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Barcelona have appointed Ramon Planes as the club's new technical director.

Planes succeeds Eric Abidal, who was sacked on Tuesday as club revamps its management team following their 8-2 hammering at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The Spaniard was previously Abidal's assistant, having joined from Getafe in the summer of 2018.

The 52-year-old has previously worked at a number of Spanish clubs including Espanyol, Racing Santander, Alaves, Lleida, Elche and Rayo Vallecano.

He also had a short spell in the Premier League alongside Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham during the 2014-15 season.

The announcement of Planes' promotion came shortly before the club confirmed the appointment of Ronald Koeman as the club's new head coach.

The former Blaugranas defender succeeds Quique Setien, whose seven-month spell in charge at Camp Nou was brought to an end at the start of the week.

More to follow.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have requested Rwandan giants Rayon Sports to grace their final Wananchi Day event ahead of the 2020/21 season.

The Wananchi Day is a regular pre-season activity carried out by the former league champions to engage fans and unveil new players and is mostly concluded by inviting a regional club for a friendly.

Yanga have set the ultimate event to take place on August 29 and Rayon Sports have confirmed receipt of the request from their Tanzanian counterparts. Last time, Timu Ya Wananchi played against the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Kariobangi Sharks in Dar es Salaam.

The Jangwani club is set to unveil the week-long event on August 22.

Jean-Paul Nkurunziza Rayon Sports’ spokesperson, confirmed Simba SC had requested them to feature in their own similar event. Simba have, however, confirmed they will entertain Burundian side Vital’ O.

“They both [Simba and Yanga] want friendly matches, and Yanga have even officially written to us about it. The request is still under review, we are yet to respond,” Nkurunziza told The New Times.

Rayon Sports have been out of action since March 14 when Ferwafa suspended the Rwandan Premier League due to the coronavirus pandemic and it is not clear whether they are ready to entertain the Tanzanian giants.

APR were consequently declared champions of the absconded league which means Rayon Sports will miss continental football in the 2020/21 season.

The nine-time Rwandan champions last defeated Yanga 1-0 in a 2018 Caf Confederation Cup tie and went ahead to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament.

That remains their best outing in the continent’s second-tier club competition and in fact, none of the Rwandan sides have gone that far.

Yanga have been strengthening ahead of the upcoming season by signing Bakari Mwamnyeto from Coastal Union, Yassin Mustapha from Polisi Tanzania, Zawadi Mauya from Kagera Sugar, and Abdallah Shaibu from LA Galaxy II already.

Waziri Junior from Mbao FC, Kibwana Shomari from Mtibwa Sugar and Farid Mussa from CD Tenerife in Spain, Tuisila Kisinda and Mukoko Tonombe both of AS Vita are the other new players who have been brought on board.

After failing to win a silverware in the last season, Yanga released 14 players to create room for the new ones. The technical bench was also reshuffled which saw assistant coach Boniface Mkwasa and goalkeeping coach Peter Manyika leave.

They are also in the market looking for Luc Eymael’s successor as head coach.

Chelsea have attempted to sign Kai Havertz for €65 million (£58m/$76m) with another €15m (£13m/$18m) included in add-ons - but the offer remains €20m (£18m/$24m) below Bayer Leverkusen's €100m (£87m/$118m) asking price.

The Blues had waited until the completion of Leverkusen's Europa League campaign before advancing talks for the 21-year-old who remains their priority transfer target, alongside Leicester City's Ben Chilwell.

The Germany international has already spoken of his intent to leave his boyhood club this summer and he has verbally agreed on the personal terms that the west Londoners are offering.

It now looks almost certain that he will become the most expensive German football transfer of all time, after Timo Werner's £47.5m ($62m) move to Chelsea two months ago. He would also likely be the Blues' all-time record signing ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga, who cost £71m ($93m) to bring in from Athletic Club.

Still, the Blues need to agree on a fee to complete the talks and Leverkusen's sporting director Rudi Voller has taken a strong public stance.

He explained that no discounts are available, in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport : "No, but with his talent, it means he's on the list of all the best clubs.

"We know of the interest of a couple of clubs, especially Chelsea, but for us, the situation is quite simple; he has a two-year contract, if anyone wants him on our terms, fine, otherwise he stays here another year and we are happy. It won't be easy, but for an artist like him, there is no Covid discount."

Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has admitted publicly that Havertz wants to "take the next step" in his career, with only Chelsea currently negotiating to sign him.

The high asking price has warded off interested parties such as Bayern Munich, who spent their budget on bringing in Leroy Sane from Manchester City for an initial £40m ($53m).

