Looking for Soccer News?

Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been named in Barcelona's squad to face Dynamo Kiev after making a full recovery from a serious knee injury.

Ter Stegen was forced to undergo surgery after sustaining tendon damage in August and hasn't featured for Barca at the start of the 2020-21 campaign.

Brazilian shot-stopper Neto has filled in for the Germany international over the past two months, with Dutch head coach Ronald Koeman currently ushering in a new era at Camp Nou.

Barca have endured a shaky start to the season in Ter Stegen's absence, slipping to 12th in the Liga standings after winning just two of their opening six fixtures.

Koeman's men have saved their best performances for the Champions League, claiming comfortable victories over Ferencvaros and Juventus to storm to the top of Group G.

The Blaugrana will be aiming to extend their 100 per cent record when Dynamo Kiev arrive at Camp Nou on Wednesday night, and will be boosted by the return of their No.1 keeper.

Ter Stegen has been included in Koeman's final 21-man squad for the contest, but it is not yet clear whether or not he will be handed his first start since Barca's humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in last season's quarter-finals.

The 28-year-old's future in Catalonia had been the subject of much speculation over the summer, as talks over a contract extension seemingly hit a brick wall due to his lofty wage demands.

Barca were, however, eventually able to reach an agreement with the German , who signed a renewal on October 20 which will see him remain at Camp Nou through to 2025.

Ter Stegen's new deal also included a €500 million (£457m/$591m) buy-out clause, which effectively dismissed rumours of a potential move away from the club amid reported interest from the likes of Inter, Manchester United and Chelsea.

After Barca's latest European outing, the experienced 'keeper could be in line to feature in a Liga clash with Real Betis on Saturday, with four points currently separating the two sides in the table.

David Alaba's contract saga at Bayern Munich heralds the return of 'FC Hollywood', according to team-mate Thomas Muller. 

The future of stalwart defender Alaba is the hot topic in Bavaria as his deal expires at the end of the season and the club last week withdrew their offer of a renewal. 

That move came after a deadline set by Bayern passed with no agreement in sight. 

Even as Bayern - the reigning European champions - continued their 100 per cent start to their Champions League defence with a late flurry of goals in Salzburg on Tuesday, ultimately running out 6-2 winners, talk centred around Alaba. 

Sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has said Bayern must assume Alaba will depart, although Jerome Boateng claimed his centre-back partner had the squad's backing. 

For Muller, the conversation feels familiar, as he suggested a similarity to a previous era at Bayern when the club was known as 'FC Hollywood'. 

The World Cup winner is just happy Alaba is able to perform while the speculation entertains onlookers. 

“The [Alaba] topic has been with us for a long time,” Muller told Sky Sport. “The contract has still not been signed; there is nothing new. We'll see, I don't know. Let us be surprised by the future.

“He is his own man on the pitch for the team and is not influenced by it. At Bayern, we sometimes want you to hear something. Regardless of the discussion, David doesn't let himself be influenced and performs well.

“It's also interesting for the audience - it's nice when there's a little bit of drama at the club. I used to enjoy reading about that stuff - FC Hollywood - and now you can watch it live!”

Bayern head coach Hansi Flick also gave his thoughts on the situation following the German side's 6-2 thumping of RB Salzburg, stating that he wishes to ignore the speculation and focus solely on what happens on the pitch rather than what goes on off it.

“It's important to me that we have calm in the team and our surroundings,” Flick said. “We have a very, very important game against Dortmund on Saturday and I'm not interested in anything else. I won't say anything more about it.

“I didn't see Hasan's interview so I don't want to comment on it.”

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Cedric Kaze has admitted he was very impressed to see his side come out with a point from their Mainland Premier League match against Gwambina FC on Tuesday.

The promoted side put up a spirited fight to end Yanga’s three-match winning run as they secured a 0-0 draw at Gwambina Complex.

The Burundian tactician who was yet to drop a point since joining the Jangwani giants as a replacement for Serbian Zlatko Krmpotic, has now said it was better to pick a point from the fixture than to lose all because the home team fought hard for the draw.

