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Young Africans (Yanga SC) maintained their perfect start to the season after edging out JKT Tanzania 1-0 in a Mainland Premier League match played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Saturday.

The Jangwani giants came into the match knowing a win will see them stretch their lead at the top of the 18-team league table and they did exactly that when Deus Kaseke scored the all-important goal in the 33rd minute.

Yanga coach Cedric Kaze made changes to the starting eleven after midfielder Carlos Carlinhos was ruled out of the match forcing him to start Mukoko Tonombe while goalkeeper Metacha Mnata, who was the hero after saving a late penalty against Namungo FC, was preferred to start between the sticks.

The Timu ya Mwananchi went all out for a win and in the opening five minutes, they had attacked JKT Tanzania goalkeeper with a string of shots, but the score still remained 0-0.

Kaseke, who scored the winning goal against Azam FC, then stepped up to snatch the opener in the 33rd minute after finishing off a pass from Yacouba Songne.

Yanga went into the half-time break enjoying a 1-0 lead and after the resumption, despite their efforts to add another goal, they could not do so as JKT’s defence frustrated their strikers.

The win has now seen Yanga stretch their lead at the top of the log to 31 points, while Azam are second on 25, and champions Simba SC, who are away in Nigeria to play Plateau United in a Caf Champions League match, are third on 23 points.

The win also saw Yanga maintain their unbeaten start to the season while also extending coach Kaze’s unbeaten run since joining the team after replacing fired Serbian Zlatko Krmpotic, to five matches.

Kaze admitted afterwards that his team should have won the tie by a big margin but said the most important thing was to collect maximum points.

“It was a match we deserved to win by a huge margin because we dominated proceedings from the onset but it could not be the case, but one thing I am happy about is to get all the points," the Burundian tactician told reporters.

“It is very important to win our matches and JKT tried to close us down especially when we tried to surge forward, we are happy with the 1-0 win because we have three points from it, but we will work to improve on our finishing in the next assignment.”

In other matches, Dodoma Jiji won the battle of promoted sides as they beat Ihefu FC 3-0 with a double from Seif Karihe and one goal from Agustino Samson.

Meanwhile, Mbeya City and Mtibwa Sugar settled for a 0-0 draw.

Jurgen Klopp was engaged a heated debate with a TV reporter as he first discussed the VAR decisions that went against his side before berating the packed fixture schedule and the role of broadcast companies in the decision-making process.

The injury-depleted Reds headed to the Amex Stadium aware that they were going to have to dig deep against a Premier League rival that has not had the rub of the green this season.

It appeared early on as though the Seagulls would be left cursing their luck once again, with Neal Maupay firing a poor penalty wide of the post.

Liverpool edged their way into the game after establishing a foothold and thought they had taken the lead midway through the first half when Mohamed Salah bundled the ball over Matt Ryan and into the net.

He had, however, strayed offside by the narrowest of margins, with his toe slipping beyond that line.

Diogo Jota did find the target for the Reds on the hour mark, as his rich vein of form continued, before Sadio Mane – who replaced a frustrated Salah – saw a fine headed finish ruled out.

One goal looked like being enough heading into stoppage-time, but Andy Robertson then caught Danny Welbeck when trying to clear inside the box and referee Stuart Attwell eventually pointed to the spot after a review.

Liverpool were left incensed at that decision , as two points slipped through their grasp , but Klopp was eager to avoid making any headline-grabbing comments at the final whistle.

He told BT Sport : “We are used to armpits. We have a toe today. It is how it is. I think the decisions were right.”

Pressed on whether the right call was made, with it being put to Klopp that Jordan Henderson had revealed that Welbeck told him it wasn't a penalty: “You try to create a headline.

“The ref whistled it. You try always, all the time. Today I say it wasn’t a penalty. What do you want me to say? I said it was a penalty because the ref whistled it, after watching it.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the boys for how they played today. We struggled a bit in the first half an hour with the new last line, because we didn’t drop in the right time. We sorted that but in the second half we had some problems with energy.

