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The Indian Super League (ISL) season seven is down to its final match where ATK Mohun Bagan take on Mumbai City FC in the battle for the ultimate prize.

Mumbai City have already won the ISL League Winners Shield by topping the table at the end of the league while ATK Mohun Bagan finished second with the same number of points (40) but behind on head-to-head record.

The final, though will not just witness a battle between the two sides but in a subplot, the two custodians of Mumbai and Mohun Bagan - Amrinder Singh and Arindam Bhattacharya - will battle it out for the coveted Golden Glove award this season.

How is the Golden Glove award determined

The Golden Glove is awarded to the player who has the best minutes per goals conceded ratio in the league. In case, multiple players are tied in the above criterion, the custodian with the higher number of clean sheets will win the award. In case, multiple players are once again tied in the above two criteria, then the player with the higher number of saves will win the Golden Glove.

It has to be noted that to be eligible for the award, a goalkeeper has to play a minimum of 540 minutes in the league throughout the season.

Two-way race

Currently, one of only ATK Mohun Bagan's Arindam Bhattacharya and Mumbai City FC's Amrinder Singh can win the award. Bhattacharya is currently leading the charts with the highest minutes per goals conceded ratio (116.47) followed by Singh's 110.5 minutes per goals conceded. Both goalkeepers have played 22 matches each this season but while Bhattacharya has played a total of 1980 minutes, Singh has played 2010 minutes of football.

In terms of the number of saves made, the Islanders goalkeeper has the edge as he has made 58 saves compared to Bhattacharya's 55. In clean sheets, they are tied as both of them have kept 10 each.

The Bengali custodian also has the edge in terms of the number of goals conceded as he has let only 17 goals in, Amrinder has conceded 20.

An exciting battle between the two Indian goalkeepers is on the cards as they battle it out for the prestigious award.

Amrinder Singh had won the award in 2016. Arindam Bhattacharya, on the other hand, had missed out on the award last season after finishing second behind Bengaluru FC custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. But this time around, he is in the pole position and will hope to win the Golden Glove.

If Amrinder wins it, he will become the second goalkeeper after Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to win the award twice. 

The careers of ATK Mohun Bagan defenders Tiri, Sandesh Jhingan and Mumbai City striker Bartholomew Ogbeche have one thing in common. All of them signed for Kerala Blasters, left the club and have reached the Indian Super League (ISL) final in the very next season. 

Kerala Blasters' woes in the ISL in recent years are well-documented but the 2019-20 season will go down in their history as one in which some of the transfers went wrong.

The departures of key players were talked about as a massive blow at the start of the season and now, it can be safely concluded that the Yellow Army lacked leadership and the quality of these crucial pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that remained unsolved throughout the campaign. 

 A level-up for Jhingan, Ogbeche

Sandesh Jhingan's decision to join ATK Mohun Bagan ahead of the season was the biggest setback for the Blasters fanbase. The centre-back, who had been with the team since its inception, had become a fan-favourite and the captain of the team but he parted ways after six years without silverware. 

Jhingan was out for the whole season during the 2019-20 campaign due to an injury he had picked up while he was with the national team. And there was no proper goodbye due to his lack of onfield action. Seeing their former favourite in Bagan colours in itself would have been hard to take for the Blasters faithful and now they are to watch the centre-back actually compete for a trophy that has eluded the Kochi-based club since 2014. 

The case of Ogbeche is also not too different. He may have only been a Blasters player for one season but his impact was extraordinary. In just one season, the former PSG striker became the club's all-time top-scorer with 15 goals during yet another season which didn't turn out to be successful for the club. 

The club needed to reduce their wage bill and Ogbeche received an offer from the City Football Group-owned Mumbai City at the right time. The Islanders' timely approach allowed the striker to change colours from yellow to blue and his new team, led by head coach Sergio Lobera, secured the League Winners Shield and will take on Bagan in the final on Saturday. The striker has scored eight goals and two assists despite starting only nine matches in this campaign. 

The one that got away

Tiri's case was different from that of Ogbeche and Jhingan. He was never officially announced as a Kerala Blasters player but had a deal in place to join the Kochi-based club in the summer of 2020. 

