Looking for Soccer News?

Valencia youngster Yunus Musah has decided to represent the USA at international level, ending months of uncertainty about his future.

The 18-year-old announced his ultimate decision via a social media post on Monday, turning down opportunities with England, Italy and Ghana.

In his first year of senior football, the attacker first caught global attention when he made his debut in the Spanish elite division against Levante last September, aged 17 years and eight months.

Of Ghanaian parentage, Musah was born in the United States but soon moved to Italy where he began his football career.

He moved to England to join Arsenal's academy set-up in 2012, aged nine.

His parentage, place of birth and residency make him eligible to represent any of the four nations at international level.

Interestingly, he played for England at U15, 16, 17 and 18 level.

After his big breakthrough last year, he accepted call-ups from the USA for international friendly fixtures against Wales and Panama in October, making his debut against the former.

Owing to the status of the matches as friendlies, appearances in those games did not permanently tie him to the USA.

“I think it was pretty clear for me to decide to play for the United States,” Musah said, as reported by the US soccer federation official website on Monday.

“First of all, I think it makes sense to represent the country I was born in. The moment I decided to play for the United States came one day when my heart told me that this was the best place for me.

"The project that we have now and for the future is so exciting, and it’s a great pleasure to be able to be a part of that. I can’t wait to get started.

"The U.S. supporters have been really warm and made me feel wanted and appreciated. It’s exciting with such a young squad.

"It’s nice to compete against so many great players for spots. It’s exciting to see what we can do together. I’m sure we’re going to be able to do great things.”

Musah is the latest to snub an international future with Ghana, following Stade Rennais youngster Jeremy Doku, who pledged his international future to Belgium last year. 

Hannibal Mejbri has signed a new "long-term" deal at Manchester United after impressing at under-23 level.

United signed the attacker from Monaco in 2019 and he has been impressing for Neil Wood’s side this season in Premier League 2.

Mejbri’s new deal has seen him commit his future to the club, and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already earmarked him as one to join up with the first team.

How many goals has he scored?

This season he has scored four goals and registered seven assists in 18 league appearances.

Has he trained with the first team?

Mejbri, along with Shola Shoretire, was selected by Solskjaer to be promoted to the first-team bubble and train with the squad at the start of the year. Unfortunately two separate injuries have delayed his promotion but when the time is right he will no doubt be able to make the step up to that level. For now, he remains in the academy bubble.

When he makes the step up to the first team he will still be able to play for the U23s and even the U18s in the FA Youth Cup, where United are waiting to find out if they face Liverpool or Sutton United in the next round, but he will be required to travel separately to games and use different changing rooms due to the Covid bubble regulations.

What has Solskjaer said about him?

Speaking to MUTV last month the first-team manager said: “Hannibal unfortunately injured his shoulder in the reserves so he’ll be out for a few weeks. He was just on his way into the squad and training with us but that’s football. He’ll come back stronger, I am sure, and he knows he’s not far away.”

When will he return from injury?

Mejbri has already returned to the fold after the shoulder injury he picked up last month, although at the moment that is light training without any contact to protect his shoulder. It is hoped he will be able to return to full contact shortly and be back in contention at whatever level he is needed.

Further reading

Karim Benzema has said his door is open with regard to Real Madrid entering into talks over a new contract.

France forward Benzema has reinforced his value to Real this term with a string of important goals, the latest of which was a last-minute winner against Elche at the weekend.

The 33-year-old’s contract runs until 2022, but he is open to discussing a fresh commitment with the Spanish champions.

What was said?

"I go day by day,” Benzema said at a press conference on Monday. “I enjoy every training session, every game. 

“I have a contract until 2022 but my door is open if the president wants to renew me. This is the best club in the world."

What else did Benzema say?

Real Madrid press conferences generally offer up plenty of content to chew over, and Benzema was asked for his opinion on reports that suggested Bernabeu legend Cristiano Ronaldo could head back to the club.

“I did a lot here with him, a lot of goals and assists,” Benzema said. “It was three years ago. He's at another club now. I'm not the president or the coach. 

“I don't know if he's good or not at Juventus. 

“Playing with him again? He was always good to me. And he always scores goals.”

Benzema’s importance to Real

Following the departure of Ronaldo in 2018, Benzema adopted the role of Real’s leading marksman. He has taken the responsibility on his shoulders, and 27 goals across all competitions last term led Real to the Liga title.

He has 20 goals to his name this season, but with Gareth Bale now on loan at Tottenham and Eden Hazard struggling for fitness, Benzema has looked exposed at times.

Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo are promising talents, but have much to improve and Real may need to bring in a forward in the summer to ease the burden on their star striker.

Further reading

Tanzania Mainland League giants Yanga SC have settled on Hubert Velud as the coach to take over from Cedric Kaze.