Meanwhile, Real Madrid have to sell before they buy in this transfer market as the coronavirus pandemic hits some clubs worse than others. The Spanish giants are unlikely to be able to raise the €100m despite initially having been the versatile midfielder's first choice.

Having scored 18 goals and provided eight assists in all competitions in 2019-20, Havertz has emerged as Germany's outstanding young talent,  with Frank Lampard having publicly referred to him as a "top player".

Meanwhile, Chelsea are hoping to sell Emerson Palmieri to help fund a move for Chilwell which could break the world transfer record for a full-back.

Chelsea may look at strengthening their goalkeeper and centre-back positions after poor defensive performances throughout the entirety of last season.

However, Kepa looks difficult to sell due to Chelsea's attempts to make back most of the money they paid for him, while even his salary is leading to only cautious loan approaches from Valencia and Sevilla.

Furthermore, it is expected to be a weak centre-back market this summer with many of the top players opting to stay in their current clubs.

Leon Goretzka's former team-mates have marvelled at the Bayern Munich star's physical transformation in recent years, particularly the muscle mass he has built without sacrificing speed or agility.

Goretzka has become one of Bayern's key figures, starting and providing an assist in his side's 8-2 demolition of Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final last week. 

The 25-year-old's development as a player has included a physical aspect, with the midfielder bulking up after joining Bayern in 2018 from Schalke. 

Speaking to Goal , former Schalke defender Roman Neustadter has revealed that he is impressed with the physical development of his old team-mate.

"After I've seen his development, I wrote to him directly to send me the exercises he was doing!" Neustadter said. "Even at Schalke we saw that he has the physical abilities to build muscle mass without harming his game.

"Of course, he made the best possible use of the coronavirus break. You can't just decide for yourself: 'So, I'm gaining a few pounds of muscle mass'.

"I tried that myself when I thought I needed more muscles. However, I could hardly move afterwards! Leon's muscle growth was certainly precisely coordinated with the club."

Another former team-mate, Jan Kirchhoff, echoed Neustadter's sentiments about Goretzka maintaining his same level as a footballer despite gaining muscle mass.

"Although he is quite tall, he is very fast. Leon is a born box-to-box player and can cover unbelievably long distances in a very short time," Kirchhoff told Goal .

"That has always been his strength. He is energetic one-on-one and records a lot of ball recoveries. In the meantime, he gained a few pounds, but has not lost speed and agility. The fact that he has again improved athletically has certainly helped him. He now has the perfect mix."

Kirchhoff recalled a conversation he had with Goretzka earlier in his career when the midfielder told him that of any club in Europe, Bayern was the one he wanted most to join.

"I can still remember a conversation with him," Kirchhoff said. "Because he was such a great talent, I asked him which club he would like to play for one day: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea?

"He already said back then he would like to play for Bayern Munich one day, if he could choose the club. That was his clear goal, he achieved it and I'm very happy about that."

Manchester United players were still in awe of Zlatan Ibrahimovic even after the Swedish forward had left Old Trafford, says Red Devils goalkeeper Lee Grant.

Ibrahimovic joined United on a free transfer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2016 .

He scored 29 goals in 53 appearances for the Old Trafford club, before being released from his contract early in March 2018 in order to join MLS side the LA Galaxy.

Grant moved to Old Trafford four months later so never got to play alongside the former Inter and AC Milan forward, though the striker's impact was still being felt.

“All I was hearing in that first month or so, while I was acclimatising, were stories about Zlatan,” Grant told the club’s official website.

“His period at the club had just come to an end but the lads would talk about him constantly. 'Do you remember when Zlatan did this?' 'Do you remember him getting on to such and such in training and he nearly made him cry?' 'Do you remember that thing he does, the kung-fu kick over his head?' 'Do you remember Zlatan scored that goal? Do you remember when he nutmegged that guy and absolutely took the p*ss?

“I thought: 'Oh my God, who is this Zlatan character?' but that was what it was like all the time.

“I got to meet him [on pre-season tour] in LA but it was literally for five or 10 minutes, just to say hello and ask how he was enjoying America and all the rest of it.

“For me, just to see how the lads interacted with him. Huge stars, well huge stars to me, looking up to the king! It was quite an eye-opener. But he seemed a really nice guy.

“I'm actually disappointed I didn't get the chance to play with him myself. I played against him, of course.”

Though Grant did not play alongside Ibrahimovic, he did impress when playing against him for Stoke in October 2016.

The 37-year-old made a string of saves as the Potters secured a 1-1 draw against Jose Mourinho’s side, which may have gone a long way towards convincing the United hierarchy to sign him 21 months later.