However, the club had to let go of the player allegedly due to budget constraints and the player ended up at - no prizes for guessing it right -  ATK Mohun Bagan. 

Tiri and Jhingan would have formed an excellent backline for the Yellow Army who ended up conceding 36 goals in 20 games to become the second-worst defence in the league, only behind bottom-placed Odisha.

Defending was the team's major concern and it is the departure of these centre-backs that has hurt the club more. Bakary Kone and Costa Nhamoinesu simply failed to deliver in the top division and had a season to forget whereas the Jhingan-Tiri partnership currently boasts the most numbers of clean sheets and the least number of goals conceded by a team this season. 

Tiri, who had impressive stints at ATK and Jamshedpur prior to the 2019-20 season of ISL, could have been one of the best signings by Kibu Vicuna but it wasn't meant to be for the supporters whose wait for silverware continues. 

Kerala Blasters have always been an attractive destination for big players due to their massive fanbase. However, going forward, there will soon come a time when it will be hard to attract the best just because of the fanbase and without success. The 2020-21 season is a warning sign for the Yellows. 

Antoine Griezmann has revealed the regret in Barcelona's dressing room after their inability to cash in on first-half chances doomed them to a 5-2 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16.

The forward said the team deserved better following its "big" second-leg performance that ended 1-1 despite the Catalans owning 72 per cent of possession and putting 10 shots on target.

In addition to an array of opportunities from open play, including one that saw Sergino Dest have an effort tipped on to the post, Lionel Messi had a spot kick blocked by Keylor Navas.

What has Griezmann said?

"We don't deserve to leave so soon in Champions League, neither do the fans, but that's the way it is," Griezmann told Movistar.

"They didn't know how to defend," the attacker added to RMC Sport. "There is this incredible goal from Leo and then the penalty. But Navas was amazing.

"We played a big game, especially in the first half.

“We can have regrets about going there. It's a shame but that's how it is, this is football, this is the Champions League.

"We have [Messi], we have possession, we knew we were going to have chances but we didn't know how to put them [away]. There is still a long way to go to finish the season."

Griezmann also commented on his inconsistent playing time of late at Barcelona, dismissing speculation he's unhappy.

“Sometimes I am on the bench, sometimes I play 90 minutes," he said. "I am at the service of the team. I'm trying to have fun and prepare well for the end of the season including the Euros because we have a big competition ahead of us with the national team."

What did Pedri add?

"We have to move on," Pedri said to Movistar.

"We try to help [Messi] on the field and staying [at Barca after this year] is up to him.

"I had already told Mbappe during the game that we would swap shirts. He has a lot of talent, but he still has to improve a lot to reach Messi's level."

Further reading

RB Leipzig head coach Julian Nagelsmann admitted his side deserved to be knocked out in their last-16 Champions League tie against Liverpool.

Liverpool defeated Leipzig 2-0 in Wednesday's second leg in Budapest, after winning the first leg by the same scoreline in the same location.

While Liverpool are struggling in the Premier League and Leipzig have won six straight Bundesliga matches, Nagelsmann's side were well beaten over the two legs.

What was said?

"I think we deserved to be knocked out, mainly due to today's match," Nagelsmann said in his post-game press conference. "Liverpool weren't creating a lot of pressure, they were sitting back and waiting and leaving us possession.

"There weren't a lot of emotional moments, we were too slow to create actions, we were just possessing the ball.

"I think the emotional qualities we've had in recent matches in the league and cup weren't shown today. Liverpool had a few chances in the first half they squandered.

"We didn't have a lot of chances in the second half, a lot of moments kept being squandered. We could see there was some respect in terms of counterattacks but that respect meant we reacted wrongly, then we conceded the first goal.

"We were defending but not being active enough and kept too much distance from the attackers and you could see the quality they had: [Diogo] Jota's assist and [Mohamed] Salah's great goal.

"The second goal was game over. We don't like losing but sometimes you have to admit the opponent was better. We are angry and sad but we'll focus on Frankfurt who we play in the Bundesliga. It is well-deserved Liverpool go into the next round."

What's next for Leipzig?

RB Leipzig's red-hot form in the Bundesliga has made it a two-team race for the league title.