The Burundian was fired alongside the entire technical bench after Wananchi felt he was not the right man to take them forward.

They then opted to appoint Juma Mwambusi on an interim basis as they started their hunt for the new coach.

"Yanga have come to an agreement with Velud to work together but it will not be immediately," Mwanaspoti reported. 

"He will come in after the end of the ongoing season to start preparations for the new one. However, he will arrive in the country early and start the rebuilding process in regards to positions that need to be strengthened."

The 61-year-old former goalkeeper is experienced in African football having coached Hassania Agadir and Difaa El Jadidi of Morocco, ES Setif, US Alger, and CS Constantine - all from Algeria - Democratic Republic of Congo outfit Tout Puissant Mazembe.

He has won several competitions on the continent including the Algerian top-tier title, the Congolese league title as well as the 2016 Caf Super Cup with Mazembe, among others.

The Frenchman has also coached the Togo and Sudan national teams. The tactician will pocket $2 million in the two-year contract with the East African heavyweights.

Before settling for the Frenchman, Yanga had shortlisted former Simba SC coach Belgian Patrick Aussems, who is currently AFC Leopards head coach in Kenya as well as Spanish Benito Floro.

Meanwhile, Mwambusi has been given a free hand to choose those who he feels will help him to manage the 27-time league champions for the remainder of the season.

"But Mwambusi will lead the team in the remaining 11 games alongside three members of the technical bench he will wish to work with," Mwanaspoti continued.

"This will be to ensure the team performs well in the league and the FA Cup."

The former champions are currently on 50 points from the 23 matches they have played. They have managed 14 wins, eight draws, and a loss, scoring 36 goals in the process and conceding 14.

Wananchi are aiming at stopping the dominance of their rivals Simba SC, who have won the league for the last three seasons.

Kaizer Chiefs defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele has branded Tuesday’s Caf Champions League Group C match away at Petro Atletico de Luanda as their most crucial match ever while also saying coach Gavin Hunt has devised a good game plan for the Angolans.

The Soweto giants collide with Petro Atletico at 11 November Stadium, targeting the second spot with a win as they hope group leaders Wydad Casablanca beat Hoyoya AC away in Guinea on the same day.

Amakhosi are third on the table with four points, the same as Horoya and Mphahlele has placed emphasis on the importance of their mission in Luanda.

“If you look at us, there are only two competitions left [to play for] which is the PSL and the Champions League so this game is very important. It is the biggest game of our careers the biggest game for the club,” Mphahlele told Chiefs’ media.

“We have to know what our competitors are doing. Obviously we follow them and I personally put Horoya, Wydad and Petro as my favourites on my app so that I know what happens in their local leagues and Champions League. It’s important that we keep tabs on these teams so that we know where they are and what’s happening.

“We are hoping that Horoya drop points so that we can capitalise on that. But the most important thing is that we focus on ourselves and get the results and try to qualify for the quarter-finals of this competition. It is going to be very important for the club and for us as players.”

Chiefs are facing a Petro Atletico side anchoring the standings with no points after losing all three their group games, including falling 2-0 against Amakhosi in the reverse leg.

The Angolan giants are yet to score a goal in those matches and have conceded five times.

Mphahlele is aware they are playing against a wounded team but says Hunt has come up with a solid plan to subdue their opponents.

“We have prepared well and we are looking forward to the game in Luanda. We know it is going to be very difficult,” continued Mphahlele.

“These Champions League teams play different football especially when they are at home.

"The Petro we played in Johannesburg we should forget about it, we expect a different team altogether. We have analysed them, we have tried to break down their strong points. We have actually planned on how we can execute our chances and try to destabilise them.

“We know they are going come all out because they need to win. The coach has put up a good game plan and we just have to follow that and execute it.

"But the most important thing tomorrow is to get three points so that we can go on seven points that will make our chances of going to the next round of this competition bright. We have prepared well but we only show that on the pitch.”

The Chiefs defender will be returning to action after missing the home leg against Petro Atletico due to injury.

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi is targeting qualification for the Caf Champions League quarter-finals “as quickly as possible” when they host Tout Puissant Mazembe in Tuesday’s Group B showdown at Loftus Versfeld.

Being six points clear on top of their group, victory for Sundowns against Mazembe will see them reaching the last eight of the tournament with two games to go.

They have won all three matches at this stage of the campaign, including beating Mazembe 2-1 away in their last match.

“We have done extensive work on TP Mazembe. We know their strength, we know their players to watch,” Mngqithi told the media on Monday.

“They gave us a very tough match in Lubumbashi. But truth be told we also want to make sure that we close this chapter of the Champions League as quickly as possible in terms of the group. So we will be looking for the chance to get the three points.

