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A potential contract extension for Cristiano Ronaldo is "not on the agenda" for Juventus right now, says the club's sporting director Fabio Paratici.

Ronaldo completed a £100 million ($139m) move to Juve from Real Madrid in the summer of 2018, signing a bumper four-year deal.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has fired the Italian giants to back-to-back Serie A titles since then, but has yet to be offered fresh terms, and Paratici admits that the club are not in a rush to open talks over a renewal.

What's been said?

Asked to address speculation over Ronaldo's future following the Bianconeri's Champions League exit on Tuesday, Paratici told Sky Italia: "Fortunately, there's a year left on his contract; we have time eventually to discuss it with him.

"Let's just say it's not on the agenda right now."

Paratici added: "Cristiano has his career in his hands. Always with these great players you know that when they decide to end their experience with one team and move on to another experience, it's they who decide, and you have to respect that decision.

"We have to consider how he will feel in order to continue or not once his contract expires."

Could Ronaldo leave Turin this summer?

Juve initially decided to bring Ronaldo to the Allianz Stadium in a bid to increase their chances of winning their first Champions League crown since 1995-96.

However, the Serie A champions were knocked out by Ajax in the quarter-finals in the Portuguese forward's first season and suffered a surprise last-16 exit at the hands of Lyon last term.

Porto upset Andrea Pirlo's side at the same stage this time around, with Ronaldo failing to score in either leg as the Primeira Liga outfit progressed on away goals after the aggregate scoreline finished 4-4.

Ronaldo's wages take up a huge chunk of Juve's annual outgoings and, after posting losses of €113.7m (£98m/$135m) in the first six months of the 2020-21 campaign, they may be forced to listen to offers for a prized asset amid the continued loss of matchday revenue caused by the coronavirus crisis.

Ronaldo's overall record at Juve

Although Ronaldo has been unable to inspire Juve to European glory since his arrival in Turin, he has still managed to score 14 goals in 23 Champions League games, increasing his all-time record tally in the competition to 134.

The Portugal international has also hit 84 goals in 98 domestic outings, including 78 in Serie A - winning four major trophies in total while also recording 22 assists.

Further reading

Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of a football director and technical director that will change how the club negotiate transfers.

The positions have been widely discussed and rumoured for a while, with a list of big names in the game being linked with the positions, although the club have confirmed they have promoted from within.

John Murtough, who has been with United for seven years and is currently head of football development, will be the new football director while Darren Fletcher, who joined Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s staff earlier this season, will be technical director.

What's been said?

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said: "These are hugely important appointments that reinforce the progress we have been making as a club in recent years in our relentless pursuit of success.

"We have already made great strides forward in the way we run our football operations, and the benefits are visible in the resurgent pipeline of academy talent reaching the first team and through our improved recruitment record.

"John has been integral to our progress in these areas and his deep understanding of development ensures the club’s traditions of bringing young players through from academy to first team will continue. This new position is a natural evolution that harnesses his leadership qualities and his years of experience in the game.

"Darren’s stellar achievements as a player and his own journey from academy to Premier League and Champions League winner means he naturally commands respect and understands this vital part of the club’s DNA.

"In this new role, the first in our history, he will deliver technical advice across all aspects of the football department as well as contributing to the communication and delivery of our football philosophy across all areas of the club.

"I am delighted that John and Darren have accepted these roles and I look forward to the contribution they will make, together with Ole and the rest of the staff, as we build toward future success."

Murtough added: "This is such an exciting time for everyone at Manchester United with the first team, academy and women’s team all performing strongly, and plenty of development still to come.

"It’s a privilege to be part of that process, and an honour to lead Manchester United’s football department, working alongside Ole, Casey [Stoney, women's team head coach] and so many other truly outstanding staff all dedicated to delivering success to this club."

Fletcher said of his appointment: "It is great to be back with the club and I am delighted to be taking on this new role. We are moving in the right direction and I am looking forward to continuing to work with Ole and his coaching team, and now with John as the football director, to help bring young players through and further develop the football side of the club.

"It’s fantastic to see that all the staff here are driving Manchester United forward towards a new era of success."

What do the new roles entail?

When United negotiate transfers in their current way of working Matt Judge takes charge of the majority of the discussions and, while executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is involved to an extent, he doesn't have an active role in the talks.

Judge has been given a new title as director of football negotiations but his role within the club remains the same. Murtough and Fletcher, meanwhile, will be present at the training ground and will work with Solskjaer on a day-to-day basis on recruitment and other strategies.

