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Gian Piero Gasperini was proud of Atalanta after a 2-2 draw with Juventus, but felt his side deserved to win.

Atalanta led twice through Duvan Zapata and Ruslan Malinovskiy, but Cristiano Ronaldo scored penalties to cancel out both goals, including a 90th-minute equaliser in Turin on Saturday.

While Gasperini was proud of his team, the Atalanta coach believes they deserved all three points.

"I'm definitely more proud. We played great in the first half and in the second half there was a comeback by Juve," he told a news conference.

"But with our play, we managed to take the lead and play a great game anyway. Of course, we are also upset because we deserved to win.

"But, in football, your performance is not always enough."

He added: “We were ahead until the last minute and we did everything to deserve the win.

“We said qualifying for the Champions League for the second year in a row was our ultimate aim, so after that finishing third or second is about prestige, but the objective remains the same.

“I thought we started quite strong this season, then of course the Champions League took some energy out of us. The real points we dropped were in the games with Lazio, Juventus and Inter, but then we never did target the Serie A title.

“We’ve raised the bar and are hitting our targets anyway. We can’t think of the Scudetto. It’s already infuriating many people to see us in the Champions League, as it brings with it so much financial gain and prestige.

“We’re seeing the team grow every year. We didn’t have this kind of character to play like this at the Juventus Stadium in the past, but if we keep getting results and performances, we do grow.

“Juventus have the Scudetto, they’re not going to let it go. I don’t know how much longer we can keep winning games, but it’s in any case a way of testing ourselves for the Champions League and we fully intend to make a good impression in Europe.”

With six games left to play in Serie A, Atalanta are third in the table, nine points adrift of Juventus.

Simba SC team manager Patrick Rweyemamu has revealed why they have to beat rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC) in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

The two Tanzania giants will face off in the domestic Cup at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

Rweyemanu insisted their main target is to avenge the 1-0 defeat they suffered against Yanga in the second round league fixture and also play the derby in a respectful manner.

The two sides have already met twice this season already - Yanga came from a goal down to secure a 2-2 draw in the first round contest before they turned on the screw to beat Simba 1-0 in the second-round match.

“Yanga beat us in the second round match of the league and we want to erase that defeat as quickly as we can, we want to win and make sure we have earned sweet revenge,” Rweyemamu told the club’s official website.

“It is not good for a side like Simba to be losing against Yanga, we want to make sure we keep the respect in the derby, we want to show them we are the best team in Tanzania, we want to show them we are the league champions and also the best in the derby.

“We have given our players all the support they need, we have motivated them well, we know they are ready to do the job and the coach is also ready to give us the best squad, all we want now is our fans to rally behind the team, we have to win the derby.”

On behalf of the players, Simba captain John Bocco assured the fans they are ready to earn revenge against their sworn rivals.

“All the players are ready, we are ready, we have received all the support we need as players from the management and our work now is to make sure we win the match for the fans,” Bocco also told the club website.

“We respect Yanga very much, we know they have a good squad, they have good players and a good coach but we have to make sure we win the match because our main aim is to seal a double this season and also revenge the league defeat.”

Simba are keen to complete a double having won the Mainland Premier League title for the third season in a row while Yanga will be keen to reach the final of the domestic Cup and win the trophy so as to get a direct ticket to Caf Confederation Cup.

Leke James continued his fine scoring run for Molde as they recorded a 3-0 victory over FK Haugesund on Saturday.

Having failed to find the net against Kristiansund and Mjondalen, the Nigerian rediscovered his scoring form against the hosts who came into the clash unbeaten in their last four games.

Eirik Andersen handed Molde an 18th-minute lead thanks to Magnus Eikrem’s assist. He fired home from close range with defender Benjamin Hansen unable to prevent the ball from beating goalkeeper Helge Sandvik.

Twelve minutes later, Etzaz Hussain increased the advantage when the midfielder headed home a simple cross from Ola Brynhildsen inside Haugesund’s goal area.

In the second half, the hosts attacked in their numbers but were repeatedly denied by impressive Helge Sandvik.

In the 78 minutes, James put the game beyond the hosts after his header beat Sandvik, with Mattias Mostrom credited for the assist.

The goal was his third in five games so far this term and he would be hoping to better last season’s tally where he found the net 17 times from 28 Norwegian elite division outings.

Cote d’Ivoire forward Mathis Bolly was not listed for the game by manager Erling Moe, nor was Gambian forward Sheriff Sinyan.