“I had him on toast,” joked Grant. “He's in here, in my pocket somewhere.

“I had him on toast that day. Of course, I wouldn't say that to his face. If I was training against him, I would imagine he would have me on toast more than I had him on toast but that was a good day for me.

“I wanted to show the Manchester United fans, and everyone in that stadium, not consciously perhaps, but I wanted the fans to remember Lee Grant after this game. Subconsciously, I really wanted to do well and make some impression. I made 10 saves and had a really good game.”

New Ajax signing Mohammed Kudus is delighted to have gotten his new adventure off with 45 minutes of action in a pre-season friendly against Wolfsberger on Tuesday.

The Ghanaian lasted for the duration of the second half as Erik ten Hag's side registered a 2-0 triumph in their first game of a training camp in Austria ahead of the 2020-21 Eredivisie commencement next month.

He joined Ajax on a five-year deal from Danish outfit Nordsjaelland in a transfer reportedly worth about €9 million last month.

"It's good to get back on the pitch. I had some days off and have been preparing to start playing, so it was good to get some minutes for my legs and do what I do best. It was a great feeling to get back with the team," Kudus told Ajax TV after the game.

"It feels really good [to wear the Ajax jersey]. I couldn't wait to start playing with the team and it has happened. I [have] just joined my teammate and [will] used my individual skills to help them do well in the season.

"[What the coach said to me before I went into the game] was more tactical stuff on offensive and defensive [task] on what he expects of me in my role, so that was basically it. And the rest is just use my abilities to help the team.

"[My first days here with the team in Austria] has been good. Nice people, nice teammates, new stuff, still learning and adapting. It's been great so far and I'm looking forward to the season to start. Everyone is helping [me settle] but naturally, I'm closer to the African guys, so [Andre] Onana and Lassina [Traore]. [They tell me to] just be myself and enjoy.

"It's a pre-season so I am hoping to get as much ready as possible for the season, push myself and get ready for the season. I can't wait [for the next season] - more magic [to come]."

Kudus joined Nordsjaelland from Ghana's Right to Dream Academy in 2018. Last season, he made 25 league appearances for the Wild Tigers, starting 22 of the matches, scoring 11 times and assisting one goal. 

Kylian Mbappe says he is feeling the same vibes as when he won the World Cup with France following Paris Saint-Germain's run to a first ever Champions League final.

PSG put RB Leipzig to the sword in their semi-final clash at Estadio da Luz on Tuesday night, with goals from Marqinhos, Angel Di Maria and Juan Bernat wrapping up a comprehensive 3-0 win.

Thomas Tuchel's men took the lead with just 13 minutes on the clock when Marqinhos headed home a beautifully flighted Di Maria free-kick from just outside the box.

PSG continued to apply pressure for the remainder of the half, with Mbappe missing a clear chance and Neymar striking the woodwork before the second goal of the game eventually came just before the interval.

Leandro Paredes pounced on a poor pass from the Bundesliga outfit's goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi to feed Neymar in the penalty area, whose delightful flick set up Di Maria perfectly to score his 13th goal of the season.

Di Maria grabbed his second assist early in the second period, as his cross was headed past Gulacsi by Bernat, with the goal standing after a lengthy VAR review confirmed that the Spaniard was onside when the ball was played.

PSG saw out the last half hour of the contest in comfortable fashion and will now look forward to a showpiece encounter against either Bayern Munich or Lyon on Sunday.

When asked how reaching the Champions League final compares to arriving on the same stage at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Mbappe told reporters post-match: "I feel the same vibes because we managed to create a group where everyone knows their importance and everyone do their job.

"We do a lot of activities outside the pitch, maybe it's too much for some but that's how you win titles."

The 21-year-old went on to admit that he thought his season had been ended early when he picked up an injury in the French Cup final on July 24, before explaining how he managed to make a remarkable recovery to feature in both the quarter and semi-finals.

"When I got injured against Saint Etienne, I thought the Champions League was over for me," he said. "But the morning after I told myself I needed to be part of this journey, even if I didn't play, at least to bring my good mood to the team."

Mbappe added on his deadly partnership with Neymar in the PSG attack: "The coach said that we get along very well, and we get along very well on and off the pitch, so I think it’s important for the group too. It is a pleasure to play with a player like Neymar.

"He’s one of the best players in the world and he proved it today. Maybe he hasn’t scored a goal but he assisted which is very important too as Di Maria benefited from it."

Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel has explained his angry outburst at RB Leipzig fitness coach Daniel Behlau after Tuesday's Champions League semi-final in Lisbon.

PSG reached the European Cup final for the first time in their history by beating Leipzig 3-0 at Estadio da Luz.

Goals from Marquinhos, Angel Di Maria and Juan Bernat wrapped up a comfortable victory for the French champions, who can now look forward to a showpiece clash against either Bayern Munich or Lyon on Sunday.

Leipzig lost their discipline defensively as they struggled to cope with PSG's high press and pace in the final third of the pitch, and gave away a total of 24 fouls over the course of the 90 minutes.

Tuchel was seen clashing with Behlau shortly after the final whistle, but he attempted to play down the exchange in his post-match interview.

The German manager admitted to confronting his Leipzig counterpart Julian Nagelsmann over his tactics, before revealing that the club's fitness guru attempted to join in their private conversation.

"It was between me and Julian," Tuchel told reporters of the incident. "That is okay between two head coaches but then a third person interfered. 

"I didn’t like that but it has since been sorted out."

Nagelsmann conceded that Tuchel's grievances were understandable, while acknowledging the fact that his side had been guilty of several mistimed tackles.

"We fouled a lot, you can see that statistically," the Leipzig head coach said. "That wasn’t planned, we just often came too late into challenges.

"He complained because he wanted to protect his players. That’s all normal.

"I think we had 34 fouls at the end of the day so you can say something."

Tuchel was delighted to see his team pick up a "deserved" victory against Leipzig, but conceded that Bayern are still the favourites to win this season's Champions League after their stunning 8-2 quarter-final win over Barcelona.

"It's incredible! We are here to play a final and to win," said the 46-year-old. "We know that Bayern are the favourites, but it's football.

"Obviously, that will be the biggest challenge of my career on Sunday."

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Appeals Board has now commenced the process of listening to disputes arising on the club register ahead of the national elections.

The Electoral Board led by Kentice Tikolo has already set October 17 as the date for the national elections which will be preceded by grassroots polls held across the 47 counties on September 19.

“The Appeals Board is starting today [Wednesday], August 19, to Friday, August 21, 2020, inviting disputes on the club register published by the FKF Electoral Board earlier this week,” the board stated in a statement obtained by Goal.

“Individuals who lodged their disputes to the Board and couldn’t find satisfaction in its decisions can now seek recourse at the Appeals Board, by filing their complaints via email.

“The complaints will be heard via video link and should be lodged upon payment of the relevant fees, as is stipulated in Section Seven of the FKF Electoral Code.

“The Board’s decisions shall be final and binding.”

The statement continued: “Upon hearing of disputes, the FKF Electoral Board will on August 22, 2020, publish the final list of clubs eligible to vote at both the national and county levels.

“FKF Members who need to change their endorsements, meanwhile, are free to do so before the deadline, set on August 21, 2020.”

It will be the third time in a year that the FKF will be holding elections.

The previous two exercises were nullified by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) last December and in March this year, with SDT chairman John Ohaga ruling the rules of engagement were flouted on both occasions.

On setting the guidelines for the exercise, Tikolo insisted the FKF Electoral Code, which has been the contentious issue with most presidential candidates saying it should be changed, will remain in force.

“In consonance with the directive from Fifa and in the spirit of progression, the FKF electoral process shall be predicated upon the FKF Statutes, the FKF Electoral Code currently in force and/or the Fifa Statutes/guidelines where required or where applicable,” Tikolo said.

“The electoral process shall begin at the county level in accordance with article 27 of the FKF (2017) Constitution.”

FKF presidential aspirants Sam Nyamweya, Twaha Mbarak, Nicholas Musonye, have strongly opposed the decision to use the Code and have already moved to court to have the exercise stopped.

Former Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has tipped Thiago Alcantara to adapt well to the Premier League but has cautioned that the Bayern Munich star would have work to do to become a starter at Liverpool.

The 29-year-old has turned down the opportunity to extend his stay at Bayern as his contract enters its final year. 

Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said that the club are willing to sell Thiago for a "fair transfer fee" as the midfielder continues to be linked with a move to Anfield.

Mertesacker, who featured for Hannover and Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga as well as Arsenal in the Premier League during his playing career, believes Thiago would do well with the English playing style but warned that the Spain international may not be able to instantly walk into Jurgen Klopp's team.

"I can already imagine the transfer, but the midfield axis of Liverpool is set up," Mertesacker told Goal and SPOX.  "Getting in there is very ambitious, but he's a top footballer who can play anywhere.

"He wouldn't have any problems with the style of play in England either because he's a footballer who has been coached well.