Former United midfielder Fletcher will support Murtough on the technical side using his previous playing experience and knowledge, with a view to aiding the recruitment process.

Who is John Murtough?

Murtough was brought to the club by David Moyes and has been at Old Trafford for seven years, mainly working at academy level.

His current title is head of football development and he has 23 years of experience in senior football having been head of elite performance at the Premier League before his move to United. He has also held senior academy and player development roles at other clubs.

He was the force behind setting up the women’s team and has been central to the overhaul in recruitment at academy level in recent years, which has seen the club bring in the best young talent from abroad.

Further reading

Portugal international Bruma says he knew from the moment he first saw Emile Smith Rowe that the Arsenal youngster was heading for the top.

The two players were team-mates at RB Leipzig during the second half of the 2018-19 season, with Smith Rowe having moved to the Bundesliga outfit on loan during the January transfer window.

And for Bruma, who is now starring for Olympiacos and could come up against Smith Rowe when Arsenal visit the Greek champions on Thursday night , it is no surprise to see the Gunners starlet making an impact at first-team level in north London.

What's been said?

Speaking exclusively to Goal ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League last-16 first-leg clash between Olympiacos and Arsenal in Athens , Bruma was full of praise for his former Leipzig team-mate.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all,” he said, when asked whether he was surprised at Smith Rowe’s sudden rise to prominence under Mikel Arteta since Christmas.

“At training and in matches we could see a lot of his skills and technique. 

“Emile’s a great player. He can turn the match in one move and unbalance everything with his skills.

“He still has a lot to grow and to get better, but he’s at a great team and I wish him all the best. I want him to reach his full potential.”

What else did Bruma say about Smith Rowe?

Bruma hasn’t spoken to Smith Rowe since the youngster left Germany in 2019.

But the 26-year-old winger, who revealed that former Arsenal defender Sokratis has been dishing out secrets about the Gunners ahead of Thursday night’s game , is looking forward to catching up with his former Leipzig team-mate.

“We were actually good friends at Leipzig when he was there, so it’s going to be great to see him again on Thursday,” said the Portugal international.

“I could already see a bit of that when we were together at Leipzig, although of course not as much as we can all see now.

“He’s at a great club to grow and develop as a player.”

Will Smith Rowe be fit to face Olympiacos?

The Arsenal midfielder missed last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Burnley due to a hip problem suffered during the 3-1 win at Leicester City last month .

Mikel Arteta has played down fears around a long-term absence, however, saying that scans have shown that the injury is not significant.

Arsenal are hopeful the playmaker could be involved on Thursday night, but they will make a decision after their final training session before flying to Greece on Wednesday afternoon.

Further reading

Former Orlando Pirates captain Siyabonga Sangweni says it is “a bit difficult” to compare the 2015 Buccaneers squad to the current team which he believes has what it takes to win this season’s Caf Confederation Cup.

Led by German tactician Josef Zinnbauer, Pirates kick off their Confederation Cup Group A campaign against Algerian side ES Setif in neutral Ghana on Wednesday.

After they finished as runners-up in the 2015 edition of this competition when they lost 2-1 on aggregate to Tunisian outfit Etoile du Sahel, the Buccaneers are bidding to finally get it right this term.

Sangweni was part of the squad that lost to Etoile under Eric Tinkler and is of the opinion that the current team is better placed to clinch the continental title if they continue with their current form.

“The way I see it and the way they have prepared, I think they can go all the way and win the title,” Sangweni told Sowetan Live.

“To compare this team and the one we had is a bit difficult. The style of play is different. They play differently from what we did in the past. Even though it will be difficult to go all the way and win it, but if they continue the way they have been playing and getting results, I think they can go all the way.

“I have been impressed with their performance in both the domestic competitions and Caf.

"They know what they want to achieve, and if they continue showing the same, they will achieve their dream. They have been playing well, and their opponents will be worried about them. I think they have a chance of going all the way to win this competition.”

Since lifting the 1995 Caf Champions League trophy, continental silverware has been eluding the Soweto giants.

Pirates arrived in Ghana on the backdrop of an eight-match unbeaten run across all competitions, which included seven victories and a draw.

Their good run has also seen them claiming second spot on the Premier Soccer League standings as they bid to play Caf Champions League football next season.

Swansea City manager Steve Cooper avoided appraising Andre Ayew's recent penalty exploits after a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on Tuesday, saying he did not want to jinx the good run.

The Ghana captain converted from the spot to draw the Jack Army level in the matchday 25 fixture away at Ewood Park.

It was his fourth penalty success in four games.