Senegal’s Ibrahima Wadji was nowhere to be found in the Seagulls’ team list, while Cote d’Ivoire’s Benjamin Karamoko was an unused substitute.

Thanks to this win, Molde have gone seven games without any defeat (six wins, one draw) to top the log having garnered 19 points – one point above Bodoe/Glimt who are in second place.

They welcome 12th-placed Viking to the Aker Stadium as they look to defend the title they won last season.

Born in Kaduna 27 years ago, James began his career at Bridge Boys before heading for Aalesund in 2012.

After three seasons at the Color Line Stadium, he signed for Chinese League One side Beijing Enterprises before moving to Molde on a three-year contract in 2018.

He made his debut on 26 July, 2018 when he came on as a 67th-minute substitute in their 3–0 win against Laci in the 2018–19 Europa League second qualifying round and scored the game’s third goal.

Jean-Pierre Nsame found the net as Young Boys suffered a major title setback following Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to FC Basel in the Swiss Super League.

Gerardo Seoane’s men went into the game needing a win to extend their lead at the summit; however, their failure to earn at least a point at St. Jakob-Park saw them become joint-leaders with St. Gallen.

In the five-goal thriller, the hosts took a 13th-minute lead through Samuele Campo. The Swiss midfielder got a defence-splitting pass from 21-year-old Angolan Afimico Pululu before unleashing a shot past goalkeeper David Von Ballmoos.

Basel doubled their lead three minutes into the second-half through Arthur, who tapped in from close range after Valentin Stocker’s assist.

In the 61st minute, Arthur completed his brace as the hosts raced to a 3-0 lead after heading home a cross from Stocker.

Five minutes later, Nsame reduced the deficit - the Cameroonian capitalised on some shambolic defending from Silvan Widmer to beat goalkeeper Jonas Omlin.

Young Boys were on course to turn the game around after Christian Fassnacht’s effort, however, those hopes were dashed after Michel Aebischer was given his marching orders for a second caution from referee Sandro Scharer.

Even at that, Nsame won a last-gasp penalty for Gerardo Seoane’s men after he was brought down by an onrushing Omlin, but substitute Miralem Sulejmani fluffed the chance as the goalkeeper guessed the right way.

Thanks to his latest effort, the 27-year-old striker has now recorded 24 goals this season to steer further clear of Golden Boot challenger Arthur and Cedric Itten, who have hit the target on 13 occasions.

His compatriot Nicolas Ngamaleu was handed a starter’s role but was replaced by Congolese star Meschak Elia at half-time, with Guinean defender Mohamed Camara seeing every minute of action.

For the hosts, French-born Angolan forward Pululu – who featured in his 18th game of the season - was a 72nd-minute replacement for Dimitri Oberlin. His only goal so far came in the 4-0 thumping of Sion on December 8, 2019.

Nsame’s Young Boys would be hoping to return to winning ways when they welcome fourth-placed Servette to Bern’s Stade de Suisse on Wednesday.

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has dismissed talk of his assistant John Terry leaving to take charge of Bristol City.

The former Chelsea centre-back has been touted as one of the top candidates to fill the vacant role at the Championship club.

Bristol sacked Lee Johnson this week after they went nine games without a win and they now sit three points adrift of the last playoff spot.

But Villa coach Smith says there is no chance Terry will abandon the Premier League side amid their fight for survival and doubts the ex-England star will be on the move this summer, either.

"I have spoken to John and he is fully committed to our cause here at Aston Villa,” he told Sky Sports.

"I don't think we can look at the summer, we've got to look at now.

"They've got Dean Holden, a former coach of mine, in charge at the moment. He is working hard for his club and JT is certainly working very hard for me.

"We've got a very good relationship and we enjoy working together."

Villa are second bottom of the English top-flight and seven points from safety with four games left to play.

Smith’s team have collected just two points from their last 10 Premier League matches but he is confident they can pick up points before the campaign comes to an end.

"We've got four massive games to come and they're not against Man Utd or Liverpool, they're against teams we feel we can be competitive against but there is an awful lot of quality in the Premier League,” he added.

"Our concentration now is fully on Crystal Palace. They won their first game after lockdown at Bournemouth 2-0 but they've lost their last four.

"I watched their last game against Chelsea and they were very good, they were very unfortunate they didn't get a result in that game.

"We have to just make sure we concentrate on ourselves and that we are performing to the levels we can.

"Now we face a team in Crystal Palace we feel we can be competitive against rather than the internationals at Liverpool and Manchester United.”