“To get one point from an away match is not a bad thing,” Kaze is quoted saying by Sokaletu. “My players put all the efforts we needed from them and to get a point, is a worthy one to take home.”

Kaze continued: “Our focus now is on the derby against Simba SC on Saturday, we want to do well, we want to make sure that we beat them, so we have already shifted focus to the match.”

Meanwhile, Yanga’s pursuit for the league title has received a huge boost after defender Balama Mapinduzi has been allowed to start training, four months since he was ruled out owing to injury.

Mapinduzi picked the injury in June during their league match against Ndanda FC but according to the team doctor Shecky Mngazija, the player has recovered and ready to train with the rest of the squad.

“I can confirm Balama [Mapinduzi] will officially start training with the rest of the squad, when the team returns to Dar es Salaam,” Mngazija is quoted by Sokaletu.

“We have done tests to him and they are very okay, he has recovered well and we now want him to join the rest in training, we want him to start with light training sessions before we can push him to the starting eleven.”

The draw against Gwambina enabled Yanga to move top of the 18-team league table, a point adrift of second-placed Azam FC, who have a game in hand.

The derby between Yanga and Simba will be played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium from 1600hrs.

Ola Aina has hailed the impact of manager Scott Parker on Fulham after defeating West Bromwich Albion 2-0 on Monday night.

After a stuttering start to the 2020-21 English top-flight season that saw the Cottagers go on a run of six games without victory, they eventually got their act right together thanks to first-half strikes from Bobby Decordova-Reid and the Nigeria international.

The ‘massive’ result against Slaven Bilic’s men moved them away from the base of the English elite division log having garnered just four points from seven games.

According to Torino loanee Aina who scored his maiden Premier League goal in his 51st appearance, Fulham’s resurgence should be attributed to the 40-year-old’s influence on the team as he had stayed optimistic despite Fulham’s discouraging start.

“He has been great, keeping the belief within the camp and he always tells us that he believes in each and everyone of us, believes in our ability and what we can achieve,” Aina told Standard Sport.

“He has been very positive with us - where we lack, he lets us know, and where we do well, he lets us know. He is a very truthful guy and he has been great.”

The 24-year-old was part of the Blues’ three FA Youth Cup-winning sides and Uefa Youth League triumph, however, he was loaned to Hull City after failing to get regular action at Stamford Bridge.

After completing his spell with the Tigers, he was shipped to Serie A outfit Torino for another loan stint. His move was made permanent in a deal worth £8.9m (€10m) after he impressed during his one-year stay in Italy – making 32 appearances and scoring once.

In the 2019-20 season, he accounted for 37 appearances for the Bull, which included 32 matches in Serie A. However, he returned to England to join Fulham a day before their Premier League opening fixture against Arsenal.

He is expected to play a role as Parker’s men would be eyeing a victory against West Ham United at London Stadium on Saturday.

After the game, Aina will join Nigeria’s squad for next week’s double-header Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Sierra Leone.

UEFA has denied planning to hold Euro 2020 in Russia amid the ongoing restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The European Championship was pushed back by a year in March following the Covid-19 outbreak, which has caused over 1.2 million deaths across the globe to date.

The 24-team tournament was originally due to be held across 12 different countries, with Bilbao, Amsterdam, Baku, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome and St Petersburg all set to host matches.

However, reports of a potential change to that format have surfaced this week, with UEFA said to be drawing up a proposal to stage the competition in Russia, which has emerged as the leading candidate to host after successfully staging the 2018 World Cup finals.

Fears over continent-wide travel restrictions and quarantine rules are thought to be behind the push for reform, with several of the countries scheduled to stage games currently in lockdown as steps to contain the spread of coronavirus continue to be taken.

However, UEFA has insisted that a deviation from the pre-ordained format for Euro 2020 is not being considered, and that plans for the tournament to go ahead include welcoming supporters back into stadiums.

"UEFA's efforts are currently focused on planning a tournament with fans in all 12 venues," a UEFA spokesperson told SID.

The European Championship is scheduled to kick off on June 11, 2021, with the first group-stage match between Italy and Turkey set to take place at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

The final, meanwhile, is due to be held at Wembley Stadium in London on July 11, 2021, as UEFA celebrates the 60th anniversary of the competition.

