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Manchester United still have “massive question marks” hanging over their centre-halves, says Paul Parker, with the former Red Devils full-back saying “you don’t know what you’re going to get next” from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

Inconsistency remains an issue for United, with the 2020-21 campaign doing little to address those faults.

There have been positives, such as a run to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup and impressive results in the Champions League, but momentum has proved difficult to maintain.

A 4-1 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir in their most recent outing has United moving in the right direction again, while their Premier League hoodoo on home soil was brought to a close in a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

However, Parker believes Solskjaer will continue to pay the price for a lack of domestic ambition and the struggles of those at the heart of his back four.

The ex-Red Devils defender told Eurosport: “You don't know what you're going to get next with United. They've got a difficult game at the weekend at Southampton, so if they don't get a result there the whole process starts again.

“They won a game on Tuesday they should have won away from home earlier in the group stage. Team selection is key, so if they go out and play with the intention to win it and not concentrate too much about who they're playing against, that always gives them a better chance.

“The problem they've got is that as attack-minded as they are, there will still always be massive question marks about the centre-halves, because even [against Basaksehir] they were on edge.

“Because they've won three on the bounce, that doesn't say United are back. The way the Premier League is at the moment, no one is on stable ground.

“There's a good chance Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will go back to two holding midfield players, non-creative players in midfield, and then in the Champions League go back to what he did against Istanbul.

“It's about the state of mind that the players go out against Southampton in. If you see Fred and [Scott] McTominay playing that will give you a picture of how the game might be. Southampton would break that down easier.

“I don't think the players feel freer in the Champions League, Solskjaer certainly doesn't because he knows every game he's under pressure. United are always walking on a tightrope.”

United sit 10th in the Premier League table after eight games and have another 10 fixtures to take in across all competitions before the end of the calendar year.

East Bengal are the new entrants in the Indian Super League (ISL) this season and a delay in completing formalities meant the team did not much time to prepare for the season.

Under Liverpool great Robbie Fowler, the Red and Golds had little over three weeks time to prepare and they are set to face their arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan in the opening match.

But East Bengal coach Robbie Fowler believes that the team is ready and are raring to play their first match of the season which is ISL's first Kolkata derby. 

“We prepared properly. We know it's been a really short time in preparation but we accept that and the players are ready so we go into this game as good as we can be. There are a few niggles but that is expected. That will be the case throughout the league. Even though we have been together for a short period it feels like forever (we have been) waiting for the game and thankfully the game is now upon us.

“Ideally, we all would have loved a lot more time but we have accepted that and we have moved on. We know we are two or three weeks behind everyone else in terms of preparation but we can only do we can do. We have prepared the team well and we will go out and give our best and hopefully get a good result,” said Fowler ahead of the all-important clash.

The British coach pointed out the pros and cons of playing a derby in their opening match of the season and suggested the team believes in their abilities.

“The advantage is we go into the game, we probably know a bit more about ATK Mohun Bagan than they do about us. We are prepared in that way. For the disadvantage, we have never played before so we may go into the game a bit rusty.

“ATK Mohun Bagan have played a game so they probably know a bit about themselves. But it is never about the opposition, it is about what we can do. We have prepared properly, we have the belief in ourselves and now we have to go out there and give our best shot.”

Fowler is familiar with a few of the foreign players in the ATK Mohun Bagan team. While midfielder Brand Inman played under the former Liverpool forward at Brisbane Roar last season and he saw players like Roy Krishna and David Williams play in the same league during his time as a coach in Australia.

The former Liverpool forward spoke highly about the opposition but said that his team will only focus on themselves,

“ATK Mohun Bagan are a team whose 80 per cent or 90 per cent of the players won the league last year so we know they are a good side and how organised they are. The manager has prepared them and they are well drilled. But it is not about them or any of their players.