“Always an open game suits a team like Mamelodi Sundowns. We always thrive against teams that come strong. They have some very good players [Joel] Djedje who is very influential. When he came on in those few minutes [in the first leg], he caused us a lot of problems.”

Despite enjoying what looks like a healthy lead, Mngqithi insists that they are guarding against complacency when they host the Congolese giants.

They are facing a team yet to win a single match in this group with just two points from three matches.

Mazembe are level on points with Al Hilal and CR Belouizdad who complete Group B.

“We know what to expect from them and we don’t take this game for granted because their backs are against the wall,” continued Mngqithi.

“They will give a big fight because they know they have to get a result in our game tomorrow for them to stay in the hunt within the group because if anything happens on the other side between Al Hilal and Belouizdad they know their chances are getting limited.

“The number of games is getting smaller, we are fully aware of that so this is not a game we are taking for granted. It is important that we approach this game with an open mind and give it our best shot. Hopefully tomorrow we should guarantee a place in the quarter-finals.”

David Luiz is refusing to give up on Arsenal’s bid to secure a top-four finish, with the Brazilian defender looking for a derby win over Tottenham to act as a springboard.

The Gunners edged out their north London neighbours 2-1 in their latest Premier League fixture, but remain 10th in the table.

A 10-point gap separates them from the Champions League qualification spots, but they still have 10 games to take in and believe anything is possible in a sprint towards the line.

What has been said?

Luiz told reporters of the Gunners’ top-four chances on the back of a morale-boosting victory at home to Spurs: “We have to try and continue in this way, try to improve.

“We are far (off), but we have a great team and we can continue in this way and try to win points every week.”

What does Arsenal’s fixture list look like?

The Gunners are entering a crucial stage of their 2020-21 endeavours.

The second leg of a Europa League last-16 encounter with Olympiacos that Mikel Arteta’s side lead 3-1 is next on the agenda, before then facing another London derby date with West Ham.

A visit from Liverpool will be taken in after the March international break, meaning that two fellow top-four hopefuls will be tackled in their next two outings.

Arsenal are also due to meet Everton and Chelsea before the end of the season, with there still all to play for at the business end of an enthralling campaign.

The bigger picture

Arteta’s side have suffered only one defeat in their last eight games in all competitions, with that solitary reversal coming against runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Consistency is being found at just the right time, with Luiz admitting that a win over Spurs – who were reduced to 10 men after seeing rabona goalscorer Erik Lamela sent off - could prove vital come the final reckoning.

He added: “It is always a big game, a big derby with big history and everybody knows about this game.

“I think we did so, so well in the game – apart from the last 10 minutes where our team played with a lot of emotion and didn’t use our brains to control the game and use one more player on the pitch.

“But that is part of these kinds of games and I am so happy because the team has an identity, we try to control the possession and score all the time but I think we just have to be more efficient up front.

“It is never easy to play against them but I am so happy with the performance of the team, because we really understood the game before it started, how we had to beat them and I think we did that on the pitch.”

Further reading

Simba coach Didier Gomez Da Rosa has stressed the importance of going for a win when they take on Al Merrikh in the Caf Champions League on Tuesday.

The Msimbazi giants secured a 0-0 draw against the Sudanese outfit in their first meeting at Al-Hilal Stadium in Khartoum a week ago and a win for the Tanzanian champions will guarantee them a place in the quarter-finals for the first time in the club’s history.

Simba are currently leading the group on seven points having won their first two 1-0, against AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Al Ahly of Egypt, before the stalemate against Al Merrikh in Sudan.

Ahead of the rematch set for Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, the French tactician has explained why it is important for them to get three points from the fixture.

“It must be a win, it is very important to take the three points tomorrow [Tuesday] because I think we need in this group stage to reach the quarter-finals we will need eleven points,” Gomez told reporters during the pre-match meeting as covered by club's social media pages.

“So it is very important to get the three points tomorrow and I feel very good things, what I could see in the training since four to five days ago it is very good so we are completely committed determined and very positive to get a win from the game.”

Gomez also confirmed only one player – defender Pascal Wawa - is suspended for the match against the Red Devils, allaying fears that Taddeo Lwanga was also not eligible to play.

“Taddeo [Lwanga] will be available to play but Pascal [Wawa] is the only player who is suspended and will miss out because he has accumulated two yellow cards,” Gomez continued.

“But I don’t have any sleepless nights over his absence, it is true he is a good player for us, he has formed a good partnership at the back with his back four but I also have players who can come in and do the job in his absence like Peter Muduhwa, Kenneth [Juma] and Erason [Nyoni], they all have the experience to play in the biggest stage so we don’t need to worry at all.”

On his part, captain John Bocco said their main target from the game is to get three points so they can increase their chances of making it from the group stage.

“We are playing at home and we are ready because of three points, we know we will miss our fans [after the Caf ban], but we want to promise them to support us from wherever they are, we will give them victory to celebrate back at home," he told the same publication.