Portugal picked up the trophy for the first time in their history back in 2016, beating France 1-0 after extra time in the showpiece event.

Both sides will be among the favourites to win the tournament alongside the likes of Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium and England, with the UEFA Nations League set to keep all of the countries in question busy until the action begins next year.

Portugal managed to win the inaugural Nations League with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in 2019, and the latest campaign will continue when the international break comes into effect next week.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt has bemoaned an injury to teenage midfielder Keletso Sifama as creating “a gap” in Amakhosi’s attacking options ahead of Wednesday’s Premier Soccer League match against TS Galaxy, but has welcomed the return of defender Kgotso Moleko.

The Soweto giants host Galaxy at FNB Stadium, keen to recover from last weekend’s 3-0 defeat by Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semi-final, first leg.

After being banned from signing new players by Fifa, Chiefs have also had to endure starting the season without key players like forward Samir Nurkovic and defender Eric Mathoho due to injuries.

Hunt has however hinted at starting Mathoho on Wednesday after the defender was on the bench against Pirates and it is yet to be seen if Moleko will also feature for the first time this season.

“We obviously do not have a big squad, so, the main thing now is to get the players that played the part last season, fit again,” Hunt told the Chiefs website.

“We all know one of them which is Samir Nurkovic is not in the squad and it is a huge blow for us. He scored a lot of goals last season and you can see we have a challenge already in that area.

“Tower [Mathoho] was out with injury. We have to get him fit again. We need to do the same with Katsande. They are the spine of the team. Keletso Sifama is out with injury which leaves a gap in our attacking options.”

The absence of Sifama comes as the 17-year-old has so far featured in two matches of Chiefs' four across all competitions this season.

Hunt has expressed faith in the midfielder and promised to field him more often.

With Chiefs struggling for consistency, they now face a TS Galaxy side yet to taste league defeat in the current campaign.

TS Galaxy are a grim reminder to Chiefs whom they beat in the final of the 2019 Nedbank Cup but Hunt is refusing to read much into history.

“Every game is a new challenge. I don’t look at the previous records,” said Hunt.

“You saw over the weekend, we beat Pirates three times last season but look what happened on Saturday, they beat us. You look at that result and ask yourself if it was a true reflection of the game.

“Galaxy have former Highlands Park players who provide them with some steel and energetic players from Galaxy itself, so it is going to be an interesting game. TS Galaxy are a good side. There are no pushovers in the Premiership. They have gelled and have put a couple of good players together. So, it is not going to be an easy game. The opportunity is there again to win the match.”

Chiefs' league campaign is currently marked by a 3-0 defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns and a 1-0 victory over Chippa United.

Cape Town City will battle with Mamelodi Sundowns in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday.

The Citizens registered their maiden win of the season when they edged out Maritzburg United 1-0 away last week and they are unbeaten in the league this season.

Coach Jan Olde Riekerink will be looking to ensure that his side maintains its unbeaten start by securing a win over the defending league champions, Sundowns. 

City will be up against a Sundowns side which is determined to make amends after surprisingly dropping points by drawing 0-0 against PSL debutants Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila at home last week.

The Masandawana technical team which is led by Manqoba Mngqithi will be keen to mastermind a win over City that could take the Tshwane giants to the top of the league standings if other results go their way.

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

The game will be shown live on SuperSport TV. 

Squads & Team News

Sundowns loanee Aubrey Ngoma will be unable to face his parent club with coach Riekerink having confirmed that the experienced winger is out nursing a muscle injury.

While Mozambique international Edmilson Dove will also be absent as the left-back is currently nursing a knee problem which saw him miss the clash against Maritzburg.

The dangerman for Riekerink's side is Mdududzi Mdantsane, who has been in top form having scored in each of his last two league matches and the attacking midfielder could be key to a win over Masandawana.

Meanwhile, Sundowns will be without Sibusiso Vilakazi and Gift Motupa once again with the two attackers currently nursing long-term injuries.