“In the situations around the goals, we were brilliant. Mo’s goal was a brilliant goal. Sadio’s header was outstanding. All good, it’s just tough times. That’s how it is.

“You always need a bit of luck to win a tough away game, but today we didn’t have luck. I thought the front three played really well together.”

The interview continued with reporter Des Kelly taking exception to comments made by Klopp about the Premier League fixture schedule, with the Reds boss appearing to blame the broadcasters for the hectic run of games and early kick-offs.

Kelly initially asked Klopp about James Milner's injury and whether it was a hamstring problem, to which the German replied sarcastically: “Yeah, congratulations.”

The television reporter then asked if that comment was aimed at him personally, with Klopp adding: “No, but you work for them, yeah? Hamstring. Surprise. And they had injuries as well because it's a tough time. But ask Chris Wilder how we avoid that.”

Kelly continued: “Maybe you're firing at the wrong target. We are broadcasters, we work within Premier League rules, and Premier League makes the rules, that's the Premier League clubs, so shouldn't you be talking to Premier League clubs? Shouldn't you be talking to chief executives...”

To which Klopp replied: “I don't know how often I have to say it: you pick us for 12:30 kick-offs. You picked it. Not you, personally. But you did, didn't you? Us on 12.30. Between now and December and New Year, there's one more Wednesday and Saturday 12.30 kick-off.

“Playing 12:30 after Wednesday is really dangerous for the Premier League players.”

Inter responded to their Champions League loss to Real Madrid by making the most of calamitous Sassuolo defending in a 3-0 win that lifted the Nerazzurri up to second in Serie A.

Antonio Conte's men have been troubled by inconsistency this season and are on the brink of Champions League elimination, but at top-four hopefuls Sassuolo on Saturday they produced a clinical and professional display.

Inter were 2-0 up by the 14th minute as a catalogue of defensive errors led to Alexis Sanchez – partnering Lautaro Martinez in Romelu Lukaku's place – finding the net and Vlad Chiriches' own goal doubled the advantage.

Sassuolo put the visitors under pressure for much of the second half, but Inter's uncompromising rearguard kept them in charge and Roberto Gagliardini made it 3-0 as they moved to within two points of rivals and pacesetters Milan, at least until Sunday.

Inter looked every inch a team with a point to prove early on and had the lead inside four minutes.

Martinez charged down Chiriches' clearance and raced onto Sanchez's subsequent pass, flicking the ball over the approaching Andrea Consigli before outmuscling the Romanian defender and ultimately squaring for his strike partner to tap in.

Chiriches' day got even worse soon after as he headed Arturo Vidal's fierce volley into his own net.

Sassuolo eventually forced Samir Handanovic into a couple of saves via Rogerio and Jeremy Toljan late in the half, though neither were particularly demanding.

But the home side struggled to make the most of their greater share of the possession and the game was effectively put beyond them with an hour played.

Gagliardini latched onto the bouncing ball just inside Sassuolo's penalty area and stabbed a clever volleyed finish into the bottom-left corner.

Lukaku was brought on with 10 minutes to go and quickly found the net after being fed by Arturo Vidal, though an offside call spared Sassuolo.

What does it mean? Inter finding consistency in Serie A as Conte gets it right

While their Champions League form is certainly an area of concern, having claimed just two points from four games, Inter are now unbeaten in five Serie A matches since losing to Milan on October 17.

It was not so long ago that doubts over Conte's future were being raised, but it is fair to say he got his set-up spot-on here. Inter were perfectly happy to allow the hosts to dictate possession, having just 35 per cent themselves, yet they still managed 11 shots and – crucially – scored three times.

Sassuolo were unbeaten in the league this term before Saturday. A 3-0 win in their own stadium is a fine feat for Inter.

Skriniar helps keep Sassuolo at bay

Although Inter scored three times, their defence was arguably more crucial than the attack. Milan Skriniar was the standout. The Slovakia international looked to be on the way out at the start of the season due to concerns over his suitability for Conte's system, but he showed his worth again here, making a couple of interceptions and a match-high eight clearances, while he was also tidy in possession.