Bayern Munich currently lead by just two points over Leipzig, who have an eight-point advantage over third-placed Wolfsburg.

Nagelsmann's side are back in Bundesliga action on Sunday when they face Eintracht Frankfurt.

RB Leipzig also have the chance to secure domestic cup glory this season, having advanced to the DFB-Pokal semi-finals.

Further reading

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane scored to help Liverpool secure a 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig in Wednesday’s Champions League game.

The victory at Anfield helped the Reds to advance into the quarter-finals of the European competition on a 4-0 aggregate after securing a 2-0 win in the first leg.  

Salah has been the standout performer for the Reds this season and against the Red Bulls, he shone to ensure his side progress in the tournament.

Mane was afforded his eighth appearance in the Champions League this season and utilized the opportunity to add to his tally.

RB Leipzig dominated the first half of the game but failed to get the ball into the back of the net, missing a few chances which they paid for in the second half.

After the restart, Liverpool seemed to awake from their slumber as they pressed aggressively for the opener.

Their efforts paid off when Salah broke the deadlock in the 70th minute after receiving a timely assist from Diogo Jota.

The Egypt international, thus, took his goal tally to 25 this season, becoming the player to have scored the most across all competitions among the Premier League stars.

Four minutes later, Mane doubled Liverpool’s lead with a fine effort after benefitting from Divock Origi’s assist.

The forward has now bagged 12 goals in the knock-out stage of the elite European competition since he made his debut and only Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more than him since the 2017-18 season.

Mane has now scored 12 goals and provided five assists across all competitions in the 2020-21 campaign for Liverpool.

Salah was recently rewarded for his impressive goalscoring form, winning Liverpool Goal of the Month for February and has now clinched the individual accolade six times on the bounce.

The forward along with Mane will hope to continue their impressive performances in front of goal when the Reds take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in their next league game on March 15.

Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for centre-backs Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak after the pair led the way in Liverpool's 2-0 Champions League win over RB Leipzig.

Phillips put in a man of the match-level performance in the victory, which pushed Liverpool into the quarter-finals, while Kabak's transition to life at Anfield continued with a strong outing on Wednesday in Budapest.

With Liverpool still struggling in the league, Wednesday's effort will go a long way towards restoring the Reds' confidence, with Klopp giving the credit to his central defenders.

What did Klopp say?

"The two centre-halves played an incredible game," Klopp told BT Sport. "The whole last line played an incredible game because that is a tough task. We had to press them. We defended deep together really well which is important.

"Everybody had a really good game. It was a good performance."

At his post-game press conference, Klopp had even more praise for Phillips.

“Oh my God, what a player, what a night for him," Klopp said. "It was absolutely great. The concentration level he shows week in, week out when he is playing for us is absolutely incredible.

"He is doing the right things in the right moments. He's an aerial monster and on the floor not bad."

Fabinho back in midfield

With Kabak and Phillips starting in defence, Fabinho was freed up to return to the midfield, where he played alongside Giorginio Wijnaldum and Thiago.

The Brazilian provided the necessary cover in the middle of the field, allowing Wijnaldum and Thiago to roam and frustrate RB Leipzig.

If Klopp can continue to count on other centre-backs, Fabinho would be free to move back into the midfield more regularly, which the Brazilian certainly favours.

“I asked him afterwards: ‘You like the position No.6 more than the other one?' and he said ‘Yes!’" Klopp said. "He could not have been more clear!"

Regaining momentum

While Liverpool's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League remain in danger, they will now look to build on Wednesday's performance as they look towards a potential fight up the table.

The Reds are set to visit Wolves on Monday in their last match before the international break, and Klopp is hoping to head into that game with a more confident team than the one that has faltered domestically in recent weeks.

"We have to [use it as momentum]," he said. "Last time we played in the Champions League, it was a long trip. We play next on Monday, that is okay. We have to make ourselves ready. If we play like we did tonight it will not be easy for Wolves. It is a massive difference."

He added: "We had to switch off that Premier League stuff, to get here and to give it a proper try. The boys really enjoyed themselves tonight, which is important. We were doing the hardest and the dirtiest work because it was a big defending challenge.”