While attacking trio Grant Margeman, Mauricio Affonso and Gaston Sirino have been nursing short-term injuries and they could hand the Brazilians a boost ahead of the clash in the Mother City. 

All eyes will be on Kermit Erasmus as he faces his former employers, City for the first time having opened his scoring account at Sundowns against Kaizer Chiefs and the striker will be looking to play a key role in helping Masandawana win.

Match Preview

City are undefeated in their last two competitive matches having recorded a draw and a victory since they were eliminated from the MTN8 by Orlando Pirates last month.

The Mother City side boasts a nine-match unbeaten run at home in the league - recording seven wins and two draws.

While Sundowns are also undefeated in their last two competitive matches having registered a draw and a victory after being booted out of the MTN8 by Bloemfontein Celtic.

The Tshwane giants are enjoying a four-match unbeaten run on the road in the league - recording one draw and three successive victories as the visitors.

In head-to-head stats since 2016 when City were established, the two teams have met in eight league matches.

The Citizens have dominated this fixture having claimed five wins compared to two for Masandawana, while just one game has been drawn. 

Last season, City took four points off Sundowns, as they secured a 3-2 win in the second-round clash after the two teams drew 1-1 in the first round.

Edinson Cavani is getting sharper and sharper and it will not be long before the Manchester United striker makes a big impact at Old Trafford, according to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Cavani embarked on a new challenge in the Premier League by signing a one-season contract at Old Trafford in October, which includes the option of an extra year.

The 33-year-old had been without a club since leaving Paris Saint-Germain in June, and has been granted extra time to build up his fitness since his arrival at United.

He has had to be content with three substitute appearances for Solskjaer's side so far, with his latest cameo coming during a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday.

The Uruguayan has only shown glimpses of his predatory instincts amid a lack of playing time, but his manager is confident he will soon be ready to prove his worth as a regular starter after seeing him make gradual progress on the training pitch.

“He’s generally a fit man anyway and he’s getting his sharpness in training and he’s got some substitute appearances now," Solskjaer told a press conference ahead of the Red Devils' trip to Istanbul Basaksehir on Wednesday night.

"We haven’t managed to get him long enough yet to make a big impact but he’s looking sharper and sharper in training so it won’t be long.”

One man who could slot straight into Solskjaer's line-up in Turkey is Anthony Martial, who has just finished serving a three-game Premier League suspension after being sent off in a heavy loss to Spurs before the last international break.

The Frenchman scored a penalty as United thrashed RB Leipzig 5-0 in their last Champions League outing at Old Trafford, and the Norwegian head coach is hopeful he will kick on to rediscover his best form in the coming weeks.

“Anthony has been important for us last season and in the time I’ve been here. So, of course, to have him back is a boost," said Solskjaer. "It gives us more options for up front and on either side, and we’ll look forward to seeing the best of Anthony.

"I thought towards the end of the Leipzig game you could see his sharpness getting there and he was really positive and bright which is good.”

Pressed on the need for his side to react strongly after suffering their third top-flight reversal of the season with a crucial clash against Everton looming large on the horizon, Solskjaer added: "Definitely. It’s always important to bounce back and respond after a disappointing day.

"We’ve had some time to reflect over this [the Arsenal defeat] now and it’s gone, and we’ve got to get a performance in Istanbul and hopefully we’ll get three points and then we go to Everton.

"Of course we’ve not been helped by the schedule but it’s another challenge.”

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists that the European champions want David Alaba to stay at the club beyond the end of his current deal, which is set to expire at the end of the 2020-21 season.

Alaba's future in Bavaria has been up in the air for some time, with negotiations at a standstill as both the player and the club seek to thrash out the best deal possible for all involved.

Bayern's most recent offer came with a deadline, as revealed by sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, but the deal was not accepted and the club official stated his belief that the Austria international would be moving on at the end of the current campaign.

Rummenigge, meanwhile, maintains that negotiations remain cordial and is hopeful the defender will remain at the Allianz Arena for the foreseeable future.

“I don't know [if Alaba will leave],” the 65-year-old told Sport Bild. “We had a meeting two weeks ago with his father George and his advisor Pini Zahavi. The conversation was okay, the atmosphere was alright.