In another group match, AS Vita will host Al Ahly in Kinshasa after the two teams fought out to a 2-2 draw in the first meeting in Cairo.

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie Redknapp thinks Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not doing enough for Arsenal presently, but Gunners legend Freddie Ljungberg holds a contrary opinion and still rates him as a top player.

Aubameyang was an unused substitute as Mikel Arteta’s side bagged a vital 2-1 win over Spurs in Sunday’s Premier League game.

Last month, Redknapp said the Gabonese striker has ‘pased his best’ after Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Manchester City but he believes he can do more than he is doing for the team at the moment.

“I watched him play against Man City and he didn’t do enough, for me,” Redknapp told Sky Sports via Football London.

"I didn’t see a player that was running in beyond, or had that hunger or desire on that occasion. I was almost like that guy in the pub who’s saying: ‘He’s gone’, and I was wrong, it was disrespectful and I take it back.

"I’m a huge fan of his on and off the field. I think he can do more.

"When I’ve seen him in the last few years compared to this year, I feel like it’s so important that players like him lead the way.

"When I think of some of the great strikers, every now and then they carry the team and I don’t see him doing that enough right now.”

With 14 goals to his name across all competitions this season, Aubameyang remains Arsenal’s leading scorer and Ljungberg considers him as a top player despite his struggles.

“I think he’s a top, top player and that’s why I disagree with you,” the former Arsenal youth coach said.

"If you have a great player, he will always stay a great player, there can be some circumstances that change it. The quality doesn’t disappear.

"If you look at Auba: if you let him go in behind, or let him go one against the right-back, he will twist him and turn him and then it’s a goal.

"He has certain super strengths that you can’t really compete against, but if you play against him you try and stop those things and then you can nullify him a little bit but I think he’s a top, top player.”

Kenya managed to pick up a 2-1 win over Tanzania in a friendly tie played at Nyayo Stadium on Monday.

Erick Kapaito and Abdalla Hassan scored to ensure the Harambee Stars registered a second consecutive win after beating South Sudan 1-0 in the initial friendly. Ayub Lyanga scored the only goal for the Taifa Stars, who have engaged in their first test game ahead of the upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

After he was denied by the post in the 16th minute, Kapaito, who is leading the FKF Premier League top scorers' chart with 14 goals, found the back of the net in the 20th minute; his first for the senior national side. The Kariobangi Sharks striker connected with a cross from Lawrence Juma from the right wing and headed past Juma Kaseja for the opener.

Kenya would have doubled the lead in the 23rd minute had Kevin Kimani's free-kick from outside the penalty area not hit the woodwork. Kaseja, who was preferred to Metacha Mnata of Yanga SC, was well-beaten in the process but Tanzania had to thank the woodwork for saving them from conceding a second goal in quick succession.

In the 29th minute, Kenya coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee made a change when he introduced Danson Chetambe, who shone against South Sudan and provided an assist, in place of Michael Mutinda, who was far from being fit after suffering a knock during one of the training sessions.

Kenneth Muguna thought he had added the second for the Harambee Stars when his effort was ruled out by a raised offside flag. The Gor Mahia captain swiftly moved to meet Kimani's cross in the 34th minute but his goal and celebration were cut short by the assistant referee's flag.

Lyanga equalised for the Taifa Stars in the 39th minute when he collected a rebound and headed past James Saruni in Kenya's goal. The Azam forward received a good cross from Feisal Salum but his first effort hit the post, only for him to react and fire past an isolated Saruni to cancel Kapaito's debut goal.

As the second half began, James Mazembe was withdrawn and was replaced by Bandari forward Hassan. Tanzania's Kim Poulsen brought on Metacha Mnata and Dickson Job to replace Kaseja and Kelvin Yondani, respectively.

Hassan added Kenya's second in the 58th minute when he found the bottom corner from the left wing - Juma robbed the ball when confusion ensued between Bakari Mwamnyeto and Job in their own half, laid the ball for Hassan, whose shot was too powerful for Yanga's custodian to stop it.

Tanzania did not sit back after going down and launched a number of attacks that were equally dealt with by the Kenyan side. The three minutes that were added were not enough for Poulsen's men to find an equaliser either.

Kenya XI: James Saruni, Harun Mwale, Johnstone Omurwa, Mike Kibwage, Daniel Sakari, Michael Mutinda, Kenneth Muguna, Lawrence Juma, Kevin Kimani, James Mazembe, Eric Kapaito.

Subs: Joseph Okoth, Nahashon Alembi, David Owino, Kevin Simiyu, Danson Chetambe, Oliver Maloba, Abdalla Hassan, Reagan Otieno, John Macharia, Musa Masika, Henry Meja, Elvis Rupia.