“We know they have lots of good players. I had Brad Inman in Australia last year and I have played with David Williams, Roy Krishna came on trials when I was at a club in Australia. I know what type of players they are and they are dangerous players but we have to focus on us.”

The East Bengal manager considers his team as underdogs in front of the Mariners as he believes that retaining the core of the team from last season will be an advantage for Antonio Habas’ side.

“ATK Mohun Bagan are a new entity but they are a team who have been together for a good few years and they are well organised, champions last year. We are a new team and we are massive underdogs but sometimes underdogs win. We will try to give confidence to the players as much as we can. Underdogs sometimes do cause upsets.”

Bruno Fernandes continues to display “Paul Scholes-esque” qualities at Manchester United, says Dimitar Berbatov, but the former Red Devils striker believes a talismanic presence can get even better.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has found considerable value in a deal done with Sporting during the last winter transfer window.

Fernandes slotted seamlessly into the fold at Old Trafford, with his presence providing the spark for a late-season run in 2019-20 that delivered a third-place finish and Champions League qualification.

There was a slight wobble from the Portuguese early in the current campaign, but high standards have been maintained by the talented 26-year-old.

His quality was on full display once more in a 4-1 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir, as Fernandes bagged a brace in that contest, and Berbatov sees shades of a United icon from the past in a leading man of the present.

“The opening goal in the win, that Bruno scored from outside the box, was amazing,” Berbatov told Betfair.

“Let me tell you, that technique is so difficult to do. I was never a big specialist at scoring from outside the box. Fernandes' strike was Scholes-esque, that was his specialty, you could imagine Paul Scholes scoring that one, when the ball comes across to him, bam and into the top corner. It was perfect execution.”

While talking up Fernandes’ current ability and value in Manchester, Berbatov believes the Portugal international can scale even greater heights by addressing the few faults that still exist in his game.

The Bulgarian added: “Fernandes has impressed me so much and the only weakness I see in him is his defensive side. He can improve a bit there.

“He's an attacking midfielder, though, who creates chances, scores goals and up the pitch is where he has his power. That's why I think it's good to have someone in the team to cover for him.

“Other than his defensive weakness, he is doing everything that the manager wants from him and, with 20 goals since he joined in January, he's certainly scored more than people expected.

“He is phenomenal in the passing and scoring department and since he joined the club he is doing everything that he needs to do.”

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo “couldn’t even dream” of earning the admiration that was reserved for Diego Maradona, says Ossie Ardiles.

An all-time great has passed away at the age of 60, with tributes pouring in for the Argentine icon from around the world.

Maradona was a flawed genius in many ways, with his career on and off the pitch seeing him struggle to handle the demands of life under the brightest of spotlights.

He was, however, forever driven by a desire to deliver on expectation and to give his adoring fan base something to shout about.

The 1986 World Cup winner offered cause for celebration on a regular basis for club and country, with his efforts for Argentina and Napoli forever etched into football folklore.

His legacy will stand the test of time, with former team-mate Ardiles of the opinion that no-one – not even Barcelona and Juventus superstars of the present – will get near to experiencing such widespread acclaim.

“To be Diego Maradona was incredibly beautiful,” 1978 World Cup winner Ardiles told the BBC.

“But on the other hand, it was not easy at all. Right from a really early age, he was subjected to the press all the time. He didn't have a normal childhood, he never had normal teenage years.

“Everybody wanted to be with him, everybody wanted a piece of him, so it was incredibly difficult.”

Ardiles added: “He will be remembered as a genius in football. You can see the extraordinary amount of interest that he generates.

“People like Ronaldo, or people like Messi, they couldn't even dream of having this kind of admiration.

“That was the Maradona phenomenon - all the time.”

Three days of national mourning are being held in Argentina for the nation’s favourite sporting son.

A larger-than-life character will never be forgotten, with Ardiles proud to have had the chance to play alongside a man who set standards that few will ever get close to emulating.

The former Tottenham midfielder said in the Daily Mail: “Diego was unique, that is the word.