Biashara United coach Francis Baraza has picked Young Africans (Yanga SC) to emerge winners in the FA Cup semi-final clash against rivals Simba SC on Sunday.

The two Tanzanian giants will face off in the domestic Cup fixture at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, with Simba coming into the match having been crowned champions of the Mainland Premier League while Yanga are third on the 20-team league table.

The Kenyan coach has now told Goal why he feels Yanga will carry the day in the derby, whose winner will qualify for the final and face Namungo FC, who beat Sahare All-Stars 1-0 in the other semi-finals clash staged on Saturday.

“In any derby, and in my own opinion as the coach of Biashara, I look at it as a derby and I know all matches in derby are hotly contested, but all I know, because I have also played in derbies in Kenya, any team that is not doing well in the league [or simply struggling], when they meet with the best team in the derby, the struggling side will always win,"  Baraza told Goal on Sunday.

“That is how a derby goes, a team struggling will always put pressure on the favourite team and they end up winning the match, it happens not in Tanzania alone but in all derbies that I know and I have always followed.

“So in my own opinion, Yanga are not doing well like Simba and now they are struggling, and when I look at how they have been playing in recent matches, I feel they [Yanga] will carry the day on Sunday.”

It will be the third meeting between the two giants this season with the first round fixture ending 2-2 while Yanga turned on the screw in the second-round contest to win 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Bernard Morrison.

Baraza’s sentiments come just a day after former Yanga coach Mwinyi Zahera also tipped his former side to eliminate Simba.

“Yanga have the biggest chance to beat Simba because they are doing better technically than their opponents and especially they are always better when playing against them [Simba],” Mwinyi was quoted by Sokaletu.

“All Yanga need to do is to continue with where they left, they played very well in the last league match and won 1-0 and they can still win the domestic Cup contest, they stand a good chance.

“Also I know the team is now being handled well by sponsors GSM, they know how to treat the players and with such motivation, they cannot lose in the derby.

“Furthermore, Yanga know very well that if they win the trophy they have a straight ticket to continental football next season, and that is why they will strive even harder to perform, I give them my support and I know they will make it to the final.”

The eagerly awaited derby will kick-off at 17:00 East African time.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) skipper Papy Tshishimbi has been given the green light by doctors to face Simba SC in the semi-finals of the FA Cup at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The two giants will face off in the domestic Cup competition on Sunday with Simba eyeing the trophy to complete the double while Yanga are keen to win the trophy and snatch a ticket to the Caf Confederation Cup.

It will be the third meeting between the two giants this season, with the first round fixture ending 2-2 while Yanga turned on the screw in the second-round contest to win 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Bernard Morrison.

Yanga information officer Antonio Nugaz has now confirmed that Tshishimbi, who is yet to play for the giants since the football action returned in Tanzania on June 13 owing to injury, is now fit and ready to play in the crucial fixture.

“We have prepared well for the match, we know we are playing against Simba, one rival but I am happy that all the players starting with our captain [Tshishimbi] have been declared fit to play,” Nugaz told reporters in Dar Salaam on Saturday.

“It is now upon the coach to see if Tshishimbi can play any role but our doctors are happy with his progress, he has worked hard in training the whole of this week and he wants to play in the derby, only the coach will make the decision not us, but he is fit to lead us in the match.

“We know Simba are keen to win a double but we also need to the trophy to be assured of continental football next season, so we are well prepared to win the match and reach the final, it is our hope that the players will maintain their usual commitment when playing against them [Simba] and I know we will get a positive result.”

Meanwhile, Simba SC information officer Haji Manara says the pressure is with Yanga since if they lose, they will not play continental football next season.

“They will play to win the match and we will play to revenge for the loss we have suffered from them this season and here is where the toughness of the game is,” Manara told reporters.

He added they have already talked with their players to fight hard for the victory insisting that real celebrations come when a team triumphs in derby games.

The winner of the match will reach the final where they will face Namungo FC, who beat Sahare All Stars 1-0 in the other semi-final clash staged on Saturday.

Unlike most other major football competitions, the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup tournament, Southeast Asia's top international competition does not look like it will be impacted too severely by the coronavirus pandemic.

The November 31 - December 31 2020 date scheduled earlier has been retained, thanks to how late it is in the year.

The AFF (Asean Football Federation) is very likely to hold this year's edition, judging by the fact that they have renewed sponsorship deals as well as signed on with new sponsors for the tournament, beginning this year.

While most international tournaments that had been scheduled to take place this year, have been postponed to 2021 instead, it seems that the AFF Suzuki Cup will be the first international tournament to be played post Covid-19 outbreak!