An unfortunate day for Chiriches

So calamitous was Chiriches' start to the game that it was going to take something special to redeem him. He was not just at fault for the clearance before Sanchez's opener, he was also the defender knocked over by Martinez in the same passage of play, while he then put into his own goal.

He certainly tried to get back on track given he won 63 per cent of a team-high eight first-half duels, completed 90 per cent of his 40 passes and made two tackles and clearances, but injury ended his day just before the interval.

What's next?

Inter go to Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday knowing anything other than a win will see them dumped out of the Champions League, they then host Bologna in Serie A next Saturday. Sassuolo go to Roma a week on Sunday.

Frank Lampard is not under title pressure at Chelsea despite a big summer spend, says Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, with Jose Mourinho considered to face more expectation at Tottenham.

Two ambitious London rivals are set to lock horns in a derby date on Sunday.

Either could end the weekend at the top of the Premier League table after enjoying positive starts to the 2020-21 campaign.

Both are looking to ensure that they end the season within touching distance of the Premier League crown, with their respective squads being set up to compete for the grandest of prizes.

Chelsea are back in that pack after investing heavily in the last transfer window, while Mourinho now has his feet firmly under the table at Spurs.

Hasselbaink believes north London is demanding more than those in the west this term, however, with the former Blues striker seeing Lampard laying the foundations for long-term success.

He told Sky Sports: “As a squad, if [Tottenham] are not winning, or close to winning, the league this year then I think they will have underachieved.

“I think Chelsea doesn’t need to win it. Frank is not there yet. If they win it of course they will take it with two hands.

“But it’s only Frank’s second year, we all know what happened last year. He had to come in and let the youngsters play and he did magnificently.

“They have spent a lot of money but he is building for the future. In that aspect Spurs are a little bit further than Chelsea.”

The Dutchman added: “They are very close to each other at the moment.

“Spurs have got the strongest team, the strongest squad that they’ve had in the last 10 years, or the last few years.”

Lampard and Mourinho will have plenty of firepower at their disposal this weekend, with Chelsea welcoming United States international forward Christian Pulisic back into their plans, but Hasselbaink believes defences will be on top in a fixture that neither manager wants to lose.

He said: “It’s going to be very interesting, this match. It will be close and their will not be lots of goals.

“Mourinho will go and close the shop. But there’s something good going on at Spurs.”

Liverpool were denied victory by VAR as Andrew Robertson was penalised late on to allow Brighton and Hove Albion to rescue a 1-1 Premier League draw at the AMEX Stadium.

Diogo Jota's ninth Liverpool goal looked set to prove enough for the Reds to move three points clear of Tottenham at the top of the table, but the Reds' work was undone in stoppage time.

Robertson swung out a foot and clipped Danny Welbeck and, though referee Stuart Attwell spotted no infringement, he changed his decision once he checked the pitch-side monitor.

Unlike Neal Maupay, who drilled wide from 12 yards to let Liverpool off the hook in the first half, Pascal Gross made no mistake.

It was a third VAR call of the game that went against Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane having goals rightly ruled out for offside as Jurgen Klopp was left to rue the technology once more.

AFC Leopards started their 2020/21 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League campaign on a high after a 2-1 win over Tusker FC.

David Majak opened the scoring for the visitors before Robinson Kamura and Elvis Rupia struck back for the hosts.

The 13-time champions opted to start the game with former Kariobangi Sharks goalkeeper John Oyemba in goal, with Yusuf Maingi and Marvin Nabwire getting a chance as well. 

The likes of Fabrice Mugheni and Somobwana Omar started on the bench. 

For the Brewers, coach Robert Matano gave a chance to Emery Mvuyekure in goal, Hashim Sempala in midfield, and David Majak in the attack, hoping to get their first points of the season.

It was Ingwe who started the match well, attacking with every opportunity they got. Elvis Rupia had an effort punched out for what turned out to be a fruitless corner while Nabwire's effort was tipped over the bar by the goalkeeper.