“He was extraordinary, out of this world. He had feet like hands. I was blessed to play with the world's best players, but he was the greatest.

“What made him so special was his courage. It was always hostile for him, always a marked man. But he always wanted the ball. They kicked him - he wanted the ball even more.

“He was a winner. And I know, I'd play him at tennis! He just could not lose.”

Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are among the Premier League clubs that will have the opportunity to welcome back fans from next week, after the government announced the latest coronavirus tier system.

The latest update from the UK government has seen the cities of Liverpool and London placed in tier 2, meaning Jurgen Klopp's side, as well as Tottenham, Everton, Fulham, Crystal Palace and West Ham, can all have supporters in attendance at their stadiums.

With Manchester having been placed in tier 3, however, Manchester United and Manchester City will not yet be given the green light to allow fans back in.

The same rule has been applied to other areas of the country, affecting Wolves, Newcastle, Leeds, West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United, Leicester and Burnley, who will also not be allowed to open their stadiums for supporters at this moment in time.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had announced on Monday that a maximum of 4,000 fans would be allowed in to football matches in England, should the stadiums be in towns and cities that are in tier 1 of the government's tier system.

That does not, however, apply to any Premier League clubs, with Thursday's tier update stating that only Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight are currently in that threshold.

Of the 10 top-flight stadiums that fall under tier-2 restrictions, a maximum of 2,000 fans, or 50 per cent of their capacity - whichever is lower - will be allowed to attend fixtures from December 2, when the national lockdown ends.

Despite the announcement, it is unclear at this stage exactly how many of the 10 Premier League clubs will attempt to allow in supporters at the next opportunity, with Arsenal being the first to be able to welcome back fans for their Europa League clash against Rapid Vienna on December 3.

As for some of the other clubs, their first chance to allow up to 2,000 fans back in will be the 11th round of league fixtures beginning on December 5.

The north London derby, due to take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, falls on that weekend, while Liverpool face Wolves at Anfield, Chelsea host Leeds United and Manchester United travel to the London Stadium to face West Ham.

Many of England's top-flight clubs have expressed their optimism at the proposed welcoming back of supporters to grounds, with Liverpool having released the following statement on Tuesday: "Liverpool Football Club welcomes the government's announcement regarding the proposed return of fans into sports stadia.

"We have greatly missed our supporters at Anfield and we look forward to welcoming them back when it is safe to do so.

"We will continue to work with our city partners, including Liverpool City Council, Merseyside Police and Spirit of Shankly, in order to establish the most up-to-date health guidance and the most effective process for the safe return of supporters.

"While we await confirmation of which tier the city of Liverpool will be placed in, we continue to work through our plans and will make further announcements in due course."

Sergio Ramos has been told a move to Manchester United “would work out well”, with Dimitar Berbatov believing the Red Devils should snap up the World Cup winner if no new contract is agreed at Real Madrid.

As things stand, the long-serving captain at Santiago Bernabeu is going to become a free agent. His current terms with the Blancos are due to expire in the summer of 2021 with no extension put in place as yet.

Real remain optimistic when it comes to thrashing out an agreement with their talismanic skipper, but hope is being offered to potential suitors.

Berbatov believes United should be in the mix if Ramos is allowed to head for the exit in Madrid, with plenty of football left in the “world-class” 34-year-old.

The former Red Devils striker told Betfair : “There has been a lot of speculation about the future of Sergio Ramos, according to reports both the player and club are yet to come to an agreement on a new contract. With Ramos 34 years old, they are probably fighting over a one-year or two-year contract.

“Thiago Silva, who is even older at 36 years old, has proven that it is never too late to move to the Premier League and so far it is working out well for the Brazilian.

“I'm sure if Ramos wanted to move to a club like United then it would work out well for him too. He's in great shape, he's still a world-class defender and in my opinion there's still a lot of football left in him.