Goal brings you everything you need to know about the upcoming 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup draw, as well as the format of the competition.

Contents

When is the AFF Suzuki Cup draw?

Although most of the information regarding the coming edition is yet to be confirmed, so far, only the date of the final tournament has been officially confirmed. The draw will be held sometime in August.

Where will the AFF Suzuki Cup draw take place and how can I watch it?

The finals draw is expected to be held in Vietnam, although the details of the draw broadcast has not been announced. However, fans can expect the draw to be shown live on cable television and/or on official streaming.

Which teams will play at the AFF Suzuki Cup?

Nine teams will automatically qualify for the finals, while the tenth spot will go to the qualification play-off winner between the two lowest ranked AFF teams; Brunei and East Timor.

Australia, who is also an AFF nation, at least nominally, is expected to be absent again from the competition, although there has been renewed interest in taking part in the competition due to the success of the 2018 edition's format change.

Timor-Leste vs Philippines in the 2018 edition. Photo from AFF/Lagardere

When and where will the AFF Suzuki Cup take place?

The 2018 edition did away with the host nation format, with teams their playing group stage matches at home and away alternately, and the semi-final and final stages held also home and away. The change was successful, resulting in improved attendance as well as better gate collection.

It was reported that the AFF hopes to retain this format this year, but if this is not possible, Vietnam has expressed their eagerness to hold this year's tournament from start to finish. The country with a population of nearly 100 million was a coronavirus response  success story, recording only 370 cases and no deaths. When football returned to the country, it did not need to be played behind closed doors. Perhaps the chance to defend their title at home has also spurred them to offer to host the coming edition.

Only the date of the tournament has been confirmed so far; from November 31 to December 31 2020.

My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi. Photo from Getty

Who won the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2018?

The most recent edition was won by the Golden Dragon under their talismanic South Korean head coach Park Hang-seo, for their second AFF Suzuki Cup title. The two legged-final was first played in Kuala Lumpur, with the visitors racing to a 2-0 lead before the hosts clawed their way back into the game to tie it 2-2. The second leg in Hanoi was an anti-climactic affair, a sixth-minute goal by Nguyễn Anh Đức sealing the win for Vietnam.

Who has won the most AFF Suzuki Cup titles?

Only four countries have won the championship since it was first contested in 1996; Thailand are the most successful side while Malaysia have won it once. Singapore have won it four times, emerging the winner everytime they were in the final match. Indonesia meanwhile are the perennial bridesmaids, having reached the final five times without ever winning it.

Can Milan continue their good form against Napoli, after their stunning win in the previous win?

Thailand winning the 2014 edition. Photo by Thana Wongmanee / Goal Thailand

What are the rule changes?

In June, the AFF council announced the approval of several rule changes to the competition, in line with the post-Covid 19 changes approved by FIFA earlier. For this edition, teams will be allowed to list 70 players on their provisional squad, as compared to 50 previously. The competition squad has also been increased to 30 from 23, while the matchday squad may include up to 23 players, three more players than before.

Meanwhile, each team will be allowed to make a maximum of five player substitutions in each match, although they will only be allowed to make substitutions three times in a match.

Keep updated of the latest 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup news on Goal !

On July 10, the first board meeting of the new entity ATK Mohun Bagan FC took place where it was decided to retain the iconic green and maroon jersey and the boatman logo, which has been synonymous with the 131-year history of Mohun Bagan.

After the declaration of the new entity, the board members gave an assurance to the fans of better days to come. Goal takes a look at the four promises that stand out.

Mohun Bagan's club tent at the Gostho Pal Sarani will be renovated so that the players get access to the best infrastructure and training to compete in domestic and continental competitions. But to build any permanent structure the club management needs to get permission from the Indian Army who remains the de-facto owner of the plot.

It remains to be seen how and when this project sees light of the day.

It is no surprise that the three-time ISL winners are eyeing a spot at the AFC Champions League, the marquee club tournament of the continent. The directors promised that significant investments will be made to ensure refurbishment of the existing Mohun Bagan facility so that ISL and AFC home games are held there.

But to host AFC matches at the Bagan ground would require massive upgradation of the infrastructure to meet AFC standards. 

The management has assured that it will invest in building a world-class football academy in Bengal which will help the local players upskill their talent. ATK Mohun Bagan soccer schools will be launched across the country which will impart high-quality football education. 

