Soccer Sunday begins with Gelderland derby – ‘Ajax and AZ ache for Swedish midfielder’

‘Ajax and AZ aces for Swedish midfielder’

Ajax and AZ are interested in Carl Gustafsson, according to Sweden’s Sportbladet. The 23-year-old midfielder currently plays for Kalmar FF. He made his debut for the national team in January.

In addition to Ajax and AZ, Club Brugge, Fiorentina and Eintracht Frankfurt are also said to be interested in Gustafsson. His contract expires at the end of 2023.

Quartet of Feyenoord players train externally: ‘Footballers are in excuses world’

More and more soccer players are looking outside the club for ways to become mentally and physically fitter and stronger. So do Feyenoorders Orkun Kökçü, Danilo, Lutsharel Geertruida and Mo Taabouni. They can be found several times a week in the gym of personal trainer Jordan Kroon. “We look for the upper limit so they can make the difference with competitors,” he said.

“I would venture to say that soccer players are lazy.” Kroon does not mince words. In his gym in Rotterdam-Noord, he receives top athletes from different sports every day. “As a result, soccer players are confronted with how hard especially individual athletes train for their goals.”

“Football players are used to working at the lower limit. So they’re not used to training hard and getting outside their comfort zone. Really getting deep into the red zone. When things aren’t going well, soccer players can also always point to external factors like the crowd, the coach and fellow players not delivering. Often you see that they are in a world of excuses.”