"He has to adapt and sometimes do a 40-metre sprint to hit a central defender, but he can. He has to decide for himself, as it may well be that he won't play a major role in the first games in Liverpool. There are still a few players ahead of him because of their achievements over the past two years."

Prior to any move away, however, Thiago and his team-mates still have the matter of this season's Champions League to occupy them.

Bayern will take on surprise package Lyon in Wednesday's semi-final and would face PSG in the final should they advance. 

Following an incredible 8-2 demolition of Barcelona in the quarter-finals, Mertesacker expects a different kind of match against the Ligue 1 upstarts. 

"It's going to be a different game," Mertesacker said. "Bayern have to be a little more patient.

"You have to move Lyon in their compactness, switch sides and get the fast wingers in two-on-one situations. In the middle, Lyon will make it very compact."

Orlando Pirates may still be trying to find their feet since the resumption of the season and everyone might be focusing on whether or not Gabadinho Mhango will win the Golden Boot award. 

But there's a new sheriff in town - Nkanyiso Zungu - who is slowly becoming more important to Josef Zinnbauer's team. 

Zungu has featured in each of Pirates last three games but it was against Baroka that he really proved why the club signed him from Stellenbosch FC. 

After struggling with a long term injury following his arrival, the suspension of the season worked in Zungu's advantage as it allowed him to fully recover and get to buy into Zinnbauer's philosophy. 

He came on very late in the 0-0 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns and played the final 25 minutes of his team's goalless draw against Bidvest Wits. 

Getting to feature for 45 minutes against Baroka was exactly what Zungu needed to showcase his talent and convince the German mentor that he's the player needed to stabilise that midfield. 

For the longest time, Pirates missed a player with strength, height and flair in midfield. 

The last player similar to Zungu that Pirates had was Mark Mayambela but he was more about flair and a bit wasteful in the final third of the pitch. 

However, Zungu has brought a different dimension into how the Buccaneers play; a hard worker of note with accurate passes to his teammates. 

The only difference, for now, is that Zungu appears to a little bit afraid of going forward but once he gets into the groove then Pirates will dominate the midfield battle against any of their opponents. 

Not too many fans endorsed his move to Pirates because they thought he wasn't ready for that big step in his football career, including his former coach at Stellenbosch, Steve Barker, but he is slowly making those who doubted his decision eat humble pie. 

At 24, Zungu still has a lot of time to learn more about the Pirates culture and way of doing things. He just needs the faith from his technical team and consistency to be the club's main man in that midfield. 

His silky touches and ability to take on opposition midfielders make him an asset to Zinnbauer ahead of next season. 

And there was no better time to introduce him to the Pirates faithful than this - Zungu will use the remaining matches of the season as preparation for next season, especially now that Zinnbauer's men appear to have fallen out of the race for the PSL title. 

Zinnbauer has all the time in the world to experiment while maintaining his side's third-place on the log for a possible return to continental football, and if Zungu continues to show glimpses of what he can offer the team going forward then chances are that he will have a bigger role to play next season. 

In recent years, Pirates have had to rely on intelligence more than strength to win midfield battles but in Zungu, they have both the intelligence and strength and that will give other players enough freedom to express themselves while knowing there's a player that can mark and pass the ball to them.

Zinnbauer and Pirates must invest in Zungu ahead of next season if they want to challenge for trophies and they must play a role in helping him regain his confidence in the attacking third.        

Premier League sides Vipers SC and KCCA FC have reluctantly welcomed the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) $500,000  (UShs1.8b) grant.

The Fufa Executive Committee on August 17 approved the appropriation of the Fifa Covid-19 relief grant of $500,000 which will be deposited in the beneficiaries’ accounts within the next 14 days.

From the solidarity grant allocations, the 16 Premier League clubs will receive a total of USh527 million which means each of the teams will receive USh33 million.

The Fufa Big Leagues clubs are set to get USh15 million each which means their total share is USh240 million.

KCCA FC CEO Anisha Muhoozi said although they welcomed the support, it is actually just "a drop in the ocean" given their needs.

“Any income that is received by the club makes a difference given that it was not expected,” Muhoozi told Daily Monitor.

“However, considering our expenses, this is a drop in the ocean but we are, nonetheless, grateful.

“In future, such funds are allocated to clubs as per their wholesome contribution to the game and not on a flat basis.

“Our expenses are way above the others and likewise what we bring to the table is different as showcased by our various budgets presented to Fufa as per club licensing requirements.”

Meanwhile, recently crowned league champions Vipers said the solidarity grant will help cover a small part of their financial needs.