Further reading

Mauricio Pochettino inspired his Paris Saint-Germain players with a hot-headed talk at half-time on Wednesday, according to Marquinhos, helping ensure they wouldn't allow an embarrassing Champions League turnaround against Barcelona as they did in 2017.

Centre-back Marquinhos said the manager's speech "made the difference" in preventing a second-half collapse after the team was fortunate to finish the opening 45 minutes still ahead by three goals on aggregate - a 5-2 margin they maintained through to full-time.

Pochettino, in his first season in charge of PSG, now has his side moving into the quarter-finals of the Champions League having previously taken Tottenham to the competition's final in 2018-19.

What did Marquinhos say?

“We're not going to give away all the secrets [of the talk]," Marquinhos said to RMC Sport.

"It was hot, it reflected the difficult moments we had, we lacked a lot in the defensive phase, they took advantage with their full-backs. He asked for more engagement, with little videos. This is what made the difference."

How did Pochettino describe the performance?

“We suffered a lot in the first half," Pochettino told RMC Sport. "We struggled with the first pass. Psychologically it was a test because we talked a lot about the past. In the second half we showed a different face.

"What is clear is that we thought too much in the first half. We were thinking too much about qualifying, that's what I told the players.

"I asked them to play. Of course I was not happy, I told the players that, but sometimes it happens and we were more combative in the second half. The important thing is that we are through. We must put negative thoughts away from us."

Further reading

Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman is hoping that Barcelona's "improving" young side will convince Lionel Messi to stay past this season. 

The Blaugrana were bounced from the Champions League at the last-16 stage, drawing 1-1 against PSG on Wednesday to seal a 5-2 aggregate defeat. 

Messi, whose contract with Barca expires at the end of the season, may have made his last European appearance for the only professional club he's ever known. 

What was said?

Speaking at a press conference after the game, Koeman said: "Leo's seen for a while that the team is improving with the changes we've made.

"[There are] many youngsters with quality and a big future coming in, so it's not a question of having doubts about this team."

Barca's next generation

Though Messi remains the team's focal point, Barcelona have seen an exciting crop of youngsters emerge over the past year to give the club hope for the future. 

Ronald Araujo, Sergino Dest, Riqui Puig, Pedri, Francisco Trincao, Oscar Mingueza, Ilaix Moriba and Ansu Fati have all made their mark, with each of those players 22 or younger.

Can Barca convince Messi to stay?

Messi has made no secret of his displeasure with Barcelona over the past year, memorably demanding to leave the club last summer before retracting his request. 

Joan Laporta, Barca's president from 2003 to 2010, was re-elected president on Sunday after Josep Bartomeu had previously been forced out.

Messi's relationship with Bartomeu had fallen apart, and Laporta has made it clear that his first priority as president is to keep the club's six-time Ballon d'Or winner around. 

Barca have shown improvement on the pitch of late and Messi was seen voting in the club's presidential elections, which was viewed as a sign of his renewed engagement at Camp Nou.

With new leadership and a talented younger generation emerging, there has been renewed optimism that Messi could sign a new deal with the club.

Further reading

Many football enthusiasts in Nigeria believe the outcome of Barcelona's Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg clash with Paris Saint-Germain might have changed if Lionel Messi had scored his first-half penalty.

Both teams settled for a 1-1 draw in Paris on Wednesday which secured passage for the French club to advance following a 4-1 victory in the first-leg.

Shortly after he cancelled Mbappe's opener with a lovely strike from outside the box in the 37th minute, Messi stepped forward to take Barca's penalty on the stroke of half-time but his effort was denied by Keylor Navas' save.

The missed chance got fans disappointed as Ronald Koeman’s men crashed out of the knockout stage with a 5-2 aggregate loss.

Ousmane Dembele was particularly singled out for his poor finishing as Barcelona failed to advance into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

For the first time since 2004-05, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo will see their teams involved in the Champions League quarter-finals. 

Messi and Barcelona were eliminated at the last-16 stage by PSG, who drew 1-1 against the Spanish side on Wednesday to seal a 5-2 aggregate triumph.

The day before Porto stunned Juventus and Ronaldo, advancing after a thrilling extra-time battle in the second leg in Turin.