“I see him as a Real Madrid player, however, and I think player and club will find a solution and he will stay. I'll be surprised if he leaves, but if things don't work out then I'm sure a lot of clubs will be interested in him.”

United are considered to be in need of defensive additions, despite investing heavily in that department over recent years. Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Eric Bailly have been snapped up, but Spain international Ramos would add vast experience at the very highest level to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.

Busoga United and Kitara FC are hopeful of playing in the 2020/21 Ugandan Premier League (UPL) after insisting they have met crucial requirements needed for club licensing.

The two teams were not part of the fixture draft for the forthcoming campaign and were given until Monday to work on their short-comings. The two teams believe they have done so and will be part of the top-tier teams for the upcoming campaign.

"We were not on the league draft fixture because of some internal issues with club licensing which we have now settled," Busoga United Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Andrew Ndyabahika confirmed.

"I have been in touch with the Licensing Committee and I spent two days at [the Federation of Uganda Football Associations], FUFA, I am very confident that we will play in the Ugandan Premier League next season.

The initial documents presented to the Federation did not match in terms of club ownership.

Kakindu Stadium, which was also presented as the venue for Busoga's home matches was deemed unfit to host top-tier games.

For Kitara, they had not confirmed their coach as well as players' contracts as required.

The club's CEO Joshua Atugonza believes it will be unfair if they will be relegated from the top tier.

"It will be an unfair decision to us," Atugonza stated. 

"We qualified sportingly to play in the UPL after winning the Big League playoffs in Njeru.

"It has been a small window for us to fulfill all those licensing requirements if you are to gauge us with other clubs who started to prepare for the league way back in April.  

"However, we have fulfilled all the necessary requirements and we are confident that we will play."  

The team has also written to the respective authorities to request to use Njeru.

Suppose the two clubs are not cleared, they will be relegated to the Fufa Regional League.

Of the 16 clubs in the top-tier, only seven have managed to meet the requirements set to be eligible to play in the league next season. The seven teams are the defending champions Vipers SC, KCCA FC who finished second, Express FC, Wakiso Giants, Onduparaka FC, Police FC and MYDA.  

Barcelona presidential candidate Toni Freixa remains “convinced” that Lionel Messi wants to remain at the club, but admits that discussions need to be held as soon as possible.

The Liga giants faced the very real threat of seeing their talismanic figure walk away from Camp Nou over the summer.

With Messi growing disillusioned with life on and off the field in Catalunya, the mercurial Argentine made a push for the exits. He was quickly informed that a break clause in his contract had expired, meaning that he was tied to terms through to the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Messi exclusively revealed to Goal that he will be honouring that agreement, but uncertainty continues to reign when it comes to his long-term future. With Barca putting no extension in place, their inspirational captain is free to speak with his many suitors from January.

Manchester City are said to retain interest in a player that has enjoyed considerable success working under Blues boss Pep Guardiola in the past.

Freixa, however, believes Messi can be talked into extending his career-long association with Barca.

He wants to be the one to make that dream a reality, ahead of elections on January 24, and will make meetings with a six-time Ballon d’Or one of his top priorities if he does take control of the boardroom vacated by Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Freixa told Cadena SER: “Messi has been everything and has to continue; my will is for him to continue, but one day he will have to leave. The day it happens, hopefully it will be never, but it is not a question of taking away my sleep.”

He added: “The Messi case is one of the important issues. The situation must be analysed and a series of decisions must be taken.

“To sit down and talk to Messi, you have to look him in the eye and see what everyone wants and what the club can offer. You have to ask him if he really wants to continue, which I'm convinced he does.”

Messi has not been at his sparkling best so far this season, but he has still contributed six goals and four assists to the Barca cause now being overseen by Dutch manager Ronald Koeman.

Mikel Arteta has expressed his desire to keep academy graduate Folarin Balogun at Arsenal as the club will try to convince him to sign a new contract.