"Before the Stoke game [last week], I think we'd only had two penalties and now we're up to five," Cooper said after Tuesday's game, according to Sportsmole.

"I haven't seen it back, but I'm just pleased we're getting into those positions."

When asked about Ayew's conversion rate, Cooper responded: "I don't want to say anything [about Ayew's penalties], I don't want to give it the kiss of death. We'll talk about it at the end of the season."

Swansea's top scorer so far this season, Ayew has registered 14 Championship goals in all.

Amid his undisputed influence in the third-placed club's chase for Premier League promotion lies a worry for Cooper as the international break beckons.

Captain of Ghana, Ayew is likely to be called up for national duty for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games, against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe on March 25 and 28, respectively.

By coronavirus safety protocols in the UK, the 31-year-old will have to be quarantined on his return from national duty, a measure that could see him miss up to four club games.

“There's been some stuff written about some Premier League players. I’m not too sure exactly how that's going to look,” Cooper addressed the situation ahead of Thursday's game during a press conference, Walesonline reported.

“We haven’t even had a call-up for Andre yet to say that he’s going. I imagine we would with him being the captain of Ghana.

“But what the stance is going to be on that throughout football, I’m not too sure. But I know there are some decisions to be made going forward. We’ve got four games to play first before that, but I know that's coming.

“There have been games moved in the Champions League I would imagine for Covid restrictions.

"I haven’t given it much thought but I don’t think this situation is not just going to be about Andre and Swansea, I think there's going to be a whole host of players that represent countries outside of Europe and with the travel restrictions that are going to be in a similar boat, so I imagine football will take a bit of a lead on it and we can make a decision from there."

Ayew, who has scored four times for Ghana in his last two games, next heads into action when Swansea take on Luton Town on Saturday. 

Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach's second-leg match in the Champions League last 16 will be held in Budapest due to coronavirus restrictions, UEFA has confirmed.

The first leg was also held in the Hungarian capital, with City defeating the Bundesliga outfit 2-0 at the Puskas Arena on February 24.

Pep Guardiola's men served as the away side in the first leg and will now be the home side as they face Gladbach in the second leg next Tuesday at the same venue.

What has been said?

UEFA said in a statement on Wednesday morning: "UEFA is able to officially confirm that the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Manchester City FC and Borussia VfL 1900 Monchengladbach will now be played at the Puskas Aréna in Budapest. 

"The date of the match (16 March 2021) and the kick-off time (21:00CET) will remain the same.

"UEFA would like to thank Manchester City FC and Borussia VfL 1900 Monchengladbach for their support and close cooperation, as well as the Hungarian Football Federation for their assistance and agreeing to stage the match."

Why are the games being held in Hungary?

Instead of holding the games in Germany and England, the two sides will play both matches in Budapest due to coronavirus restrictions on travel.

The German government denied City entry into the country for the first leg amid concerns over new strains of coronavirus, which are prevalent in the UK.

Should Gladbach have travelled to England for the second leg, the German government informed the team last month that they would need to quarantine upon their return.

What other games have been held in Budapest?

Aside from the Man City-Gladbach tie, both of Liverpool's clashes with RB Leipzig were relocated to the Puskas Arena – as was Tottenham's Europa League last-32 first leg against Austrian side Wolfsberger.

The stadium is also set to host the Europa League last-16 second leg between Molde and Granada on March 18.

Further reading

Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland has revealed why he shouted in Bono's face after scoring a penalty that left a number of Sevilla players enraged.

Haaland scored both of Dortmund's goals in a 2-2 draw with Sevilla on Tuesday night, taking his overall tally in the Champions League to 20 in 14 games.

However, there was more than a touch of controversy over his second goal, which came via a penalty retake, as the Norwegian celebrated by taunting opposition goalkeeper Bono.

What's been said?

“He was too far [off his line],” the Dortmund star told reporters. “If he stood on his line, I would have scored that one - and that’s what happened on the second one.

“I missed and then he cheated. Then I took it again and scored when he didn’t cheat.

“When he was screaming in my face after the first one, I was thinking 'it will be even better to score another goal’ - and that’s what happened, so it was nice.”

Pressed on exactly what he said to Bono, Haaland responded: “I don’t want to say. I don’t know what it means but I said what he said after I missed the first one.

"Maybe it’s karma in this world.”

The penalty incident & Dortmund's progression to CL quarter-finals 

Haaland put Dortmund 1-0 up the second leg of their last-16 tie against Sevilla with a simple tap-in on the half-hour mark, and thought he had doubled their lead when he found the net again from a tight angle early in the second half.