However, a blunder in the midfield after 22 minutes allowed the Ruaraka-based side to steal the ball and Majak kept his cool to score his first goal of the season.

The goal did little to dent the host's ambition of getting a positive result from the game. In the 26th minute, they were back on level terms courtesy of defender Kamura.

The 11-time champions looked unsettled and struggled at times to get the better of Ingwe. 

It was no surprise when they conceded a penalty in the 34th minute and  Rupia capitalized on it to give his team a lead for the first time. 

Ingwe deservedly headed to the break with a lead as their opponents got a chance to re-organize themselves to put a better performance after the break.

Neither of the two teams could get a goal in the second half despite numerous changes, especially in the attacking department.

Starting XI: John Oyemba, Yusuf Mainge, Robinson Kamura, Clyde Senaji, Isaack Kipyegon, Austin Odhiambo, Said Tsuma, Marvin Nabwire, Jaffari Owiti, Elvis Rupia, Caleb Olilo

Subs: Ezekiel Owade, Harrison Mwendwa, Mugheni Fabrice, Omar Somobwana, Hansel Ochieng', Washington Munene

Tusker XI: Emery Mvuyekure, Wellington Ochieng', Sammy Meja, Eugene Asike, Christopher Oruchum, Hashim Sempala, Luke Namanda, Kevin Okoth, David Majak, Chrispinus Onyango, Boniface Muchiri.

Subs: Robert Mboya, Kevin Monyi, Rodgers Aloro, Apollo Otieno, Michael Madoya, Jackson Macharia, Sydney Ochieng'

Liverpool were denied victory by VAR as Andrew Robertson was penalised late on to allow Brighton and Hove Albion to rescue a 1-1 Premier League draw at the AMEX Stadium.

Diogo Jota's ninth Liverpool goal looked set to prove enough for the Reds to move three points clear of Tottenham at the top of the table, but the Reds' work was undone in stoppage time.

Robertson swung out a foot and clipped Danny Welbeck and, though referee Stuart Attwell spotted no infringement, he changed his decision once he checked the pitch-side monitor.

Unlike Neal Maupay, who drilled wide from 12 yards to let Liverpool off the hook in the first half, Pascal Gross made no mistake.

It was a third VAR call of the game that went against Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane having goals rightly ruled out for offside as Jurgen Klopp was left to rue the technology once more.

Club Brugge manager Philippe Clement has confirmed Emmanuel Dennis’ return to the squad for their Belgian First Division A clash against Excel Mouscron on Saturday evening.

The 23-year-old forward was suspended for the Blue and Black’s Champions League game against German side Borussia Dortmund for misconduct.

The Nigeria international left the team bus in anger after he was denied his preferred seating position on the bus.

Besides his suspension for their clash against Dortmund, the Super Eagles star was also fined for the incident.

Clement has revealed the forward has apologized to the management of the club as well as to him and his teammates for his conduct.

Subsequently, Dennis has been restored back to the team and will be expected to feature against Excel Mouscron.

“Dennis apologized to the management but also to the players and to myself,” Clement said in a pre-match press conference.

“He was fined by the club. He is part of the selection for Saturday. For me, this story is over.”

Dennis has been with the Jan Breydel Stadium outfit since 2017 when he teamed up with the club from Ukrainian Premier League side Zorya Luhansk.

The forward played a key role as the Blue and Black won the league title in 2017-18 season and also finished top of the Belgian top division in the 2019-20 campaign.

The 23-year-old has made more than 75 appearances for Club Brugge across all competitions and in the current season, he has featured in 10 games, scoring one goal and providing two assists.

Dennis will hope to deliver an impressive showing for the Jan Breydel Stadium outfit if he gets to play in the encounter.

Bruno Fernandes has become a talismanic presence for Manchester United in the Bryan Robson and Roy Keane mould, says Paul Parker, with the Portuguese midfielder capable of lifting those around him.

The Red Devils knew that they were getting a potential match-winner when snapping up the 26-year-old from Sporting in the winter transfer window of 2020.

