Sarrazin Undergoes Successful Surgery after Head Injury in Crash

France’s Cyprien Sarrazin skies during a training session before his crash, ahead of the Men's downhill race of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup event, in Bormio on December 27, 2024. (AFP)
France’s Cyprien Sarrazin skies during a training session before his crash, ahead of the Men's downhill race of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup event, in Bormio on December 27, 2024. (AFP)
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Sarrazin Undergoes Successful Surgery after Head Injury in Crash

France’s Cyprien Sarrazin skies during a training session before his crash, ahead of the Men's downhill race of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup event, in Bormio on December 27, 2024. (AFP)
France’s Cyprien Sarrazin skies during a training session before his crash, ahead of the Men's downhill race of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup event, in Bormio on December 27, 2024. (AFP)

French skier Cyprien Sarrazin has successfully undergone surgery to drain a bleed in his brain after falling while training for the World Cup downhill in Bormio, Italy, the French Ski Federation (FFS) said on Saturday.

Sarrazin, who won at the venue last year, was transported to hospital by helicopter after losing control during his second practice run on Friday, bouncing off the surface and sliding a long way.

"Cyprien Sarrazin underwent surgery last night to decompress an intra-cranial hematoma," the FFS said in a statement.

"The operation went well, but he remains under anesthetic for the time being. We will give you more information later today."

Sarrazin won three downhill races in the previous World Cup, along with a Super-G race in January to finish fifth overall.



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)
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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.