However, the referee brought play back and awarded a penalty to BVB for a foul on Haaland in the build-up to the goal, with the 20-year-old subsequently stepping up from 12 yards.

Haaland fired his penalty towards the bottom right of the net only to see Bono palm the ball out, but the Moroccan was adjudged to have jumped off his line early after a VAR review.

A retake was then ordered which allowed Haaland a second bite of the cherry, and this time his effort found its way past Bono into the same corner he had previously been aiming for.

Sevilla fought their way back into the game thanks to a Youssef En-Nesyri brace, but Dortmund held on to qualify for the last eight of the competition 5-4 on aggregate.

Haaland's overall record for Dortmund this season

Haaland's latest double saw him increase his haul in the Champions League to 10 goals in six games - four ahead of his nearest challengers in the race to be the competition's leading scorer.

The Norway international has also scored 21 goals in 23 domestic matches in 2020-21, including 19 in the Bundesliga, while setting up another eight for his team-mates.

Further reading

Hege Riise will be the head coach of Great Britain's women's football team at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo later this year.

Riise, who won Olympic gold with Norway as a player back in 2000, has been in interim charge of the England women's national team since January, following Phil Neville's departure to Inter Miami.

The 51-year-old oversaw the Lionesses' 6-0 win over Northern Ireland in February, their first international fixture for almost 12 months, and her success during that camp has helped secure her place as the head coach of Team GB.

Rhian Wilkinson, the former Canada international who won two Olympic bronze medals with her country, will also go to the Games, as Riise's assistant.

What has been said?

Upon the announcement, Riise said: “I know first-hand as a former player just how huge the Olympics are as a tournament and I am enormously proud to have this opportunity to lead the GB squad into the Games.

"We will go there to give everything we have to be successful and I hope we can also use the power of the Games to help women’s football continue to grow in popularity."

Baroness Sue Campbell, the Football Association's director of women’s football, added: “We could not have been more impressed with the impact that Hege and Rhian have had in such a short space of time with England Women, particularly during our recent international camp at St George’s Park. I am in no doubt that their Olympic experience and management expertise will provide the squad with the best possible opportunity to succeed at the Tokyo Games."

When will the Team GB squad be announced?

Speaking in early February, Campbell confirmed that there was a long list of around 50 players in contention for the Team GB squad. Players from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can be selected.

That list, Campbell said, will become "shorter" in March, dropping to around 30 names. The final list of 18 players who will go to Tokyo will be decided in "probably April or May time".

With the squad much smaller than the 23 players that usually go to a Women's World Cup or European Championship, versatility has been stressed as a particularly important trait, as well as regular game time, with matches to come thick and fast in Japan.

Who will Team GB play?

The Covid-19 pandemic not only means the Olympic Games had to be pushed back one year, but it also means that the full line-up for the women's football tournament is yet to be confirmed.

Along with hosts Japan, nine national teams have secured their place at the Games, but there are still two play-offs to be played and therefore the draw for the group stage has not yet taken place.

South Korea and China will face each other in a two-legged play-off in April to decide who will be the third and final representative from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), joining Japan and Australia. In the same window, an inter-continental play-off will take place between Cameroon and Chile to decide the 12th and final participant.

The United States, Brazil, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Sweden, Canada and Zambia are the other qualified nations.

Who are the favourites to win Olympic gold?

Since the inaugural women's football tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics, the U.S. women's national team have won gold four times. They finished runners-up in 2000 and have only failed to medal on one occasion, that being at the previous games in 2016. After winning the World Cup again in 2019, they are the outstanding favourites this summer.

Germany did not qualify and therefore cannot defend their Olympic gold from five years ago. The silver medallists in Rio, Sweden, and the bronze medallists, Canada, both return. Brazil have previously won silver medals on two occasions and hosts Japan also placed second in 2012.

Team GB should have one of the strongest squads at the Games, the majority likely to be made up of players from England, who reached the semi-finals at the World Cup two years ago. But with players from four nations potentially coming together for the first time, and the disruption there has been around the managerial situation, their fortunes are unpredictable.

Further reading

Youssef En-Nesyri claimed Sevilla "lacked a bit of luck" when they crashed out of the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

Having suffered a 3-2 home defeat to the Bundesliga side in the first leg Round of 16 tie, the Spanish top-flight side needed an away win in the reverse fixture to stand a chance of progressing to the last eight.

Nevertheless, they played out 2-2 draw at Signal Iduna Park and ultimately kissed the competition goodbye after a 5-4 aggregate defeat.