Those qualities have been put to good use, with Fernandes registering 21 goals and 13 assists through just 35 appearances.

He has, however, become much more than a creative influence, with a leadership role taken on by an ambitious and driven performer.

Parker says Fernandes boasts similar qualities to iconic captains from United’s past, such as Robson and Keane, with the Portugal international now the go-to man for a Premier League heavyweight.

Former Red Devils defender Parker told Eurosport ahead of a trip to Southampton on Sunday for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side: “What team does Ole Gunnar Solskjaer play? Will he suddenly go back to two holding midfielders?

“No matter what, they need Bruno Fernandes. Him being there lifts other players, they believe a little bit more when he's playing, he's becoming that kind of player, like Bryan Robson or Roy Keane.”

Fernandes is guaranteed to land a starting berth against the Saints, given his value to the cause, but Solskjaer faces a number of other selection decisions.

United need to determine how attack-minded they intend to be at St Mary’s, with four goals plundered in their midweek Champions League win over Istanbul Basaksehir.

“It depends how Solskjaer goes around the rest of it,” added Parker.

“I think he should start Edinson Cavani, give him 90 minutes in the Premier League.

“Will he go Mason Greenwood and Daniel James? If he does I think he'll be going too far against a Southampton side who virtually play the same team week in, week out, and rarely make mistakes.”

United have tended to favour a more cautious approach in Premier League action this season, with Solskjaer sticking with a system that sees him go with two holding midfielders and a solitary striker supported by a couple of wide attackers.

Kaizer Chiefs attacker Khama Billiat has warned his teammates against getting carried away if they win Sunday’s Caf Champions League preliminary round, first leg match against Cameroonian champions PWD Bamenda, while also reminding them that negative results can push them for better results ahead.

Gavin Hunt's Chiefs are back in the Champions League where they last took part in 2016, when they were eliminated by Ivorian giants Asec Mimosas at the first round stage.

They arrived in Cameroon on Friday on the backdrop of a difficult run at home and would want to bury their domestic woes with victory over PWD Bamenda.

“I have been telling the guys nothing is different game-wise, but the score-line out in Africa is important, a draw away from home means a lot,” Billiat told the Kaizer Chiefs website.

"They need to understand that we don’t win the competition in the first game, it’s a work in progress and that sometimes negative results in this competition can help give you the energy you need going forward.

“It’s going to be tough. Other teams will do everything to throw you off, some teams have a lot of experience in travelling and knowing the other cultures, they know how to intimidate their opponent teams and we just need to be focused.”

Chiefs are participating in this competition with a number of players who have previously participated on the continent in both club and international football.

Billiat and Leonardo Castro won the 2016 Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns and are regarded as the most experienced players in the squad.

The likes of Eric Mathoho, goalkeepers Daniel Akpeyi and Itumeleng Khune, Lebogang Manyama and defender Daniel Cardoso have experience from playing international football with their respective national teams.

“Having the experience will definitely help the team as it will motivate the guys,” said Billiat.

"We have extremely talented players who can adjust quickly. We want to challenge ourselves and see how well we can do.

“We need to go out there and challenge in Africa and take this team back to where it belongs. It starts now and we need to rise to the task at hand and test our character against big teams out there.

"If you are able to play for Chiefs you are able to play anywhere.

"To play for Chiefs means that you are a good player and football is the same, the more confidence the team gets the better we bond as one unit.”

Of late, much of Chiefs’ focus had been on domestic competitions, having last played in Africa during the 2018/19 season, when they were eliminated from the Caf Confederation Cup by Zesco United in the play-off round on a 5-2 aggregate scoreline after losing both legs.

Interestingly, Chiefs midfielder Anthony Akumu was one of the scorers for Zesco when they won the second leg 2-1 at FNB Stadium while another chief forward Lazarous Kambole had netted in the 3-1 first-leg victory in Ndola.

But both players are currently struggling to find their feet at Amakhosi with Kambole being a shadow of a player who finished as joint top-scorer of the 2018 Champions League.