“But I have to say, we've been going in circles for months. At some point we have to start planning for the new season. We have to know: Will David stay with FC Bayern or not? A decision is important to us at this point.”

Reports claim the 28-year-old has been offered a five-year deal at €11 million per season, plus bonuses, and Rummenigge has called for players to consider the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic during negotiations over wages.

“Especially right now, with the coronavirus, players have to develop an understanding for the clubs,” he said. “We've lost a lot of money, we haven't had a spectator in the stadium for eight months. We're living with the threat of losses in the three-digit million range.

“I believe that players would be well advised to stay at a club if they feel comfortable there and, such as in David's case, are celebrating great successes. I think we all think the same thing here at the club: We all want David to stay. He's a wonderful person and a top player.

“David Alaba now has to make a decision for himself.”

Simba SC coach Seven Vandenbroeck has stressed the importance of beating rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC) in the Mainland Premier League derby on Saturday.

The two Tanzanian giants will meet for the first time this season, with Yanga yet to lose a match and sitting ahead of the Wekundu wa Msimbazi on the 18-team league table.

While Simba suffered back-to-back defeats against Tanzania Prisons and Ruvu Shooting, Yanga have been on a winning run of three matches, which was, however, halted on Tuesday after they battled to a 0-0 draw with promoted side Gwambina FC.

The Belgian tactician has now revealed that by beating Yanga it will help reduce the gap between the two giants and also push their quest to win a fourth straight league title in the 2020-21 season.

“For us to catch up with Yanga, we must beat them, there is no short cut,” Vandenbroeck said as quoted by Sokaletu. “A win will be good for us because it will help reduce the gap they have opened, and it will also keep alive our hopes of winning the title again.

“Our bounce-back win against Mwadui FC [5-0] was very important for us, we had lost two matches in a row and it was not a good result for us, we needed a quick turn around and I am happy the way my players responded, to finish of Mwadui was very great.

“We have a match against Kagera Sugar before we play the big derby against Yanga on Saturday and our focus is to win all the matches, Yanga are ahead of us by seven points and it will be very vital to make sure we reduce the gap, we must focus on that.

“Last season we lost against them [Yanga] in the second match of the season but it was not very important for us because we had already sealed the title, we now have to beat them to make sure we are close to them, we must start working on reducing the gap and also work on moving up the table to position one, where we belong.”

The derby will be played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium from 4 pm.

Sergio Reguilon has claimed that Tottenham informed him they had created special golf holes at their training ground especially for Gareth Bale following his arrival from Real Madrid.

Spurs signed the Wales international in the summer transfer window, with Bale returning to north London from Real Madrid on a season-long loan deal having won numerous trophies during his time at the Bernabeu.

The former Southampton winger struggled for form and fitness in his last couple of years with the Blancos, falling out of favour with head coach Zinedine Zidane in the process, leading to question marks over his future at the highest level.

He also saw his commitment to Madrid's cause called into question amid his well-documented love of playing golf, and risked the wrath of supporters by holding up a 'Golf, Wales, Madrid' banner while away on international duty.

Bale has been given the chance to get his career back on track in familiar surroundings and scored his first goal for Spurs following his return to wrap up a 2-1 victory for Jose Mourinho's side against Brighton on Sunday.

Reguilon, who left the Bernabeu to join Tottenham on a permanent deal in September, thinks Bale seems far more content in England than he was in Spain, and has even claimed that the club are encouraging his golfing habit in order to keep him happy.

The Spanish full-back told Cadena Ser of his team-mate's improved mood since returning to Spurs: "He seems different to me. The language is everything for him. He speaks Spanish well, it's not bad, a bit like me in English, but communication, the habits, mean he's happier in England... I have no idea if he'll return (to Madrid).

"What most surprised me is at Spurs' training ground there are golf holes. I asked about it and they told me they were put there for him! They're short holes, maybe 30 metres. I couldn't believe it!"

Reguilon was likely referring to the mini-golf green which has reportedly been in place at Tottenham's training ground for many years.