The 19-year-old whose current deal expires at the end of the 2020-21 season has been linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium.

Following his impressive performance with the Gunners’ youth setup, Balogun played his first game for Arsenal’s first team  - featuring for 14 minutes in their 3-0 Europa League defeat of Dundalk.

He is also in line to get his second appearance for the senior team having made the North Londoners’ cut for the trip to Norway.

Even at that, the Spaniard wants him to remain a Gunners as the club are doing all it takes to see him extend his deal.

"He is a player that I want to stay at the club," Arteta told club website.

"I love working with young players. You can see the talent is there, the ambition is there and he can fit with our structure and progress in the future.

"He's part of the DNA and myself and the club are working to try to extend his contract. We're trying to change the situation that we are in at the moment with him, and trying to convince him that this is the right place for him.

"The moment that I started to see more of the player and change certain things that I didn't agree with, we decided to give it a go, tried to convince the player, try to show him what we want to do with him, why he fits in with what we are trying to do at the club.”

"The young talent and the top talent that we produce at the academy is with the final aim to put them in the first team,” he continued.

"When I signed for this club it was one of the things that excited me the most because I love to work with them and it's part of our DNA and the history of the club.

“When we have them, let's keep them and we really think they are players that can take us to the next level."

Gor Mahia are set to leave Kenya for Rwanda on Friday at 5 am, to play their hosts APR in the first preliminary round of the Caf Champions League, after securing their tickets.

The Kenyan champions were desperate to secure tickets owing to their financial struggles and in-house wrangles. However, the problem has now been solved and the team will now be leaving the country in less than 24 hours.

"The team is set to hit the run-way tomorrow to Kigali, Rwanda for the weekend’s Caf Champions League preliminary match against APR," club Chairman Ambrose Rachier has confirmed.

"We are just waiting for the players' Covid-19 results which we expect to get today."

K'Ogalo are set to undergo Covid-19 tests on Thursday afternoon, less than three days before they play APR Rwanda in their first preliminary round of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Champions League.

The Kenyan champions have had internal wrangles with management, which was affecting the preparations of the team. 

"We are in the bus currently headed for Two Rivers where the Covid-19 tests will be conducted," a senior player who did not wish to be mentioned told Goal on Thursday.

"Until now, nobody has communicated to us when we are leaving. It is also psychologically disturbing since preparations start from the mind. The game is on Saturday, and we do not know what is happening.

"It is demoralizing, it is a shame for a big club like Gor Mahia facing these problems."

On Wednesday, the club's Secretary General Samuel Ochola conceded the team had no money when addressing the media on why he signed a letter allowing Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to sell their broadcast rights to StarTimes.

"The chairman alleged that FKF has not disclosed the amount of cash in the StarTimes partnership.

"This is the summary; every club gets KSh10 million for league participation, the sponsor also footing bills on branding, pays for referees, and covers production cost.

"Today, the chairman of Gor Mahia, who also doubles up as the chairman of KPL, knows that KPL gives a fraction of this sponsorship.

"Gor Mahia are broke! We want to gather any available monetary support to reduce the gaping operational cost even if there are no kickbacks to individuals; it is for the sake of the club."

Diogo Jota’s stunning start to life at Liverpool means that if the Champions League final were tomorrow, the Portuguese would be selected ahead of Roberto Firmino, according to Michael Owen.

The Reds moved to add another attacking option to their ranks during the summer transfer window. Jurgen Klopp put a £45 million ($58m) deal in place with Wolves, with Jota welcoming the opportunity to link up with the star-studded squad at Anfield.

The faith shown in him has been rewarded with eight goals in 13 appearances with the 23-year-old exceeding expectations on Merseyside.

Jota’s work rate and end product have endeared him to the fan base and led many to suggest that he has become impossible to drop.

Owen is among those to hold such an opinion, with the former Reds striker claiming that the established Brazil international No 9 would miss out if Klopp had to make the selection call.