In the keenly contested affair, the hosts raced into a 1-0 lead at half-time thanks to a 37th-minute effort from Erling Haaland. The Norway international doubled the advantage for Edin Terzic’s men on the night in the 54th minute.

Despite a late rally from the visitors that saw En-Nesyri bagging a brace – which helped him set a new record as the highest-scoring Moroccan in a single Champions League season – Sevilla crashed out of the tournament.

"We came very close to tying the playoff. We had no luck, we lowered our concentration in a few seconds and they scored that goal,” the Morocco international told the club website.

“In the second half they scored the second, but I am very happy with the work and effort of the team. You have to stay on the same line, face the next few games.

"I am very happy [with my performance], although we have lacked a few minutes. We have to go ahead and look for points in the next few games.

"We have demonstrated what we have and what we have done. We lacked a bit of luck to score goals, but football is like that."

Following Los Nervionenses’ exit from the Champions League, they will now focus their attention on the Spanish elite division, where they welcome sixth-placed Real Betis to the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Sunday night.

Having accrued 48 points from 25 matches in the ongoing season, Lopetegui’s men occupy the fourth spot on the log - 11 points behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

Thomas Partey believes Arsenal have only seen him at 100 per cent on two occasions since he arrived in England.

The Ghana international joined on the final day of the summer transfer window in a £45 million ($58m) deal from Atletico Madrid.

But Partey has suffered a string of injuries since he arrived which have limited him to just 16 appearances so far in all competitions and only 11 starts, and the 27-year-old admits that he has only felt at his very best twice since making the move from Spain six months ago.

What has been said?

When asked, ahead of Thursday's Europa League last-16 first-leg tie against Olympiacos, whether Arsenal have seen him at 100 per cent yet, the Gunners midfielder said: “Yes, I had a few games.

“I think against [Manchester] United at their home and against Wolves [away] also I was able to show what I can do.

“Due to less games and less training I think I have to keep working, keep trying to get back to that level again.”

Why has Partey struggled with injuries?

The Arsenal midfielder believes his absences this season have been down to adjusting to the demands of the Premier League and admits it has not been easy at times since moving from Madrid.

“It was a difficult moment to get used to how the team play,” he said.

“It’s part of the game. You never know when you are going to be injured. I do all of my work and I try to make sure I’m not before any game.

“I think the injuries are part of the adaptation. Now I feel good, I’m doing all the necessary work to be more fit and play more games.

“I still have more time, I’m doing my best to get my level of competition and I think everything will be fine and I will be able to show what I can do.”

The importance of the Europa League

Since returning from his last injury absence, Partey has featured in each of Arsenal's last three games and started for the first time against Burnley at the weekend.

He looks certain to start again against Olympiacos on Thursday night and says that winning the Europa League is vital so that Arsenal can return to the Champions League for the first time since 2017.

“We know it is a club that is supposed to be in the Champions League,” he said.

“It is a bad situation that we are in now, but it depends on us. We are the ones playing, we have this opportunity. Before we can get to where we want, we have to try and be able to win all the games.

“It [the Champions League] is very important. It attracts a lot of good players, it shows your profile also to the world, what you can do outside of the league.

“And I think it is very important for the club, for the supporters, for all the people that are in the club - because this club belongs to the Champions League. We have to do our best, all that we can, to fight to get where we want.”

Further reading

Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic is "a tough guy to be around", according to Scott McTominay, who says his former Manchester United team-mate is a "ruthless" figure in the dressing room.

Ibrahimovic spent two years on United's books after joining the club on a free transfer in 2016, scoring 29 goals in 53 games while also getting his hands on the Europa League and Carabao Cup.

The Swede became a cult figure among supporters during that period and McTominay was left in awe by his professionalism, but has also admitted that he isn't the easiest player to get along with because of the high standards he demands from his colleagues.

What's been said?

Speaking ahead of United's round-of-16 first-leg clash against Milan in the Europa League, which Ibrahimovic will sit out due to injury, the Scottish midfielder told UEFA.com : “[He was] ruthless. I’m not going to say too much more than that.

“Good professional, worked hard, big, big presence in the dressing room in terms of his voice and the way that he is with people.

“He’s a ruthless guy in terms of the way he wants to win 24/7, if you’re not on the same page as him, then you won’t succeed under him, he’ll make life hard for you, so you'd better work hard at winning, otherwise it’ll be a tough time for you.