The 23-year-old is also thoroughly enjoying the early stages of his career with the north London club and has already warmed to Mourinho due to a combination of his communication skills and intensity on the training pitch.

Asked to offer an insight into his relationship with the Portuguese, Reguilon responded: "Great... I like this kind of demanding, intense coach. When we don't do what he wants he gets angry, like any coach... he's really close to the players."

The former Madrid star went on to discuss how he has adjusted to life in England before addressing the possibility of returning to the Bernabeu in the future.

"It gets dark at five o'clock! It's a different league and style but I adapt well to new situations... I get on great with my team-mates. Son [Heung-min] and [Pierre-Emile] Hojbjerg are good guys," he added.

"Madrid is my home and where I grew up. In the future, you never know but the possibility is there... I didn't speak to the boss (Zidane), it was more with the club. I know what they think of me, I had to take a decision.

"Time will tell. I didn't ask for explanations."

Michael Olunga may not link up with the Kenya national team after the Kashiwa Reysol camp was hit by three coronavirus cases.

Japan's Professional League (JPL) confirmed the cases on Tuesday and the match between Kashiwa Reysol and Vegalta Sendai had to be rescheduled.

Olunga’s head coach Nelsinho Baptista was among the confirmed members of the team who had contracted the virus but the identities of the other people who tested positive have not been made public yet.

Olunga is far ahead of his J1 League Golden Boot rivals as he is the leading scorer with 23 goals.

“The J-League has announced that matchweek 26 of the 2020 league match between Vegalta Sendai and Kashiwa Reysol, scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at 13:00 JST, has been cancelled after cases of the novel coronavirus [Covid-19] were confirmed in Kashiwa Reysol,” the league managers announced on Tuesday.

“We will inform you of the alternative date as soon as it is decided.

The statement further said: “Multiple PCR (Polymerise chain reaction) tests will be conducted on Kashiwa Reysol players and staff under the guidance of an expert team. Preparations for the Levain Cup will not be halted.”

Olunga’s absence may end up being a huge blow for head coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee who is preparing Harambee Stars for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Comoros.

Due to travel restrictions, Olunga was not part of the Kenya team that faced Zambia on October 9 in a friendly tie at Nyayo Stadium which the hosts won 2-1.

Mulee – in his first provisional squad since appointment – called up five strikers and Olunga’s probable absence will mean he will have to look upon the other four.

Gor Mahia’s Benson Omala, Masud Juma of JS Kabylie, John Avire of Tanta FC and Ulinzi Stars’ Oscar Wamalwa are the other forwards summoned.

The Comoros qualifiers - set for November 11 and 15 - offers Kenya a chance to fight for a first group win since they drew 1-1 against both Egypt and Togo in the first two games.

Harambee Stars are in the hunt for back-to-back Afcon qualifiers since they took part in the 2019 edition but were eliminated in the group stages.

Manchester United's board of directors "panicked" in appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to Paul Ince, who says his old club have lost their fear factor under the current manager.

Solskjaer brought up his 100th game in charge at Old Trafford on Sunday, but had very little to celebrate by the end of a heavyweight clash with Arsenal.

The Gunners ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty, with the defeat compounding United's worst start to a top-flight season since David Moyes' doomed tenure in 2013-14.

The Red Devils are currently languishing in the bottom half of the table, nine points behind pacesetters and defending champions Liverpool having played a game less.

Solskjaer has so far failed to build on the platform of a third-place Premier League finish in 2019-20, with his side unable to maintain their impressive post-lockdown form at the start of the new campaign.

The Norwegian endured a similar downturn in results when he was handed a permanent contract in March of last year, having initially overseen a revival of fortunes as interim head coach.

Ince thinks United officials jumped the gun by handing Solskjaer a three-year deal, and that teams are now confident of picking up points against the Red Devils both at home and away.

“They've been inconsistent for a while now - even before Ole took over," the former United midfielder told Ladbrokes. "Then they went on that great run and he got the job. It was hard not to give him the job after that run. I do think the board panicked though.

“All the fans were singing his name, ordering the club to give him the job and they did. I think they should've waited until the end of the season. Let him have it as interim manager until the end of the season then see who's out there, who the best man is for the job.