“I think he’s under threat because no-one could’ve foreseen how good this lad is,” Owen told BT Sport of the challenge Firmino faces from Jota. “He surprised me, I liked him at Wolves, but all of a sudden, you watch him now and you think that he’s born to play in this Liverpool team.

“He’s quicker than I thought he was. I knew he was technically good, the timing of his runs, the way he’s linking, he has shown me that he can slot into those positions.

“The great thing about those strikers, they can all play with their backs to goal. They’re stronger than you think. [Mohamed] Salah and [Sadio] Mane, in particular, they’re strong as an ox. They can run at you, they can all be all-round centre-forwards, but Jota has slipped in there seamlessly.

“You have to start him, if they had the Champions League final tomorrow, you can’t leave him out.”

Jota was introduced off the bench in Liverpool’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Atalanta in continental competition on Wednesday, which leaves the Reds' qualification for the Champions League round of 16 still under question.

However, he will be pushing hard for a recall when the Reds take on Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.

Stellenbosch forward Waseem Isaacs says they will not be placing much emphasis on Mamelodi Sundowns’ strengths but on their own capabilities when the two sides meet in a Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.

The Western Cape side faces a Downs side that is in impressive form and unbeaten in this league campaign with three wins and a draw.

This is in contrast to Stellenbosch who won their first match of the season last weekend when they beat Chippa United 2-0, having recorded a defeat and two draws in their previous matches.

While the Brazilians are the league’s highest-scoring side with nine goals from four games, Isaacs said they would exploit their opponents’ weaknesses after Sundowns’ defensive frailties were exposed in the 4-3 victory over AmaZulu last Sunday.

“I think we can only get better from now until the end of the season. Sundowns are always a difficult team to play against,” Isaacs told Sowetan Live.

“They are the defending champions. But if we play the way we played at the weekend and do the right thing on the field, I think it could be a good game. We will look at their weaknesses, but our main focus should be how we want to play. We want to execute our plan. That's the most important thing for us, not to focus too much on what they can do but on what we can do.

“I think we can match them. We have built a good squad. Sundowns have young guys and experienced players, but we also have a good blend of experience and young players. So I think the make-up of the squad is good, and there is no reason why we can’t give them a good game.”

Downs are placed second on the PSL standings while Stellenbosch are ninth with each team having played four league matches.

Isaacs himself has featured in three games and is yet to score a goal after finishing with eight goals last term which was his debut PSL season.

Toni Freixa will not be looking to take Neymar back to Barcelona if he emerges successful in presidential elections at Camp Nou, with the Paris Saint-Germain forward told he is “not even among the 30 best players in Europe right now”.

The Brazil international on the books at Parc des Princes considered by many to be one of the finest players on the planet.

Freixa, though, is clearly not a fan and has been quick to state that he will not be wasting any time pursuing a deal that ousted Blaugrana supremo Josep Maria Bartomeu was so keen to pull off.

He has told Cadena SER: “Neymar, because of his performance, is not even among the 30 best players in Europe right now. If I were president, I would not sign him.”

Freixa was eager to point out to those in Catalunya that their club is bigger than any one player: “The most important thing about Barcelona is Barcelona itself. We do not depend on anyone.”

Neymar clearly plays no part in the future thinking of one man hoping to take control of the boardroom at Camp Nou, with speculation regarding a return to Barcelona starting to wind down.

A retracing of steps to Spain for the Brazil international has been mooted ever since a record-breaking €222 million (£200m/$262m) transfer to PSG was completed in the summer of 2017.

Neymar, who has also sparked talk of interest from Real Madrid, was said to be keen on making a move away from France at one stage. He is, however, now into a fourth season at Parc des Princes and has delivered 73 goals in 93 appearances.

With exit rumours starting to fade, and PSG reluctant to part with any of their most prized assets, it has been reported that Neymar could commit to a new contract that takes him beyond the end of his current deal in 2022.