Tanzania XI: Juma Kaseja, Israel Mwenda, Nickson Kibabage, Kelvin Yondani, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Himid Mao, Himid Mao, Iddi Selemani, Feisal Salum, Farid Mussa, Salum Aboubakar, Ayub Lyanga.

Subs: Metacha Mnata, Yassin Mustapha, Laurent Alfred, Dickson Job, Kelvin John, Abdoul Hamisi, Deus Kaseke.

Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Youssoufa Moukoko has been named in Germany's U21 Euros squad at the age of just 16.

The talented forward has been slected in Stefan Kuntz's 23-man squad for the tournament after a stunning breakthrough campaign.

Moukoko could become the youngest player to ever feature in the U21 European Championship when the action kicks off later this month, with Kuntz confident that he can make his mark on the international stage.

What's been said?

The Germany U21 boss told reporters after announcing his squad: "In Youssoufa, we have an extraordinary talent in Germany, who we want to nurture with caution and accordingly to his performance. After close discussions with Borussia Dortmund, we decided to call up him up, because we think his participation will help both the team and his own development."

Moukoko's rapid rise

Moukoko joined Dortmund's academy ranks in 2016 after a spell on St Pauli's books and graduated to the senior squad four years later after breaking a number of scoring records at youth level.

The teenager became the youngest player in Bundesliga history when he came on during a clash with Hertha back in November, and set a new mark as the youngest goalscorer to have ever played in the competition by finding the net in a meeting with Union Berlin a month later.

Moukoko has now featured in 13 first-team games in all competitions, scoring three goals, the latest of which saw him help the team to a 2-0 win against Hertha on Saturday.

Who else has been included in Kuntz's squad?

Schalke defender Malick Thiaw, Stuttgart's Mateo Klimowicz and Greuther Furth star Anton Stach have been called up to Germany's U21 squad for the first time along with Moukoko, with Kuntz set to hand out a few debuts in the European Championship group stage.

Manchester City loanee Lukas Nmecha has also made the final cut after an impressive 2020-21 campaign at Anderlecht that has seen him net 13 goals in 27 league games.

Who will Germany play in the group stage?

Germany have been drawn alongside Hungary, Romania and the Netherlands in Group A for this year's tournament, which is due to kick off in Slovenia on March 24.

Kuntz's side will open their campaign on that day against Hungary, with it his goal to take the country one step further than their final appearance against Spain in 2019.

Further reading

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has got a taste for Champions League glory and boldly declared that he wants to experience the highs of European success “again and again”.

The commanding Brazil international got his hands on continental football’s biggest prize in 2019 when helping the Reds to overcome Premier League rivals Tottenham in Madrid.

Domestic title glory has followed since then, but a humbling slide down those standings has been taken in this season to leave trophy-chasing sights at Anfield locked on one prize in particular.

What has been said?

Alisson has told FourFourTwo: “Life is about fighting for your dreams.

“You might change a dream or update it, but you must keep fighting for what makes you happy.

“In football, winning trophies is the main goal. Now I know the feeling of winning a Champions League final, and I want to feel it again and again.”

The 28-year-old added, with injury-ravaged Liverpool already through to the quarter-finals of this season’s Champions League: “We’re a very competitive side, so we feel capable of fighting for every competition.

“You never know what will happen in football. That’s one of the reasons why this sport is loved by almost everyone.

“Unfortunately, we lost one of our key players in Virgil van Dijk [last October]. It wouldn’t be easy for any team to lose such a big player, because he’s the world’s best defender, but our substitutes have been doing a great job. That’s maybe our main quality: we don’t just depend on one guy.”

The bigger picture

A top-four finish is now the best that title holders Liverpool can hope for in the Premier League this season.

Tangible success in Europe would, however, salvage what has been a testing campaign and ease some of the pressure that has started to build on Jurgen Klopp’s shoulders.

Alisson maintains that the German remains the right man for the Reds, with his track record on Merseyside helping to calm any questions regarding his future.

The shot-stopper said of his boss: “When it comes to motivating the players, Klopp is a specialist.

“He always finds the right words to give us more confidence before matches – you know he has a genuine passion for the game.

“We can all see how much he believes in his plan, and how confident he is in the players. It’s not only him, actually: Klopp has a great staff with him, and everybody is vital to keep everyone else motivated.

“I’m convinced that we’re on the right track to achieve our goals, because the squad understands the need to fight not only for yourself, but for each other, for the manager, for the fans.

“We’re together and depend on each other. That’s our mentality at Liverpool.”

Further reading

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recorded a Manchester United first in the Premier League since February 2012 during the Red Devils’ 1-0 win over West Ham, with no substitutions made across 90 minutes.

A narrow victory at Old Trafford was secured by the 11 players who started a hard-fought encounter.