“It may help to mitigate a small percentage of the club’s financial and operational obligations to staff and players,” the club’s spokesperson Abdu Wasike told the same publication.

“The second batch of $500,000 from Fifa will solve an extra percentage.

“The stakeholders are many, except I thought Fufa administration had received their share already in the operational fund earlier sent by Fifa.”

Fufa CEO Edgar Watson confirmed the federation was in the process of applying for the women’s football grant and that all stakeholders will be informed of any developments in this regard as soon as they happen.

The step taken by Fufa came after a number of top clubs wrote to it requesting that they are covered in the relief plan that the federation was set to get from the world governing body.

The clubs cited the hard economic environment they were operating in since the coronavirus pandemic hit their operations.

Gokulam Kerala are all set to rope in 35-year-old Italian manager Vincenzo Alberto Annese as their new head coach for the upcoming season, Goal can confirm.

The Malabarians had recently parted ways with their Spanish coach Fernando Santiago Varela and Annese, a UEFA Pro License holder, is all set to replace him at the club.

Varela had a mixed season last year. It started with a magnificent Durand Cup triumph, Gokulam’s first-ever national trophy, in Kolkata beating ohun Bagan. Unfortunately, the team faltered in the SK. Kamal International tournament in Dhaka and then failed to make a mark in the I-League.

Annese had a very brief career as a footballer which lasted for just five years. At just the age of 26 in 2010, he joined Italian third division club S.S. Fidelis Andria 1928’s youth team. After managing the youth team for two years, he was promoted as the head coach of the senior team in 2012.

In 2013 he moved to another Serie C club Foggia Calcio where he served as their head coach for a year before heading to Estonian side Paide Linnameeskond. From 2015 to 2016, he was in charge of the Armenia U19 side.

The young coach also has the experience of managing in Africa and Asia. In 2017, for a very brief period he was the head coach of Ghanaian Premier League club Bechem United FC.

Annese’s Asian sojourn includes stints with Palestinian club Ahli Al-Khaleel and Indonesian side PSIS Semarang. His last assignment was with the Belize national football team, a member of the CONCACAF.

When Goal contacted Gokulam Kerala President V.C.Praveen about the development regarding their head coach, he chose not to confirm or deny the same. 

Gokulam Kerala will hope that the new coach will guide them to their maiden I-League title in a campaign that will be held in Kolkata.

The seventh edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) is slated to be held in Goa - across three stadiums, namely Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, the GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim and the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco.

The stadiums have been allotted to teams based on their standings from the previous season - as listed below - and each team will be alloted a separate training pitch among 12 options provided by the league.
 

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium,  Fatorda

'Home' to: FC Goa, ATK Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC

Home of FC Goa since the inception of the ISL and host to two finals, in 2015 and 2019. Churchill Brothers has also used the ground as their home venue in the I-League 2019-20 season. Established in 1989, the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) ground has been home to Dempo SC, Salgaocar FC, Churchill Brothers SC and Sporting Clube de Goa in the I-League over the years.

International cricket has also been played here, besides a number of major footballing events including the Indian national team's games. The stadium was renovated ahead of the 2014 Lusofonia Games and then again before the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The venue was also doubled up as a shelter home for several migrants during the Coronavirus lockdown.
 

GMC Athletic Stadium,  Bambolim

'Home' to: Chennaiyin FC, Mumbai City, Odisha FC, Kerala Blasters

The relatively new stadium was constructed for the 2014 Lusofonia Games and hosted the football event at the Games where Goa-India team won the gold medal. The ground has been used as a practice ground by FC Goa's first team in 2019-20 season besides the home ground for their B team in the Goa Pro League. The Gaurs have also played a number of their friendlies here. The Indian Arrows have also played I-League matches in the past.

Also owned and maintained by SAG, it was enlisted as one of the training grounds at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
 

Tilak Maidan,  Vasco

'Home' to: Jamshedpur FC, NorthEast United, Hyderabad FC

This SAG-owned ground has regularly been a host to I-League games as well various other competitions like the Goa Pro League. Indian Arrows and Churchill Brothers were the last two teams to have the venue as their home stadium in the I-League.

It was used as one of the official training grounds for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

North Goa

South Goa

Mashoor Shereef, the man, is from the football-loving district of Malappuram. Mashoor, the professional footballer, however, was made in Chennai. 

Having grown up with football all around him, in school and at the grounds in the district, Mashoor's passion for the sport is deep-rooted. In his own words, his neighbourhood breathed football and that played a role in generating a desire in him to keep playing up to his college days.