“I love guys like that in football. He’s obviously had a legendary career which is a real credit to him, and obviously to his family as well, so I have nothing but big praise for him. He’s a tough guy to be around sometimes, but that’s the positive - I can be [tough to be around] as well.”

Zlatan's record for Milan this season

Losing Ibrahimovic for the meeting with United represents a huge blow for Milan, who have re-emerged as a major force on both domestic and European fronts since his return to the club in January 2020.

The Swede has played a key role in the Rossoneri's rise to second in Serie A and progression to the latter rounds of the Europa League despite having to deal with a series of fitness issues, scoring 16 goals in 21 outings across all competitions.

McTominay's role models

McTominay soaked up plenty of knowledge from his brief time working alongside Ibrahimovic, but the two players he looks up to most have reached even greater heights over the course of their respective careers.

The 24-year-old says Lionel Messi's ability to overcome perceived physical disadvantages was a great source of inspiration for him at the start of his own professional journey, and has also revealed that he looks up to Cristiano Ronaldo as the perfect example of how to ensure longevity at the highest level.

McTominay added on the Barcelona and Juventus superstars: “Obviously, when I was younger, I was really small, so [Lionel] Messi was a perfect example for me of someone who would get kicked about by bigger players.

“Messi just took to it like a duck to water. Watching him was a real inspiration, to show me that if he's one of the smallest players on the pitch but the best player on it, then why can’t I be?

“Then as you get older and a lot stronger and bigger, you look to [Cristiano] Ronaldo – his physical attributes and the way that he’s worked on his body, everything.

“His body, his mind, his talent all come together as a collective. And for young players you don’t get a much better example.”

Further reading

Former Arsenal transfer chief Sven Mislintat has admitted that he can't understand why Mikel Arteta offloaded Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira.

Arteta deemed both Guendouzi and Torreira surplus to requirements at the start of the 2020-21 campaign, with the pair subsequently securing respective loan moves to Hertha and Atletico Madrid.

Mislintat, who oversaw the duo's arrival at Emirates Stadium in 2018, has now expressed his belief that the Gunners head coach was wrong to sanction their departure.

What's been said?

Arsenal's ex-head of recruitment told The Athletic: "I respect Mikel a lot. I’d love to talk to him one day, to understand his reasons for sending Matteo as well as Lucas Torreira on loan, and tell him my view in relation to their qualities.

"But it’s his decision of course. My personal opinion remains that Matteo would still add some extra qualities to Arsenal’s midfield, like Lucas could.

"Their market values increased hugely after their debut season."

How has Guendouzi performed for Hertha?

Guendouzi became a divisive figure at Arsenal under Arteta due to his proclivity for moments of ill-discipline, with it reported that his arrogant streak caused issues with his team-mates.

The Frenchman has also courted controversy at Hertha this term, with an on-field confrontation with Matheus Cunha during a Bundesliga clash with Hoffenheim making headlines in January.

The German club's head coach Pal Dardai has publicly questioned Guendouzi's maturity levels while dropping him to the bench, but Mislintat believes that the 21-year-old is being mismanaged.

"I disagree with Pal. If you’re not playing Matteo in midfield, it must be a very strong midfield," he said.

"He’s a young central midfielder. In that position, players reach their peak at 27-28. He obviously doesn’t get everything right but he plays with a decisiveness and quality that make him an extraordinary player.

"You shouldn’t try to change his game but work on the details to improve him, if you are able to do so, you make him a 'monster' midfielder."

How is Torreira faring with Atletico?

Torreira's spell at Wanda Metropolitano has been far less eventful than Guendouzi's at the Olympiastadion so far, with the Uruguayan yet to establish himself as a regular in Diego Simeone's starting XI.

Atletico have risen to the top of La Liga while progressing to the Champions League knockout phases, but Torreira has only made 21 appearances across all competitions - most of which have come from the bench.

The bigger picture

Guendouzi's current contract at Arsenal is due to expire in the summer of 2022, while Torreira's is currently set to run for an extra year beyond that.

However, it appears unlikely that either man will return to the Emirates at the end of the season, with it reported that the Gunners will listen to permanent offers for the pair when the transfer window reopens.

Further reading

Cristiano Ronaldo and his Juventus team-mates have been eviscerated by Fabio Capello following the club's Champions League exit at the hands of Porto.

Two goals from Federico Chiesa were enough to take the match to extra time after Sergio Oliveira opened the scoring for Porto from the penalty spot before he netted the visitors' second goal via a free kick.

Both Ronaldo and Adrien Rabiot were roundly slated for turning their backs on Oliveira's shot, and former Juve coach Capello has blasted the Portuguese superstar following the team's elimination on away goals.