What happened in 2004-05?

The last time both superstars missed the last eight of the competition, Messi and Barcelona were eliminated by Chelsea in the last 16. 

Ronaldo, meanwhile, was with Manchester United at the time, with the Red Devils also going out in the round of 16 against AC Milan.

Overall, Ronaldo has won the Champions League five times, while Messi has won the competition on four occasions – most recently in 2014-15. 

Barcelona end 13-year quarters streak

In addition to both players ending a long streak of reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League, Barcelona also saw a long stretch of reaching the last eight come to an end on Wednesday.

With their elimination at the hands of PSG, Barcelona failed to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2006-07, when they were eliminated by Liverpool in the last 16.

The Blaugrana were on a run of 13 consecutive quarter-final appearances, the longest such streak in the competition’s history. 

End of an era?

With Messi at age 33 and Ronaldo now 36, there has been plenty of speculation that the era of both players dominating the European scene has ended. 

This season's Champions League has seen two players, in particular, emerge as potential successors to the dominating duo. 

Kylian Mbappe, whose PSG side defeated Barca, scored four goals over the two-leg tie, breaking Messi's record as the youngest player to reach 25 Champions League goals in the process.

Erling Haaland also scored four goals in Dortmund's last-16 tie against Sevilla, with the 20-year-old phenom becoming the youngest player to reach 20 Champions League goals.

Further reading

Keylor Navas dedicated his penalty kick save against Lionel Messi to Sergio Rico, who has been away from the Paris Saint-Germain squad due to "personal reasons".

Navas was able to get a foot to Messi's shot just before half-time, leading the way in a 1-1 draw that sealed a 5-2 aggregate win for last season's runners-up.

After a fine performance where he made nine saves, Navas took the opportunity to offer well wishes to his team-mate and fellow goalkeeper Rico as he battles through tough times.

What did Navas say?

“It's always difficult, especially against Messi who shoots very well," Navas told RMC Sport. "It gives a lot of joy to everyone. This penalty is for Sergio Rico who is going through difficult times with his family, it is for him."

Into the next round

With Wednesday's victory, PSG sealed their spot in the quarter-finals, joining Borussia Dortmund, Porto and Liverpool as clubs that have already qualified.

From 2016-17 to 2018-19, PSG were eliminated at the round of 16 three consecutive times, but have now reached the quarters in consecutive Champions League campaigns.

“I'm very happy because it was a tough, tough game," Navas said. "We all wanted to play a big game and take advantage of the first leg to qualify.

“It was a very great match for Barca, they pushed to the maximum. We are very motivated to continue in this competition with this state of mind.

"We must be united for this competition. The group has clear objectives in mind. This is what helps us to progress to go far in this competition."

Before the quarter-finals though, PSG find themselves in the midst of a tight battle in Ligue 1, as they sit two points behind league-leaders Lille heading into Sunday's match against Nantes.

Further reading

Mikel Arteta believes his Arsenal project will really get going once normality returns to football after the pandemic.

The Gunners have endured a disappointing season so far during Arteta’s first full campaign in charge and head into Thursday night’s crucial Europa League tie with Olympiacos knowing that winning that competition is their best route back into Europe next season.

Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Burnley leaves Arsenal 10th in the Premier League with 11 games remaining, 12 points adrift of the top four and eight points adrift of the top six, and with their FA Cup defence having ended at the fourth round stage, many are questioning whether there has been any real progress at Emirates Stadium under the Spaniard.

What has been said?

Arteta remains adamant that there has improvement and says the difficulties his team have faced throughout the pandemic, both on and off the pitch, will actually work to Arsenal’s advantage in the long-term once football returns to normality.

When asked what the past year has been like following his positive coronavirus test which resulted in football being shut down in March 2020, Arteta said: “I could never imagined when I got tested and had the symptoms, all of the consequences that this virus was going to have on all of us.

“Having my first job, to do that and after being in the job for only three months in normal conditions, to start to have a completely different context and framework to work in has been really challenging but, at the same time, it has made us, as a club, much stronger.

“We have created a really strong group, a really strong bond with our players, with our fans, with our staff and that is going to pay some big tribute in the future I think when everything comes back to normality and we are able to work the way we needed to work with some stability.