Currently, Mohun Bagan have an academy in partnership with SAIL (Steel Authority of India Ltd) but lately, it has not been in the best of financial health. It remains to be seen if ATK Mohun Bagan will upgrade this facility or build a new one from scratch.

"If I can, I would like to upgrade the facilities at the Mohun Bagan ground. It is part of the city's history. As we have grown up, each one of us has seen that it is iconic. But, it needs up-gradation, modernization, and needs to be reconstructed in a manner that is different. And, if I can I would definitely like to upgrade the facilities such that to begin with we can have ISL games there. But over a period of time, maybe have AFC games there as well and really build it into a world-class facility," said Sanjiv Goenka, principal owner of ATK Mohun Bagan.
 

Mohun Bagan have four promising talents in their ranks and all of them have been guaranteed a spot in the squad of the new team. This will ensure that Sk Sahil, Subha Ghosh, Kiyan Nasiri, and Deep Saha get to rub shoulders with the seniors under the tutelage of coach Antonio Habas. But it remains to be seen how many minutes do they get under their belt in the next season. 

Diego Costa denied that his goal in Atletico Madrid's 1-0 victory over Real Betis was scored with the assistance of his arm.

Atleti secured the win they needed to clinch a top-four finish in La Liga on Saturday, despite playing over half an hour with 10 men following Mario Hermoso's straight red card for a foul on Loren Moron.

Costa was sent on as one of a trio of attacking changes just before Hermoso's dismissal and, after Diego Simeone's side absorbed some late pressure, he guided Yannick Carrasco's free-kick into the bottom-right corner to seal the three points.

Betis defender Marc Bartra played Costa onside but a lengthy VAR check was conducted to see whether the Atleti striker had used his arm in the process of scoring.

The replays appeared inconclusive and the goal was allowed to stand, unlike first-half efforts for Angel Correa and Alvaro Morata that were chalked off with video assistance.

"It would be one thing if they called it offside for my goal but it didn't come off my arm. I'm very clear it wasn't [handball] and I'm happy," Costa told Movistar.

"It was a difficult game after Mario's red card. Our goal was to finish in the top four. Now we have that and we've got two more games we have to try to win to continue our good form.

"I think it was a good sign that we scored from a set-piece. We were in control. What happened in the second half made it more difficult, but we had a bit of luck and got the win.

"I don't know why we always have to suffer like this, but we always suffer and win. If we don't suffer, we don't feel right, so we're happy and we'll look for more glory."

Referee Jose Luis Gonzalez Gonzalez maintained his decision to dismiss Hermoso after a trip to the pitch-side monitor, but Costa felt a booking would also have been a fair punishment.

"If they'd given a yellow card for Mario Hermoso then fine. I think it was on the limit and in the end the referee has to make the decision, but I think a yellow or red was fair," he said.

Guido Rodriguez disagreed with Costa's assessment of the goal, claiming the ball clearly struck the attacker's arm.

"We saw that when Costa scored it touched his arm, but they didn't make that decision, so that's how it was," the Betis midfielder said.

"We played with a player more, looking for the goal, but we leave pretty annoyed because we couldn't get it."

Kerala Blasters' all-time top scorer and former PSG striker Bartholomew Ogbeche is the latest name in the list of players who could soon be part of the City Football Group-owned Indian Super League (ISL) club Mumbai City FC.

Blasters and Mumbai City are close to finalizing a deal and if things go as planned, it will be another good move pulled off by the Islanders since the conclusion of the 2019-20 season of ISL. 

The Indian football fraternity was curious and excited when the ISL took it upon themselves to announce the arrival of CFG to India. The owners of clubs such as Manchester City, Melbourne City and Girona officially took a majority stake in Mumbai City in November 2019. 

It was important for the new owners to watch Indian football closely both before and after taking over and that's exactly what they did. The group seems to have done plenty of work behind the scenes and come up with a solid plan for their first full season in charge. And they are making their presence felt in their first summer transfer window. 

Having missed out on a playoff spot last season, changes were bound to be made. They have roped in Sergio Lobera, the master tactician behind the attractive football that FC Goa showcased in the last three seasons. It is a definitive indication of the direction that the club wants to take. 

With a deal for Ogbeche more or less wrapped up, the Nigerian is set to join the likes of former FC Goa stalwarts Ahmed Jahouh, Mourtada Fall and Mandar Rao Dessai in donning the blue kit next season. It is very clear that Mumbai City's squad will be restructured to fit the philosophy of their Spanish head coach. In doing so, the aggressive and professional workflow of the new-look Islanders will help the team put out a strong squad capable of challenging for the title.