What was said?

“Cristiano Ronaldo can't do that in a wall,” Capello fumed on Sky Sport Italia. “Whoever is in a wall should be aware that they might get hit and not be afraid of the ball. But he turned around and this is an unforgivable mistake for which there is no excuse.”

Ronaldo wasn't the only one to be called out by Capello, with Merih Demiral having conceded the penalty that led to Porto's first goal of the night.

“Juventus made elementary mistakes in both matches,” Capello went on. “There was some carelessness in Portugal then Demiral was naive in the penalty. That was a gift. He shouldn't have tried to make the tackle, it was enough to stay tight.”

Veterans shamed

Capello was also critical of the fact that no elder statesmen appeared for post-match interviews, criticising Juve's old guard for only appearing in front of cameras when there is glory to be had.

“You see only the youngest players actually stepped in and showed their face during the tough moments,” he said. “In this team, there are some veterans who turn up when they win to take the credit, then are nowhere to be seen when they lose.”

Further reading

ES Setif are scheduled to play host to Orlando Pirates in their opening Caf Confederation Cup Group A match on Wednesday.

The match will take place at Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana, as Setif are unable to host Pirates in their home country, Algeria, due to the current Covid-19 restrictions.

Setif go into the match wounded after US Biskra ended their eight-match unbeaten run across all competitions when they defeated coach Nabil Kouki's side 1-0 in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 game on March 5.

Kouki's charges will now face off with an in-form Pirates side, after the Buccaneers claimed their third win in a row when they thrashed Chippa United 3-0 in a PSL match over the weekend.

Coach Josef Zinnbauer will be looking to ensure that the Soweto giants start their Group A campaign with a victory and also extend their unbeaten run to nine competitive games. 

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

Squads & Team News

Setif have confirmed that goalkeeper Said Daas, defenders Houari Ferhani, Youcef Laouafi and the striker Yasser Berbache will all be missing due to injury.

Kouki will be hoping that their top scorer Mohamed Amoura continues his good form as the attacking midfielder has netted six goals in the Ligue Professionnelle 1, which sees Setif placed at the top of the log.

At the back, Setif have defenders Ibrahim Bekakchi, Abdelhak Debbari and Abdelkrim Nemdil, who have played an important role in ensuring that the Black Eagles have the best defensive record (six goals conceded in 14 games) in Ligue Professionnelle 1.  

Meanwhile, Pirates striker Zakhele Lepasa and midfielder Nkanyiso Zungu are both expected to miss the match due to injury, while injured attackers Thembinkosi Lorch and Jean-Marc Makusu Mundele are also doubtful.

Zinnbauer will look to in-form Namibia international Deon Hotto, who has netted three goals in his last six competitive matches, including one against Chippa and the versatile attacker will be keen to score and inspire Bucs to a win in Accra. 

Ghana's finest goalkeeper Richard Ofori will also be eager to impress on his return to his home country, with the Pirates shot-stopper having kept two successive clean sheets in the PSL.

Match Preview

Setif are undefeated in their last eight matches as the hosts in the Confederation Cup, having recorded three draws and five victories. 

The Black Eagles were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko in their last game as the home side on February 21.

On the other hand, Pirates are undefeated in their last two away matches in the Confederation Cup, having registered two successive wins.

The Buccaneers thrashed Botswana champions Jwaneng Galaxy 3-0 in their last away game in Africa's secondary club tournament on February 14.

This will be the first-ever meeting between Setif and Pirates.

Gor Mahia legend Tobias 'Jua Kali' Ochola has challenged players to know why they are playing for the Football Kenya Federation Premier League side.

Ochola, during a visit to the club at the training session at Camp Toyoyo ahead of Wednesday's game against Posta Rangers, called on the players to respect the brand that is Gor Mahia.

"The first thing you must consider while playing for Gor Mahia is the brand of Gor Mahia," Ochola told the club's website.

"Where I am working now if you do not know, is because of Gor Mahia."

Ochola is one of the notable players that served Gor Mahia when they were a force to reckon with in Africa, the Cecafa region and of course on the domestic front.

Ochola was signed alongside another legend in Anthony Ndolo by the English coach Len Julians in 1986.

His arrival came at a time the Green Army boasted of great players like George 'Solo' Otieno, Isaiah 'Janabi' Omondi, Peter 'Bassanga' Otieno, Bobby Ogolla and Austin ‘Makamu’ Oduor, a distinguished K'Ogalo captain.