Tottenham should be looking to snap up Sami Khedira when he hits free agency as the World Cup winner could prove to be a Cristiano Ronaldo or Zlatan Ibrahimovic-type signing, says Paul Robinson.

As things stand, a Germany international midfielder is set to sever ties with Juventus in the summer of 2021.

It could be that deal is agreed before that point, with another transfer window set to open in January.

Robinson believes Jose Mourinho should be asking questions of Khedira’s availability, despite the former Stuttgart and Real Madrid star now being 33 years of age.

For the former Spurs goalkeeper, a proven performer at the very highest level still has “a huge amount to offer”.

Tottenham could be the ones to benefit from those qualities, with the likes of Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic – who are now turning out for Juventus and AC Milan at the ages of 35 and 39 respectively – proving that careers can be extended in the modern era.

“Look at the likes of Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic, players can play on a lot longer than they used to,” Robinson told Football Insider.

“Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic will be one of the fittest, if not the fittest in their squads.

“Professional footballers look after themselves and go on a lot longer. They are monitored on a daily basis.

“We no longer have players retiring at 30, 32 unless it is a really bad injury.

"Players are fitter and stronger and it is helping them elongate their careers.

“There is no reason why Khedira would not do that, he has a huge amount to offer, but you are not going to sign him on a three-year contract.”

Khedira has hinted that he would be open to linking up with Mourinho at Tottenham, with a Portuguese coach that he has previously worked with at Real held in the highest regard.

“He is always honest, direct, clear in his mind and a great coach,” Khedira Sky Sports Germany.

“Many people talk about him [being] too defensive but he is a winner, he is a champion. That is why he impressed me the most.

“I really enjoyed working with Jose Mourinho but there are many coaches who I would like to work with.

“I would never say no again to Jose Mourinho but it is not the only guy who I would say I would like to work with again.

“There are many coaches, even in the Premier League that I respect a lot.

“[Carlo] Ancelotti is doing a great job at the moment and is a great personality. He is one of the coaches who impressed me also.”

Antonio Cabrini has apologised for saying Diego Maradona would still be alive if he'd played for Juventus, insisting he never meant to offend Napoli supporters.

The football world mourned the loss of one of the greatest players in history after Maradona was pronounced dead at the age of 60 on Wednesday.

The Argentina legend passed away after suffering a heart attack at his home in Tigres, Buenos Aires, where he had been in recovery after undergoing successful brain surgery.

Ex-Juventus defender Cabrini, who played against Maradona at both the 1982 and 1986 World Cup finals, paid tribute to his old adversary after hearing the news, but sparked controversy by suggesting he would have lived longer had he chosen to ply his trade in Turin instead of Naples at club level.

“A living legend and a gentleman opponent,” Cabrini told Irpinia TV. “Who, like many other champions, was able to give the best and the worst at the same time.

“Maradona on the pitch could have won a match alone and in another environment, he could have won the match of his life which ended too soon.

“He would still be here with us if he came to Juve because the environment would have saved him, not the club but the environment itself.

“The love of Naples was as strong and authentic as it was ill. Naples loved him madly, but it was a 'sick love'. It was like a mother's unconditional love for a son who makes a mistake, but to whom everything is forgiven.

“Maradona transcended football and Naples chose him, regardless of any vice, as a saint to venerate.”

Napoli have already decided to rename the Stadio San Paolo in honour of Maradona, who inspired the club to their only two Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990 while scoring a total of 115 goals in 259 games.

Cabrini has now said sorry for causing offence to the city that will forever remember the former Argentina international as it's favourite son, but also said that his words had been taken out of context by the media.

“You misinterpreted my words, it was not a moral judgment but a comment on the energy of a city that couldn’t contain this passion,” he wrote on Twitter.

“I thought that the quieter environment in which I lived at Juve would perhaps have protected him. I apologise to anyone who felt offended.”

