Michail Antonio reacts Action Images via Reuters
Football - Europa League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - West Ham United v Bayer Leverkusen - London Stadium, London, Britain - April 18, 2024 West Ham United's Michail Antonio reacts Action Images via Reuters
TT
20

West Ham Players to Show Support for Hospitalized Antonio before Wolves Match in Premier League

Football - Europa League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - West Ham United v Bayer Leverkusen - London Stadium, London, Britain - April 18, 2024 West Ham United's Michail Antonio reacts Action Images via Reuters
Football - Europa League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - West Ham United v Bayer Leverkusen - London Stadium, London, Britain - April 18, 2024 West Ham United's Michail Antonio reacts Action Images via Reuters

West Ham players will show their support for teammate Michail Antonio following his serious injury in a car crash by wearing items of clothing bearing the striker's name ahead of the Premier League game against Wolverhampton on Monday.

The players will warm up in "Antonio 9" jerseys and walk on to the field in tops adorning his name, West Ham said. The club will put the walk-out tops up for auction along with every match jersey worn against Wolves, with the proceeds going to medical charities and matched by the club's board.

Antonio, a 34-year-old Jamaica international, is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery on what West Ham described as a "lower limb fracture." He was involved in an accident outside London on Saturday, after which he was hospitalized and kept under close supervision.

Unverified images of a heavily damaged Ferrari were shared on social media. It was not known if it was the car involved in the accident.

"He remains in everyone's thoughts as he continues his rehabilitation," West Ham said of Antonio.

"Everyone at the club would like to reiterate their heartfelt thanks to the first responders, emergency services, air ambulance staff and the NHS (National Health Service) for the incredible support given to Michail in the wake of the accident."

Antonio has made more than 300 appearances for West Ham since joining the club from Nottingham Forest in 2015.



Palmer’s Dip in Form a ‘Mental Thing’, Says Chelsea Boss Maresca

 Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - April 20, 2025 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca talks to Cole Palmer. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - April 20, 2025 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca talks to Cole Palmer. (Action Images via Reuters)
TT
20

Palmer’s Dip in Form a ‘Mental Thing’, Says Chelsea Boss Maresca

 Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - April 20, 2025 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca talks to Cole Palmer. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - April 20, 2025 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca talks to Cole Palmer. (Action Images via Reuters)

Chelsea forward Cole Palmer's 16-game goal drought is due to a mental issue rather than a tactical or technical one, manager Enzo Maresca has said.

The 22-year-old England international had a remarkable debut campaign last season at Chelsea, scoring 27 goals and registering 15 assists in 48 matches.

This time around, however, Palmer has found the back of the net just 14 times in all competitions so far.

Maresca believes it is only a matter of time before the player breaks his drought.

"For sure it's a mental thing, it's not tactical or technical," Maresca told reporters ahead of Saturday's Premier League home game against 13th-placed Everton.

"Cole is still the player who scored 14 goals in 20 games. The style is the same, the manager is the same, the club is the same. Nothing has changed around Cole. It's just mentally in this moment.

"You can see he's a little bit worried because he wants to help the team. You can see he's struggling a bit on that. But he showed how happy he was after Fulham. It's just a matter (of whether) we can win games. For sure he's going to score goals.

"If you go back game by game, he had at least every game one or two chances, so it's not about how the team is playing."

Chelsea are sixth in the Premier League table with 57 points from 33 matches, as they chase Champions League qualification for next season. They trail fifth-placed Newcastle United by two points. At least five Premier League teams are guaranteed a spot in the 2025-26 edition of the Champions League.