Solskjaer had plenty of options at his disposal but, with his side edging their way to another clean sheet, saw no need to tinker with his plans.

What has been said?

Explaining his decision to keep faith with a starting XI, the United boss told the club’s official website: “I didn’t feel the need to take them off because I felt every single one did a job defensively.

“We have had four clean sheets now in the league, straight up and that is always a foundation.

“You have to defend well to keep clean sheets in the Premier League. We have also scored more goals this season than last season, so we are improving as an attacking team as well.

“But the attitude of everyone doing the work that Kieran [McKenna] and Michael [Carrick] are doing, the work on the training ground and in the meeting rooms is absolutely spot on.

“The details the coaches give the players, they listen, they look. We want to attack teams and attack them by defending really high, we want to be on the front foot defensively.

“It takes a lot of energy to do that but modern football requires that.”

Who were the last team that United made no changes against?

It is over nine years since the Red Devils last went a full 90 minutes in the English top flight without making any in-game changes.

The last time that happened was in a meeting with Liverpool. That contest also took place at Old Trafford and ended with United taking three points – with a 2-1 victory enjoyed over their arch-rivals.

Who was on the bench for United against West Ham?

Solskjaer’s side found the going tough at times against the Hammers, with David Moyes setting his team up to sit deep and frustrate the hosts.

An own goal from Craig Dawson eventually settled the contest, with the West Ham defender putting through his own net in the 53rd minute.

United could have freshened things up from there, especially as they collected four yellow cards on the night, but opted against taking that approach, and that kept nine players stuck on the bench, with Amad Diallo still waiting on a Premier League debut.

Shola Shoretire has made his top-flight bow this season, but the 17-year-old was another who remained unused on Sunday.

The rest of United’s replacements were Axel Tuanzebe, Nemanja Matic, Nathan Bishop, Brandon Williams, Eric Bailly, Alex Telles and Lee Grant.

Further reading

Oleksandr Zinchenko insists there is no reason why Manchester City cannot win the quadruple this season - but his manager Pep Guardiola doesn't agree.

The Premier League leaders face Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League last 16, holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg.

City are already in the final of the Carabao Cup and face an FA Cup quarter-final against Everton at the weekend.

What's been said?

Asked about the possibility of winning four trophies, Zinchenko replied: "Of course.

"Bayern showed last year - they won everything, right? Barcelona did it as well the other year with Pep and I think, of course, everything is possible.

"We've got an unbelievable squad, the best players in the world. Definitely, why not?

"Inside the dressing room or inside the team I can see the hungry eyes, everyone is so hungry for the titles and that is what you want."

What was Guardiola's response?

The City manager followed his player in the pre-match press conference and played down the Ukrainian's comments.

"I am older than Mr Zinchenko, I have more experience and I don't agree with him," he said.

"Zinchenko just has to be worried about a good game tomorrow and going through. This is the only way.

"Four titles has never happened [in England] before and I think it is not going to happen. We just think about the next one and then Goodison Park.

"Hopefully the players can come back safe and well from the international break because we play for important things."

What are City's chances?

Zinchenko says City can follow in the footstep of German club Bayern Munich who won all their domestic trophies last season as well as the Champions League.

Hansi Flick's side added the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in recent months to obtain a clean sweep of trophies available.

Guardiola is the only other manager to have pulled off a similar feat, when he was with Barcelona, but has so far failed to get beyond the quarter-finals in Europe with City.

What's next for City?

Guardiola's side have a good opportunity of reaching the last eight, holding a two-goal advantage from the first leg, although Tuesday's home leg has been switched to Budapest because of coronavirus regulations.

A number of strong teams have already made it into UEFA's draw on Friday, including Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund.

City were surprisingly knocked out by French side Lyon in the last eight of last year's competition and Zinchenko warned: "At this stage I recognise that all teams are quite strong and have a lot of quality players.

"So, especially if we are talking about Borussia Monchengladbach, they organise well defensively, it is not easy to create chances against this type of teams but we will try."

Further reading

Aidy Boothroyd has explained the decision to select Manchester United teenager Mason Greenwood for England's Under-21s rather than in Gareth Southgate's senior squad.

The 19-year-old has made his senior England debut already but has been included in Boothroyd's squad for the European Under-21 Championship in the March and April international break.

It comes after a period of being left out by England at any level after he and Phil Foden broke Covid protocols in Iceland. Now, all parties want Greenwood to move forward and establish himself for his country once again.

What has Boothroyd said?

"We’re speaking to his club on a regular basis," Boothroyd said after England U21s announced their squad.

"We just felt as an organisation that Mason is going to be a key player in the future and we wanted to get him into this tournament, get some games into him and know what it’s like to be at a tournament.

"He’s got some great experiences already with his club, playing in the Champions League and the Europa League. He’s getting plenty of opportunities but we felt it was the right thing for him to come with us.