“I'm not saying Ole's not the best man for the job, and getting that team last season into third place was a great achievement. But I look at United now compared to when I played...

“We had a presence. Teams were frightened of us. We already had teams beat before we walked out onto the pitch. Whether it was home or away, teams were frightened of Manchester United. I don't see that now.

“Teams look at them and think they can take points from the game. We saw it against Arsenal, where United were woeful. We've seen Crystal Palace do it. Something's not quite right.”

The Red Devils are due back in Champions League action against Istanbul Basaksehir on Wednesday, when they will be aiming to extend their perfect record in Group H.

Solskjaer will then start preparing his squad for a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on Saturday, before the second international break of the season comes into effect.

Diego Maradona's brain surgery was a success and the Argentina great is recovering, according to his personal doctor Leopoldo Luque.

Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata head coach Maradona, 60, underwent a "routine" operation for a subdural haematoma on Tuesday.

The former Argentina and Napoli superstar was admitted to Ipensa clinic in La Plata on Monday due to concerns over anaemia and dehydration, before being transferred to Olivos Clinic in Buenos Aires province.

"I was able to evacuate the hematoma successfully and Diego tolerated the surgery very well," Luque told reporters following the emergency procedure.

"Diego is under control. He has a small drain [to remove fluid] that we are planning to take out tomorrow. His stay at the hospital will depend on his evolution.

"But the start of his recovery was great. The way he reacted after the surgery is promising."

Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986 and guided Napoli to two Serie A titles, has been in charge of Superliga Argentina club Gimnasia since 2019.

He appeared in a fragile state when he briefly made an appearance as his Gimnasia side played a match on the evening of his birthday last Friday.

Gimnasia won their opening game 3-0 at home to Patronato.

Maradona has suffered a number of health issues since retiring from football, twice undergoing gastric bypass surgery after becoming dangerously overweight, and falling ill at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

He took in another spell in hospital the following year due to internal bleeding of the stomach, with his daughter Gianinna raising fears on social media that her father was being "killed from the inside" by continuing his career in coaching.

Maradona dismissed her concerns in his own Instagram post, stating: "I'm not dying at all. I sleep peacefully because I am working. I don't know what Gianinna meant.

"I know that as one gets older people care more about what you will leave behind than about what you are doing. I am very healthy."

Vihiga United coach Sammy Okoth is confident they have what it takes to the turn tables and seal their place in the 2020-21 FKF Premier League season.

The Vihiga-based club suffered a 2-1 defeat against Kisumu All-Stars in the first leg of the play-off and will meet again on Wednesday at Moi Stadium in Kisumu, with the overall winner guaranteed a spot in the top-flight.

Vihiga, who were relegated to the lower-tier last season, must win by a 2-0 margin to be assured of earning the slot, and their coach Okoth is confident they will do the job away from home.

“We lost the first leg because of our own mistakes, and I am very happy that the players have accepted it was their mistakes and they have promised me a different ball game in the return leg,” Okoth told Goal on Wednesday.

“My players also know we don’t have the advantage going into the match and they have promised me to turn the tables, we have to win, we must win the battle because we deserve to play in the top-flight.”

Okoth has also rallied his troops to maintain discipline throughout the clash by stating: “Discipline is key today especially for our defenders to ensure we don’t concede early goals and penalties that might put the game beyond us. I believe in my players and if we play according to plan we should be able to win,”

After losing to All-Stars in the first meeting, a visibly angry Okoth said: “The early penalty undid our game plan completely. “We rushed into every decision we made after that and it played hugely to the benefit of our opponents.

“All-Stars’ plan also seemed like it was geared around creating stoppages as there were too many of them and the game never really flowed.”

A double from Willis Otenda ensured that All-Stars have the advantage going into the return leg with Dennis Wafula managing a consolation for Vihiga.

Kisumu All-Stars, promoted at the end of the 2018/19 season from the National Super League (NSL), found their maiden campaign in the top-tier tough and now have to navigate the playoffs to remain in the top-flight.

They only managed to register eight points, two wins, two draws, and 12 losses before the league was cancelled in May.