“I think this project is going to go ‘bang’ and this is where we are. Sometimes it is difficult to see the moment now, but I’m sure where we are going."

What else did Arteta say?

When pressed on whether winning the Europa League this season was the only way he could convince others that his Arsenal project was on track, the Gunners boss added: “You need to win to convince anybody that you are doing a good job and taking the club in the right direction.

“If you are not inside every day and you know exactly what is happening at the club, the only way to convince anybody is to win.

“It doesn’t matter how well you play, or if you deserve to win every single match. If you don’t win, I am not going to convince you or any fan or supporter that we are doing a great job. It’s only about winning and that’s the only way to convince people.”

Further reading

Liverpool have announced Mohamed Salah as the winner of the club’s Goal of the Month award for February.

The fleet-footed forward scored a fine first-time strike against Leicester City after receiving a timely assist from Roberto Firmino.

The effort has been adjudged the best strike in the month under review, beating Curtis Jones' goal against Sheffield United.

Salah has now won the award for the sixth consecutive time after also scooping the individual accolade in September, October, November, December and January.

The forward has been the standout performer for the Reds this season, having scored 21 goals and provided four assists in 37 appearances.

Liverpool have struggled recently, winning only twice in their last eight games across all competitions which have seen them dropped to the eighth spot on the Premier League table.

Salah has been delivering spectacular performances since teaming up with the Anfield outfit in the summer of 2017 from AS Roma.

The forward has made a significant impact, helping Jurgen Klopp’s men to win the Champions League and the Premier League titles.

The winger has scored more than 140 goals across all competitions and won a number of individual accolades for his effort.

The Egypt international clinched the PFA Players' Player of the Year, African Footballer of the Year and Premier League Golden Boot among others.

Salah will be expected to continue his impressive performances and help Liverpool end their losing run when they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in their next league game on March 15.

The 28-year-old remains a key member of the Egypt national team and will be expected to feature prominently for the side in their 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later in the month.

Salah has made 68 appearances for the Pharaohs since making his debut against Sierra Leone in 2011.

Southampton gave Manchester City their hardest period of the season at Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola insisted following their 5-2 victory on Wednesday night.

City moved 14 points clear at the top of the table as they got back to winning ways after their 21-game winning streak was ended by defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.

The Saints gave City huge problems until Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez scored twice and Ilkay Gundogan added another to make the scoreline more flattering.

Why were Southampton so good?

Guardiola was annoyed in his pre-match news conference about the possibility of Southampton suffering a third 9-0 defeat in two years, and he was justified as the Saints started well on Wednesday evening.

Southampton dominated possession and controlled the opening 25 minutes of their clash before De Bruyne’s opening goal came against the run of play.

The visitors had three-quarters of possession in the opening exchanges as they passed the ball around Etihad Stadium with confidence despite winning just once in their last 11 Premier League matches.

What’s been said?

"The first 20 to 25 minutes, they were the best team we’ve faced here," Guardiola said after the game. "Only respect and admiration for Ralph [Hasenhuttl’s] team.

"We suffered a lot to control them. We could not do good build-up because we could not contact with the holding midfielders. They were brilliant and today was won why the quality of the players we have.

"A tough game but one more victory. One game more we are 14 clear, nine games to play so Fulham - next one." 

What's next for City?

City need six victories from their remaining nine matches to be certain of a third Premier League title in four years.

They travel to relegation-threatened Fulham on Saturday, which is their last Premier League game before the international break.

Focus then switches to the cup competitions with the Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Borussia Monchengladbach followed by the FA Cup quarter-final against Everton.

Further reading

Everton loanee Yannick Bolasie has revealed the racist abuse he received via an Instagram message on Wednesday.

Bolasie, who is currently on loan at Middlesbrough, did not hesitate to condemn the message.

The DR Congo international is the latest football star to suffer online racism.

“Something seriously wrong with people...Keyboard warriors. Still yet to meet a person who had this energy when they saw me,” Bolasie captioned a screenshot of the message on Twitter.

Last month, Crystal Palace’s Ivorian star Wilfried Zaha pointed out that kneeling before games is not bringing the desired result.