PSG sporting director Leonardo has confirmed the club have started negotiations to extend the contracts of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

He told the club website: “Remember that PSG suffered financial losses this year, we’re in a complicated moment and it’s not easy, but we’re talking directly with Mbappe and Neymar. There is a question of timing. The idea of an extension exists. We have arrived at the moment when we must have clearer situations.”

East Bengal are yet to play a game in the Indian Super League (ISL) this season and as a result, there is very little information about how they approach a game. ATK Mohun Bagan coach Antonio Habas would have to rely on information from Brad Inman, who was part of Robbie Fowler's Brisbane Roar last season to know more about the English coach's tactics.

"For me, it's not an advantage (for East Bengal). Maybe it's good that we played a match, and maybe it's better for East Bengal because we don't know how East Bengal plays. It's something that we have to accept in a competition," he said.

"We have information about Fowler's last job in Australia with Brisbane (Roar). I had to see their performance, behaviour, system and many things but the information we have is little," the Spaniard added with regards to Fowler's track record as a coach.

ATK Mohun Bagan will miss the services of Michael Soosairaj, who picked up a knee injury in their opening game against Kerala Blasters. Subhasish Bose is expected to start in the left wing-back role.

"I have to talk to the players before the match. They know what is the first XI a day before when the match plan will be explained to the players."

Habas mentioned that both ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have a good squad but pointed that it is vital to have a solid plan with regards to the brand of football and that the players are clear in their roles and responsibilities.

"We respect all the East Bengal players. We also have good players. To build a good (squad) doesn't only depend on having good players but also the concept of football and the model of play. This is the difference between a big team and other teams."

The former Valencia boss was asked to share his thoughts on the importance of derby and why there is a lot of pressure to clinch it in their favour.

"I think the derby is a special match but only for a week before and after the match. It's an important match for me because I know what the intensity is in Kolkata and what it (Kolkata derby) means to Kolkata supporters," said Habas. 

"It's important but you never know what is the most important match in your career. I coached Bolivia in three American Cups. All matches are different and now for me, I have the maximum concentration to win (against East Bengal). This is my obsession," he concluded.

Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa has hit out at some Premier League chairmen over the ongoing push and pull over the StarTimes sponsorship deal.

Whereas a number of clubs have signed the undertaking, Gor Mahia, Zoo and Mathare United are understood to have rebelled against the arrangement of the sponsorship deal.

“They have been in football for the last 17 years and have got nothing to show for it, now when we have brought sponsorship, they still want to fight it,” Mwendwa told Goal without mentioning any specific official.

“We don't have time to discuss 'old men', the bus has taken off, for the last three years they had the chance to give us sponsors but could not do it, so why are they fighting now when we have managed to give them two sponsors?”

Mwendwa also stated how the ongoing disagreements between clubs and the federation might affect the newly-signed deal with the FKF Premier League broadcasting partner.

“KPL never got a sponsor in three years, they don't have money to give clubs and now they are fighting even without money. All we want is our players to stop suffering,” he added.

“A neighbouring country has got double of what we have got from the sponsors but sponsors are asking us why there is fighting.”

He also distanced himself with the internal conflicts that have affected a number of clubs like Gor Mahia. The friction at Gor Mahia is so intense that the suspension and ultimatums have been made in the last two days.

“I don't know why they have not signed, you can look for them and ask them,” Mwendwa concluded.

“We want sponsors to give the promised first batch of money but it is now becoming difficult as they are not happy with the squabbles going on.

“At some point, they even want to pull out just because a few individuals don't want to sign the endorsement.

“I will not talk about the clubs, we have an endorsement and as we speak we are testing Gor Mahia for Covid-19 ahead of the league’s kick-off.

“I am not interested in what the Gor Mahia chairman is saying because the clubs decided on their own.”

In preparation of the new season, FKF has had to realign their schedules as well as the dates of kick-off three times.