He spent time with his friends at Manchester United Kavungal, a local team that played Sevens football close to his home. There, he discussed and played the sport while coming to terms with how addictive it can really become when the passion kicks in. 

At SN College, Kannur, his coach Ganesh convinced the youngster that he has the skillset to take up football as a career. He started his career with Arrows FC in the Chennai football league and went on to play for the likes of Air India (Mumbai) and United SC (Kolkata) before signing for I-League club Chennai City.

The 2017-18 season saw him play just five matches in the I-League for the Coimbatore-based team. Then came Akbar Nawas as the team's head coach and Mashoor's career reached a turning point.

He had 11 appearances to his name, which included three starts, as Chennai won the I-League in the 2018-19 season. His numbers improved again last season, as the 27-year-old played every single league game, started an AFC Cup fixture and scored six goals in all competitions.  

"I didn't get chances in the first season but the arrival of Akbar Nawas and his style of play had a huge impact. I played a lot more and the coach helped me a lot. He was extremely supportive and filled me with confidence. He helped me transition myself into a defender," Mashoor, the forward-turned-defender told Goal. 

Mashoor is now a fine defender, something that he never imagined he would turn out to be when he started his career. And he has his coach to thank for the transformation that has helped him to not only explore his potential but also fetch good offers in the transfer market. One such offer is that of Indian Super League (ISL) club NorthEast United, who are set to wrap up a deal to take Malappuram-born Mashoor to Guwahati.

"Everyone at Chennai City supported me. Akbar was (the reason) why I was able to play a lot more in the last two seasons. I improved a lot thanks to him. I scored twice each in the Durand Cup,  I-League and the Sheikh Jamal Cup (scored a total of six goals last season).

"The turning point in my career was changing my position (to be a defender). I was able to make an impact after that and received offers from other clubs after having done well in that role. I am happy and I am confident that I can do well going forward (in the ISL)."

After three years at Chennai City, it is now time for Mashoor to move on. And he has the full support of the club. 

"My contract was about to end. The management was supportive and wished the best for my future."

If everything goes according to plan, Mashoor will have completed a leap from a Sevens football club Manchester United Kavungal to the Indian Super League the next time he steps on a football pitch. 
 

PSG can join Celtic in being the only teams to win a clean sweep of trophies, including the Champions League, if they defeat Bayern Munich or Lyon in Sunday's final.

The Parisians reached the final oif Europe's premier club tournament with a comfortable 3-0 victory against RB Leipzig at the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday.

If they can triumph in the Champions League final, PSG will snare an incredible fifth trophy for the season - meaning they have won every competition they have competed in.

Only Scottish giants Celtic have enjoyed similar success in a single campaign, when they won five trophies in 1966-67, with their haul including the European Cup, Scottish First Division, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup and Glasgow Cup.

In fact, only Real Madrid (2016-17, 2017-18) and Bayern (2012-13) have ever won four trophies in a season that has included lifting the Champions League.

Their first trophy came over a year ago when they defeated Rennes 2-1 in Shenzhen to win their seventh consecutive Trophee des Champions title - which is a one-off match between the Ligue 1 winners and Coupe de France champions.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic forcing football to stop at the beginning of April, PSG were awarded the Ligue 1 title later that month when LFP (Ligue de Football Professionnel) decided to cancel the season and give the title to the capital club, who led by 12 points at the time.

When football resumed in July, the French powerhouse had two cup finals to compete in - the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue.

On July 24, PSG defeated St.Etienne 1-0 to become the Coupe de France champion and seven days later they overcame Lyon on penalties to clinch the Coupe de la Ligue.

Sunday's Champions League final will see Thomas Tuchel's side go in as underdogs if they are playing Bayern or favourites if compatriots Lyon qualify.

The tournament hasn't been a happy hunting ground for PSG, having been eliminated at the quarter-stage in every edition from 2012-2016 and then at the round-of-16 between 2016-19.

Their exits from the Champions League have included infamous wasted opportunities like the extraordinary 6-5 loss to Barcelona on aggregate in 2017 and the exit to Manchester United last season despite being in a dominant position.

Paris Saint-Germain star Angel Di Maria is closing in on Mohamed Salah, Gonzalo Higuain and Patrick Kluivert’s Champions League goal record.

The Argentina international put up a man-of-the-match display in the Ligue 1 side’s 3-0 triumph over RB Leipzig in Tuesday’s semi-final clash settled at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.

Di Maria got a goal and two assists as Thomas Tuchel’s men reached the tournament’s final for the first time in the club’s history.