"He is an outstanding player. It’s an opportunity for him to get some games with us. We treat every player as an individual and we think very carefully when and where we pick them. Clearly, in Mason’s situation, it was right that he wasn’t right to play for his country and to stay where he was.

"That period of time has done him a world of good, he’s getting more minutes there. That’s a positive thing. We hope he can continue that with us. He can play in multiple positions, which is what this squad is really. It’s very exciting, very balanced and very hungry. Mason fits all three of those describing words.

"He’s got a lot of support around him from his club and from us. Gareth is speaking regularly to Ole in this case and we think he’s a top player. Has he got something to prove? Every time he gets on the pitch there is an expectation of him because he’s a very good young player.

"But he is young, he needs guidance and help. Gareth will speak to him before we meet up. I’ll speak to him to see how he is and see how we can get the most out of him."

Who else is in the England squad?

Greenwood joins an exciting attacking line-up that includes Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi and Arsenal duo Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah in Slovenia.

Alongside those attackers, there are other star names like Everton's Ben Godfrey and Ryan Sessegnon, who is on loan at Hoffenheim from Tottenham.

Further reading

Lorient striker Terem Moffi has stated he is motivated by Victor Osimhen’s feat in the French Ligue 1 after scoring eight goals in his debut season so far.

The Nigerian forwards enjoyed similar paths after their initial meeting in the country's U17 set-up, with stints in the Belgian First Division A before they moved to France.

Osimhen left his mark in Ligue 1 with 13 goals in the 2019-20 campaign – the goalscoring exploits earned him the Prix Marc-Vivien Foe before he switched to Italian Serie A club Napoli last August.

Despite being Lorient's top scorer this season, Moffi disclosed he did not set a personal target for himself this term 

"We played together in the U17s, I've known him for a couple of years," the Nigerian star told the Ligue 1 website. "He's a good guy, he's been good to me on so many occasions so it's like 'this guy, you have to follow his progress, you have to learn from him'.

“If he can do it in Belgium, why can't I do it in Belgium, he did it in France, why can't you do it in France as well you understand? So it's motivation for me, yes!"

"As a matter of fact I didn't set targets for this season," Moffi concluded. "I was like 'go, give your best' but now I think I have surpassed what I was expecting so I just want to continue this way and whatever God says happens, happens. No pressure, just do!"

Moffi is among the seven players on the Super Eagles’ stand-by list for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho next week.

The 21-year-old recalled his meeting with Jay-Jay Okocha and his admiration for the ex-Paris Saint Germain star.

He said: "I met him, and he told me 'football is easy, you don't have to do too much. Just be you, enjoy yourself! He was a fantastic dribbler, when I was younger I used to watch his videos like step-overs and crossovers, it was really a big part of my game but now I'm kind of direct except when I'm in a tight situation I try to dazzle my way through!"

Earlier this year, Moffi scored a late match-winning goal that helped Lorient edge PSG in a thrilling five-goal Ligue 1 game at the Stade du Moustoir.

Aidy Boothroyd has explained England's position on being snubbed by Bayern Munich wonderkid Jamal Musiala, who has opted to play for Germany instead of the Three Lions.

The English and German football associations had been battling to secure the 18-year-old's international future, but Musiala is now set to be included in Joachim Low's Germany squad for their upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

He had previously made his England Under-21s debut under Boothroyd, and would have been in contention for the upcoming group phase of the European Under-21 Championship in March and April.

What has Boothroyd said?

"Jamal is a very measured young man," Boothroyd told reporters at the unveiling of his squad. "He’s obviously thought it through.

"When you’re working in Germany, speak German and you live with your German mum, it’s very difficult to persuade him that he’s actually English.

"It was his decision, he talked about having a heart for Germany and I totally understand that. We wish him the best of luck and we move on and focus on the players who want to be part of what we want to build."

How good is Musiala?

Musiala became the youngest scorer of English and German nationalities in Champions League history when he produced an excellent finish from just outside the box to put Bayern 2-0 up in the first leg of their last-16 tie against Lazio.

It is just the latest record that he has broken having become the youngest player to play and score for Bayern last season.

Despite some interest from some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League, Musiala signed a new contract at the Allianz Arena until 2026 earlier this month.

Who is in England's European U21 Championship squad?

Among the 23 players who have been selected for the initial group stage are Mason Greenwood, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah. 

There are also first U21 call-ups for Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe and Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga, while Jude Bellingham and Reece James have been left out to join the senior squad.

After a 16-team group stage in the upcoming international break, the Young Lions can change their squad for the knockout stage in May and June.

Further reading

Barcelona starlet Pedri has been handed a maiden call-up to the Spain national team for this month's 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Pedri has been included in Luis Enrique's final 25-man squad alongside a host of star names, capping his rise to prominence at Camp Nou over the past few months.