Nicolas Pepe is “out of his depth” and enduring a “nightmare” at Arsenal, says Paul Merson, with the pressure of a £72 million ($96m) price tag considered to be weighing heavy on a club-record signing.

The Gunners dug deep to prise an exciting Ivorian forward away from Lille in the summer of 2019.

Pepe was believed to boast the attacking verve that would allow him to slot seamlessly into a ball-playing Arsenal side that have long been more forward-thinking than defensive minded.

The 25-year-old has, however, struggled to live up to expectations in north London, with 12 goals and as many assists recorded through 56 appearances.

He did offer signs of encouragement in a Europa League outing against Molde on Thursday, but that showing came on the back of a reckless red card at Leeds which saw more questions asked of his value.

Merson is among those placing Pepe into the expensive flop category, with the former Gunners playmaker seeing Mikel Arteta’s inconsistent side being out-of-sorts as a collective.

He told the Daily Star: “Nicolas Pepe looks out of his depth and he’s going to have to do it against much better teams than Molde to change my opinion.

“I can understand how he got sent off in the Leeds game. He’s been having a nightmare ever since he joined Arsenal and one Europa League goal in Norway won’t change that.

“He let his frustration get the better of him against Leeds and did something silly with the headbutt, because things haven’t been going well for him at Arsenal for months.

“He came in for £70-odd million. If they’d bought him for £20m nobody would be moaning. But the fee brings pressure, and he’s not been able to handle it.

“I watch him play and I don’t know what he brings to the table. But it’s not his fault Arsenal are struggling.

“I don’t think Mikel Arteta knows his best team and he’s been there a long time now. He keeps changing it too much. It’s worrying.

“He plays Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front and he brings absolutely nothing to the party. Again.

“If you’re playing Arsenal right now, you’re disappointed if you don’t get something. Leeds looked a better side to me in that game.

“Arteta is safe as houses. He’s going to get time. But he needs to find his best team and stick with it, because it’s not working right now.”

Pepe will be denied the chance to play his way back into form when Arsenal return to Premier League action on Sunday, as he serves a suspension, but Arteta’s side can start to build momentum heading towards the hectic festive period when they play host to Wolves.

Azam FC have confirmed the reason why they sacked coach Aristica Cioaba after only 12 matches played in the Mainland Premier League.

The Romanian tactician was shown the exit door after the Chamazi-based giants suffered a 1-0 defeat against Young Africans (Yanga SC), a result that saw them relinquish the top spot in the 18-team league table.

Prior to losing to Yanga, Azam had also suffered a 1-0 defeat against KMC and according to club’s information officer Thabit Zakaria, the two parties agreed to part ways due to poor performance, and that assistant coach Bahati Vivier will be in charge until further notice.

“As you know, we began the season on the front pedal winning seven straight games but from the eighth game to the twelfth one, things made a U-turn to the extent that the fighting spirit from players was nowhere to be seen,” Zakaria is quoted by Daily News.

"The board saw this as a threat towards our mission of clinching the title this season hence decided to part ways with the coach and has since wished him all the best.”

Zakaria maintained that, despite their fans feeling the coach should have been given more time to handle the team, the board felt otherwise.

Meanwhile, Zakaria has also denied rumours linking former Simba coach Patrick Aussems and Yanga coach Mwinyi Zahera as possible candidates to seize control of the team while insisting coach Vivier will be in control of the situation for the time being.

On sacking Cioaba, Azam stated in a statement: “As Azam FC, we would like to notice our fans and football family at large that we have parted ways with head coach Aristica Cioaba on mutual consent.

“As it stands, assistant coach Bahati Vivier, from Burundi, will now be in charge of the team on an interim basis until we announce otherwise.

“We take this opportunity to thank Cioaba and Costel for their contribution to the team in the entire period they were with the team and we wish them the best in their future endeavours.”

Out of 50 matches that Cioaba handled after joining the team in 2019, he managed to get 28 wins, 11 defeats, and 11 draws.

Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has admitted that Friday’s Caf Champions League triumph was no stroll in the park after defeating old foes Zamalek 2-1 at Cairo International Stadium.