He crossed for Marquinhos to power in the opener after 11 minutes before profiting from some uplifting Neymar trickery to double his team’s advantage before half-time.

In the 56th minute, he set up Juan Bernat for the third as the Parisians booked a place in Sunday’s final and will square up against either Lyon or Bayern Munich.

The 32-year-old has now stayed unbeaten in all 17 Champions League matches he has scored in – with 15 wins and two draws, a touching distance of Liverpool’s Salah run in 18 games.

For Gonzalo Higuain, he is undefeated in 21 games has netted in, while 1994–95 winner Kluivert holds the record of not losing in 25 Champions Leagues ties he has scored in.

After an impressive showing, he was replaced with three minutes left to play by Pablo Sarabia. After the game, he expressed his delight with PSG’s performance while revealing they will keep working hard to win the prize at stake.

"We ate them up from minute one," Di Maria said in quotes published on the BBC. "It's going to be tough to sleep between now and the final.

"We worked hard all game and we showed we deserve to be here. It doesn't matter who we face, either Bayern or Lyon, we'll give our all.

"We're very happy. It's a first for the club. We worked hard and played a great game. We want to make history for the club. We succeeded tonight and we're in the final – that's very important. We have to continue like tonight to make our dream come true."

Having won a domestic treble of Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue and Ligue 1, plus the Trophee des Champions, this is shaping up to be the most famous season in the club's history.

RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann has admitted PSG were the better team on Tuesday and deserved to qualify for the Champions League final.

The Bundesliga side were swept aside 3-0 in the semi-final at the Estadio da Luz, with Marquinhos, Angel Di Maria and Juan Bernat getting on the scoresheet, while Neymar and Kylian Mbappe also performed strongly in attack.

Nagelsmann felt his team started the match well but in the end had no answer for the quality shown by the Ligue 1 champions.

"At the end the ticket for the final for PSG is well deserved," Nagelsmann told BT Sport. "[The] first 10-12 minutes we played well. PSG has so much quality and at the end they were the better team, but football is sometimes like that.

"We had to decide before the game if we wanted to attack early. In the first 10 minutes we had three or four good moments and made two or three big mistakes.

"When we conceded the second goal the belief of our players drained. At the end it was a question of character and we did well in the second half."

Leipzig finish the season without winning a trophy, but impressed in their run to the Champions League last four, while they finished third in the Bundesliga and reached the DFB-Pokal round of 16.

Nagelsmann believed his team enjoyed a solid campaign and said they will be out to win trophies next season.

"It is not that easy to think of the good season but after a week it will be OK," he said. 

"We are a young team and will try to do it well in the next season. The players can come back and we can try for the Bundesliga and the cup."

Leipzig will go into next season without star striker Timo Werner, who joined Chelsea last month and did not finish the Champions League campaign with German side.

Three players will also return to their parent clubs after loan spells: Angelino (Manchester City), Patrik Schick (Roma) and Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea).

The new Bundesliga season is scheduled to begin on September 18.

PSG head coach Thomas Tuchel says the Champions League is for "big players" after his stars dominated in a 3-0 Champions League semi-final win against RB Leipzig.

The Ligue 1 champions' star players all had a strong impact on the result, with Angel Di Maria snaring a goal and two assists, Neymar setting up the latter's strike, and Kylian Mbappe starting the match and playing 86 minutes.

Tuchel's side now move into the final of the competition - to play either Bayern or Lyon on Sunday - and the German boss was ecstatic at the performance of his team, particularly the impact of his star players.

"It's incredible! We are here to play a final and to win," Tuchel told RMC Sport. "The team did very well. The team showed its qualities, hunger and determination. It was a good mix. And we deserved to win.

"I was very nervous, yes, and I felt the pressure. I have players who are used to this pressure and they love it. In football, we are never sure. But, we defended well. And it was very important. We had the right state of mind.

"Our plan was to keep our principles of the game, control the spaces and use the speed of Di Maria, Mbappe and Neymar. It's a competition for big players. We have to put them in comfort. We must not adapt too much to the opponent, we must show our strength. And the team showed its hunger, and its wish to suffer together."

Bayern and Lyon will face off on Wednesday to meet PSG in the final, with Tuchel explaining he felt the Bundesliga champions were most likely to be their opponent in a match that would be the most momentous of his career.

"I will enjoy and watch this game tomorrow," he said. "With my players and my staff. We know that Bayern are the favourites, but it's football.

"Obviously, that will be the biggest challenge of my career on Sunday."

PSG will be shooting for an unprecedented quintuple of trophies in the Champions League final, having already won Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue and Trophee des Champions.