The 18-year-old is currently enjoying a breakthrough season at Barca, and will now have the chance to represent his country at senior level after previously lining up for the U21, U19, U18 and U17 teams.

How has Pedri performed for Barca in 2020-21?

Pedri has been a regular in Barca's starting line up since Ronald Koeman's arrival in August.

The talented young midfielder has already racked up 40 appearances across all competitions for the club this term, scoring three goals and laying on five assists.

His performances have helped Barca challenge for success on both domestic and European fronts, with La Liga and Copa del Rey honours still up for grabs heading into the business end of the campaign.

Who have Spain been drawn against in World Cup qualifying?

Spain were placed in Group B for their latest World Cup qualifying campaign, alongside Georgia, Kosovo, Greece and Sweden.

La Roja's road to Qatar will begin when they travel to Georgia on March 28, three days before a home fixture against Kosovo.

Who else has been included in Enrique's squad?

Pedri has been joined in the Spain squad by Barca team-mates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, while fellow academy graduates Oscar Mingueza and Riqui Puig have had to be content with a spot in the U21 set-up.

Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, Eibar star Bryan Gil and Sporting's Pedro Porro have also been called up for the first time alongside Pedri, but Chelsea shot-stopper Kepa has been dropped from the squad after losing his place at Stamford Bridge.

Elsewhere, Manchester City's Eric Garcia has made the cut despite being frozen out by Pep Guardiola amid links with Barcelona, while Liverpool midfielder Thiago and Sergio Ramos have both returned after recovering from injuries.

Spain's World Cup qualifying squad in full:

Goalkeepers: David De Gea (Manchester United), Robert Sanchez (Brighton), Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao)

Defenders: Pedro Porro (Sporting), Eric Garcia (Man City), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Diego Llorente (Leeds United), Inigo Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Jose Luis Gaya (Valencia)

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Rodrigo (Man City), Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool), Pedri (Barcelona), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Sergio Canales (Real Betis), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Fabian Ruiz (Napoli)

Forwards: Gerard Moreno (Villarreal), Ferran Torres (Man City), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Bryan Gil (Eibar), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig).

Further Reading

Gary Neville has warned Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that there remains a serious flaw in his Manchester United side that will prevent them from challenging for the Premier League title if it remains unaddressed.

The Red Devils have cemented a second-place standing in the table this season, in what is considered to be a positive step in the right direction.

They are, however, 14 points adrift of arch-rivals Manchester City and have continued to find life difficult against opponents that set up to frustrate and contain the more obvious threats within the Red Devils’ ranks.

What has been said?

Assessing United in the wake of a battling 1-0 win over West Ham, eight-time title winner Neville told Sky Sports: “We know what Manchester United are: they do struggle to break down teams, if you think about how City dismantle teams who sit deep against them, United aren’t capable of that yet and it has been something we can quite obviously see, when they play on the counterattack, they’re a lot better.

“They’ve got to get better playing against teams who really sit back in those deep blocks. I think that’s where the next stage of the development has got to come, because if they don’t start doing that better, they won’t win this Premier League because teams will do that against them as Man City have found out.

“It’s about having higher quality in the final third. If you think about the compact nature of all teams now when they want to be, particularly the teams in the bottom half, you just need fantastic players. If you look at City - Bernardo Silva, Gundogan, Foden, Mahrez - they have five or six of them. I can only really think of Fernandes and Pogba who can open a defence up in tight situations, the rest of them rely upon space to operate.

“Maybe Greenwood can do it, but generally, you look at City, they’ve got five or six and if two of them are injured then there’s always someone who can unlock the door elsewhere in the team. For United, if it’s not [Bruno] Fernandes, then maybe it’s Luke Shaw who’s the person who’s next and most likely to do something from an attacking point of view.

“They need to improve their quality in the final third, maybe up the speed of the game a little bit - they play too slowly against teams when they actually drop off against them. When they play against a top team like City last week, the speed of passing - because it has to be - is actually really good and they’ve got to get that into the game against teams that drop off and make it difficult for them.”

The bigger picture

Given that they have gone four years without major silverware, United are considered to be moving in the right direction this season.

They remain a work in progress, with Solskjaer pointing out on a regular basis that he is overseeing a long-term project, but he is in the hunt for FA Cup and Europa League honours.

Neville believes tangible success in 2021 is imperative for the Red Devils if they are to kick on from this point and come back into contention for the most prestigious of prizes.

He added: “I think Manchester United do need to win a trophy this season along with finishing second. We know what Manchester United are.”

Solskjaer’s side will be back in action on Thursday when they take in the second leg of a Europa League last-16 encounter with Serie A giants AC Milan that is currently locked at 1-1.

Further reading