Amr Al Sulaya thrust Al Ahly ahead five minutes into the match before veteran striker Shikabala hit back for Zamalek on the half-hour mark.

Mohamed Magdi Kafsha then grabbed Al Ahly’s winner four minutes from time to hand the club their ninth Champions League crown.

This trophy comes a little less than two months after Mosimane was appointed coach of the Cairo giants which is his first-ever coaching job outside South Africa.

“I came here to win the African trophy but it was a very tough one. As we always say, finals are won not played,” said Mosimane after the game as per Al Ahram.

“I have to say Zamalek coach made it very hard for us in the first half because he prevented us from playing our normal game. Shikabala scored an amazing goal. I talked to my players at half time and told them that we need to improve.

“I made some changes in my tactics in the second half and asked the players to press Zamalek players more and more as I saw they were getting tired and losing form. We needed to press their midfield and that's what gave us the second goal.”

Friday’s triumph saw Mosimane also sealing a personal milestone of having won Champions League titles with two different sides, after bagging the 2016 crown with Mamelodi Sundowns.

Other coaches to have attained that feat are the later Argentine Oscar Fullone who won it with Ivorian giants Asec Mimosas and Raja Casablanca, while Mahmoud El Gohary also claimed it twice with Al Ahly and Zamalek.

Interestingly, Mosimane’s Champions League medals have come after dismissing Zamalek in the final.

“I have to thank president Mahmoud El Khatib for giving me, an African coach, the chance to lead one of the greatest clubs in Africa,” Mosimane added.

“I also want to thank the board, staff and players who gave me a great welcome to accomplish my job. Now we have to focus on the Egypt Cup, African Super Cup and Club World Cup.”

Odisha FC did not have the brightest of starts in the Indian Super League (ISL) this season as they went down 0-1 against Hyderabad FC in their opening game. Coach Stuart Baxter admitted that the club didn't put in the best of performances in their very first game and shared his reasons for the same.

“If we look at the possession in general, then it was a long way from what we wanted to be. Tactically the balance was wrong. We ended being very separated. We couldn’t get the support of the front players, the midfield players were a little bit too deep and then mentally, whether it was the first game of the season or the young players got nervous or just the balance of the team prevented it, but we weren’t that brave. We weren’t very brave with the ball.

“We have changed the shape little bit in training, we have encouraged the players to relax a little bit on the ball and it is looking better but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating,” said Baxter before facing Jamshedpur FC on Sunday.

Spaniard Manuel Onwu was on song for Odisha FC as a target man in the second half of last season and his impressive performances earned him a new contract this year. But in the opening match, Baxter deployed him as a wide forward in a front-three and that did not produce the desired result for the team.

Explaining his decision to field Onwu in a new role, Baxter said, “There will be changes in the position of players because of the opponent. With Jerry (Mawihmingthanga) injured, we have no real direct replacement. So we tweaked a little bit and played Manuel (Onwu), not on the wing, but in the pocket. He was in the pocket giving Diego (Mauricio) quick support. But Manuel himself asked me about playing him in that role because he has played there before and he is conscientious in defending.

“We looked at it and Manuel was the best solution we had. We wanted him to be closer to Diego closer to Marcelinho. As I said before, we got separated, we defended a bit too deeply and Manuel ended up tracking their wide players instead of staying in the pocket and it looked like he was playing on the wing. That is why we changed and pushed two strikers in the middle in the second half.”

Last season’s Golden Boot winner Nerijus Valskis picked up from where had left off last season as he scored on debut for Jamshedpur FC against his former club Chennaiyin FC.

But coach Baxter is not willing to strategise any special plan for the Jamshedpur striker and is rather focusing on cutting off the supply line for Valskis.

“We will take the heat of the fact that he is a finisher and obviously when you have a player like that in the team, the other players seek him as we saw when he scored the other day, that was a definite ball into that space. We will try cut off that service and we will try and stay compact around him. But our defenders will be well warned and they won’t give him too much room,” said the former Bafana Bafana head coach.