The new season will start without the attendance of fans since the ban on social gathering is still active.

Olivier Giroud has to be considered “one of the best foreign imports” that the Premier League has ever seen says Tony Cascarino, with Chelsea urged to continue finding a role for the Frenchman.

It has been suggested that the World Cup winner could make a push for the exits at Stamford Bridge in January.

Giroud has slipped back down the pecking order in west London and found regular game time hard to come by. He has admitted that, at 34 years of age, he will have to weigh up his options when another transfer window opens.

He did, however, offer another reminder of what he is capable of when netting the winning goal for Chelsea in their 2-1 Champions League victory over Rennes on Tuesday.

Giroud now boasts 135 efforts to his name across spells with the Blues and Arsenal, while finding the target on 44 occasions for his country, and Cascarino believes a man snapped up by the Gunners in 2012 has cemented a standing as one of the finest imports of the modern era.

The former Chelsea striker told talkSPORT: “He won the league with Montpellier in France, he has had eight years in England and scored over 100 goals for Arsenal. He’s won three FA Cups, he’s won the World Cup, he’s won the Europa League with Chelsea.

“He’s been a fantastic servant for all the clubs [he’s been at]. He’s been one of the best foreign imports that has come to these shores.

“I like Olivier Giroud and I think Frank Lampard said it, he trusts him.

“I said it before the game [against Rennes], it’s more the relationship with [France boss] Didier Deschamps and Giroud because if Deschamps says to him, ‘you’ve got to be playing, I need you to be playing more minutes, you’re going to have to move’. I think that’s the biggest problem.

“Lampard is totally happy with him. I’d love him to stay at the football club. He’s the second highest goalscorer for France. He’s been an absolutely great asset for club and country. So Frank has told him what he feels and how he needs him.

“He scored a couple goals against Sweden recently. He’s very close to Thierry Henry on the [France] goalscoring record, so there are some big challenges for Olivier.”

Giroud will be hoping to see more game time when Chelsea face old adversaries Tottenham on Sunday, but Tammy Abraham and Timo Werner have been impressing in attacking berths of late.

Azam FC forward Prince Dube is set to leave for South Africa to be treated after breaking his ulnar at home to Yanga SC.

The Zimbabwean was injured after just a quarter an hour on his left hand in the match they eventually lost by a solitary goal. The 23-year-old, who has been in fine form this season, has managed to score six goals and is among the top scorers in the charts.

"Our striker Prince Dube, who was injured in our game against Yanga on Wednesday, November 25, will be taken to South Africa for treatment," Azam FC confirmed on Thursday.

"Dube, who is a Zimbabwe citizen, was injured in the 15th minute after hurting his left hand's ulnar [a nerve transmitting electrical signals to muscles especially in the forearm and hand].

"The Chamazi-based side has now revealed more details and wished the player a quick recovery.

"[Dube] will leave for South Africa on Sunday, November 29 via the Kenya Airways," the Ice-cream Makers continued.

"He will be treated at the Vincent Pallotti Hospital in Cape Town where he will be treated by a specialist Robert Nicholas. Azam have been using this hospital to treat the players since 2011.

"As a club, we wish Dube a quick recovery."

On Wednesday, the team was relegated from the top position after falling 1-0 to Timu ya Wananchi at Azam Complex.

After a goalless first half of an end to end showdown at Chamazi, Kaseke broke the deadlock when he managed to beat Azam’s David Mapigano in the 49th minute for Yanga’s opener.

Yanga have proven to be top title challengers this season as they look a renewed side in the hunt for a 28th Premier League crown. They drew 1-1 against archrivals Simba SC in November, a side that Azam are yet to meet this season.

Timu ya Wananchi are also the only side yet to lose a game in the campaign so far as Azam have recorded a second loss. The other team is Wekundu wa Msimbazi who will be in Caf Champions League action on November 29 against Plateau United of Nigeria.