“I've said before that I feel like taking the knee is degrading and stuff because growing up my parents just let me know that I should be proud to be black no matter what and I feel like we should just stand tall,” Zaha said.

"Because I feel like taking the knee now, it's becoming... we do it before games and even sometimes people forget that we have to do it before games.

"Trying to get the meaning behind it, it's becoming something that we just do now and that's not enough for me. I'm not going to take the knee, I'm not going to wear Black Lives Matter on the back of my shirt because it feels like it's a target.”

Back in January, Bolasie moved to the Championship in his quest for regular playing time after finding it difficult to secure a spot in Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

He has played in four league matches so far for Neil Warnock's side but he is yet to break his goal duck.

Middlesbrough are currently ninth in the league table with 50 points from 35 matches – seven points adrift of the promotion play-off spots.

Bolasie will be expected to play a part when Boro host John Obi Mikel's Stoke City at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola said it was "incredible" that Manchester City were not awarded a penalty for a potential foul on Phil Foden in Wednesday's win over Southampton.

City continued their dominance in the Premier League on Wednesday, taking down Southampton 5-2 with two goals from Kevin De Bruyne, two from Riyad Mahrez and one more from Ilkay Gundogan.

However, Manchester City could have had one more but were not awarded a penalty after a controversial sequence involving Foden.

What happened?

In the 31st minute, Foden broke through the Southampton defence and was one-on-one with goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

Foden poked the ball around the Southampton goalkeeper, who slid out and made contact with the England star.

The Manchester City midfielder stumbled, but did not go down completely as he continued to play on.

After the play, the referee opted not to award a penalty, while a VAR check ruled that there was no foul.

"I'm an honest guy and I never like to dive," Foden told Sky Sports after the game. "100 per cent I thought it was a penalty."

What did Guardiola have to say?

"We won because of the quality of the players we had on the pitch," Guardiola told BBC Sport.

"It is just incredible that penalty was not given. One day they are going to explain why. I do not understand it. It's incredible that in four and a half years we have won everything ourselves. No one has given us anything."

Up next for Manchester City

Guardiola's men face a short turnaround as they are back in action on Saturday against Fulham.

After that, they'll move on to Champions League play as they take on Borussia Monchengladbach in their last-16 second-leg clash.

City earned a 2-0 victory in the first leg and will look to close out the Bundesliga side as they aim to keep their quadruple hopes alive.

Further reading

Orlando Pirates began their Group A Caf Confederation Cup campaign with a 0-0 stalemate against Algerian outfit ES Setif in a match played at the neutral venue of the Stade Accra Sports Stadium in Ghana.

Bucs made a bit of a ponderous start and were indebted to a fantastic goal-line clearance from Siphesihle Ndlovu after goalkeeper Richard Ofori had been caught out of position in the sixth minute.

Ofori, back in his home country, was to suffer a big disappointment when he was replaced by Siyabonga Mpontshane in the 14th minute, having hurt his groin while taking a goal kick.

The Algerian side, Champions League winners in 2014, subsequently looked to put Mpontshane under pressure with some aerial balls into the box, but the Sea Robbers custodian showed good composure.

Pirates began to create a few openings of their own around the half hour mark although they never really threatened opposition keeper Sofiane Khedairia as Thabang Monare sent in a tame header before Happy Jele headed over from a Deon Hotto free-kick.

Bucs remained positive after the interval and more openings followed. But the score-board stayed the same as Fortune Makaringe sent an effort wide before Vincent Pule fired over the bar from long range and Thulani Hlatshwayo misdirected a header.

With the Algerian side also looking to up the ante, Pirates needed a brave block by captain Happy Jele to keep their goal intact on the hour mark, while Makaringe did well to deny Mohammed Amoure a chance.

Down the left flank, Paseka Mako was giving the Setif defence plenty to think about with his his marauding runs and he had a shot blocked before returning the favour by blocking an effort in his own box soon after.

The physical nature of the contest meanwhile took its toll when Jele was stretchered off injured in the 84th minute and replaced by Innocent Maela.

The Soweto side had a late chance to snatch all three points when Monare’s 93rd minute free kick picked out Pule, but again the header lacked precision.