Ochola served the local heavyweights for a decade from1986 to 1996 while his stint at Harambee Stars lasted from 1987 to 1994.

When he retired, Ochola went back to school and pursued a masters degree in Business Administration at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, an institution he also worked for in the sports department.

Meanwhile, the Gor Mahia Augmenting Fund has urged the players to fight for victories in order to take home the winning bonuses.

"We are worried that you do not want to win and we do not know what to do with the money we have," a member of the Augmenting Fund Charles Owino told the club's portal.

"Losing is part of the game sometimes, sometimes it is by luck especially when you are seen to be performing well. But let us pull our socks and bring back confidence to our loyal fans.
  
"We have your money and we are not happy to keep them in the bank."

The players have been promised a total of Ksh83,000 if they defeat Stanley Okumbi's Posta Rangers on Wednesday at Kasarani.

They were given the same amount when they defeated Kakamega Homeboyz before falling to KCB, which was their fifth loss of the season.

Pep Guardiola has revealed his stance on Sergio Aguero's future at Manchester City amid a lack of regular minutes for the Argentine.

Aguero, who is widely regarded as one of the best centre-forwards in Premier League history, is now approaching the final few months of his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

City have yet to offer the 32-year-old fresh terms, and Guardiola admits that how often he plays between now and the end of the season could have a huge bearing on whether or not his services are retained beyond the summer.

What's been said?

Asked if he would like to see Aguero extend his stay in Manchester, Guardiola said: "For the human being, as a person, as what he is, even as a player, of course.

"But we have to see what happens at the end of the season. We cannot forget how long he was out. Now we start to get him better.

"I know he needs minutes to get to his best condition but we are not maybe in the moment that you can give minutes [for the sake of giving] minutes.

"So we are going to speak, I think the club will speak with his agent and know the situation, and we are going to talk at the end of the season, like with Fernandinho, for example, it's the same situation."

How has Aguero performed for City in 2020-21?

A string of niggling injuries significantly limited Aguero's playing time in the first half of the campaign before a coronavirus diagnosis delayed his return to action at the start of the year.

The Argentina international has been restricted to just 11 appearances across all competitions as a result, and only has two goals to his name - one of which came from the penalty spot.

The bigger picture

Aguero's status as a City legend has not been diminished despite his struggles for form and fitness over the past couple of years.

The experienced striker has hit 256 goals in 381 games since joining the club from Atletico Madrid in 2011, picking up four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and five League Cups along the way.

However, a summer exit may be in the best interest of both parties, if Aguero wants to play more regularly and with City reportedly preparing to bolster their attacking ranks.

Further reading

Gor Mahia coach Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto has called on his players to concentrate harder when they face Posta Rangers in an FKF Premier League match on Wednesday.

The Kenyan champions will play one of their four matches in hand when they host the Mailmen and the game comes three days after they suffered a 2-0 defeat against KCB at the same venue.

The defeat also turned out to be the fifth K’Ogalo have suffered in the 2020-21 campaign, leaving the team with a mountain to climb to retain the title.

Ahead of the match, the Portuguese tactician has termed the fixture as a must-win but warned his players they will have to concentrate to pull off the result they want.

“Today [Wednesday] we play again; the game is overdue for the championship,” Vaz Pinto told the club’s social media pages.

“It’s a game we have to concentrate on to pull a win…we will have to win the duel; we have to be more intense than the opponents. We have to work hard and be better in every chapter of the game.”

On Tuesday, Vaz Pinto received a vote of confidence from the team’s management after they said they will support him and dismissed reports they had parted ways with the coach.

Omondi Aduda, who sits in the team’s technical committee as a member, has told Goal: “We have not fired the coach, those are just rumours, what I can tell you is that on Monday we held a meeting which lasted for five hours and discussed all the technical aspects and the problems they bench is facing.

“We realised we still have 22 matches to play for before the season comes to an end, because Tusker who are topping the table have played 15 games and we have played three less, so for us we don’t see any reason for our fans to start panicking, it is not the time to start panicking.

“It is still too early to start talking about surrendering the title, you cannot give away the title in the first round, we have only played 13 matches, and to say we have lost the title is not true.

“We have resolved to support the coach, we will give him full support to help him do his work and we know soon the team will return to the top of the table, for now Vaz Pinto is going nowhere and we urge the fans to support the team.”

The two teams have met 16 times in the history of the league, K’Ogalo have won eight times, the Mailmen have won just once while six games have ended in draws.

However, the last two games have ended in 1-1 draws and Gor Mahia have scored 23 goals against Rangers and conceded 12 in the process.