Ogbeche, a former wonderkid, has had a phenomenal impact in the ISL although he is 35 years old. Fans can expect more such good moves from their favourite club in the coming days - they are globally known for trying to make a mark with their investment both on and off the field and raise the profile of the club.

Ogbeche is a player who offers a lot to any attack. He gets involved in the build-up play heavily and brings his teammates into play. He scores goals from outside the box with a lethal right foot and also takes up intelligent positions inside the box. It is a trait Sergio Lobera loves in his strikers, as evidenced by how Ferran Corominas has been a success under him at FC Goa.

The move is also mutually beneficial. Ogbeche has pumped in goals galore despite playing for two teams who have struggled to offer him quality service from the wings in the ISL. However, he can expect that to change for the better at Mumbai City with the squad Lobera is assembling and the style his teams play.

It will be interesting to see how the Mumbai City squad shapes up in the coming weeks. 

Somebody other than three-time champions ATK, two-time champions Chennaiyin FC and Bengaluru FC needs to go all out for the ISL trophy for the league to not be termed as a three-horse race.

And going by what is known about Mumbai City's involvement in the transfer market, it is safe to say that they are off to a good start. 

In spite of not being one of the traditional hotbeds of Indian football, Jharkhand has been slowly and steadily building a football culture. The Jharkhand Football Association (JFA) is ticking all the right boxes to spread the sport in every nook and corner of the state. 

They have been aggressively promoting women's football for the past four-five years. And in 2019 they even reaped rewards in the Sub-Junior and Junior Girls National Football Championship bagging gold and silver respectively in the two competitions. The national selectors have also taken cognizance of their hard work and have summoned eight girls to the India U17 women's camp that is set to start from July 20 in Goa. 

Under the stewardship of JFA secretary Ghulam Rabbani, the state association has been undertaking ambitious scouting programmes in 10-12 districts of Jharkhand. Suryaman Pradhan and Asish Bose lead these scouting missions. Apart from scouring the urban centres like Bokaro, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, the two men also travel to tribal-dominated areas like Gulma, Ramgarh, and Koderma to spot the hidden gems. 

"Gulma is a very productive district. The girls from Gulma are the brightest. We go to around 11-12 districts and try to bring out the best talents from there. At first, we don't tell them anything. We just watch them play. If we like someone we approach their parents so that they can be trained further," narrated Pradhan to Goal. 

Most of these girls hail from tribal areas and financially weak backgrounds, where education, diet and training are still a distant dream. The selected girls are often admitted to a residential missionary school where they are nourished, educated and trained to take the next step in football.  

"The girls train for almost two years in these schools. The school coaches work on their basics and after that, they are sent to various football academies that are there in the state. The best ones are given a chance in SAI (Sports Authority of India) Ranchi complex. But all of them cannot be placed and this is a cause of concern. So many of them stay back at home. When they are at home they work in the fields and even involve themselves in ploughing and cattle grazing. Although they train twice a day, one must admit that the development is hindered. But we remain in constant touch with all players and check on their progress," said Pradhan, who is himself a D-license holder. 

The rigours of agriculture have made them physically strong while being exposed to poverty and hardships have fortified them mentally. Football for these girls is an easy way to change their lives for the better and to ensure that their families are fed two square meals a day. 

"One of the girls came to us and at that time she had never participated in a competition  But after watching her play, I immediately told the headmaster and Rabbani Sir to apply for her passport. She is now with the India U17 team. So, you see that football is being perceived as a game-changer in their lives. More importantly, they are obedient and will practice for hours without even complaining. 30 round ground ke marne ko bolenge toh bhi maaregi. (Will run for 30 rounds around the ground without complaining). Bhookh hai seekhne ka (They are hungry to learn)."

Bose, who is a shadow partner of Pradhan, feels that the girls could be more benefitted if they could hold the state camp for a few more months rather than the customary one month camp before the national championship.

"If we had got some sponsors then we would have conducted the camp for three-four months. Now it is done for 25 days. Sometimes we get only 15 days." 

But the issue can be resolved in the near future as Jharkhand has been granted a 'special-state' status by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) after the phenomenal success of the U14 and U17 district tournaments. These tournaments also allow the coaches to provide the girls with compeitive matches which they deem paramount to their development. 

"The AIFF has come forward to help us. The 'Special State' status should be a major boost to our ambitions. We are striving to push the girls of our state to a better future. We hope that a national level training camp will be held in Jharkhand in the coming months," informed Rabbani, who is also in touch with the Jharkhand government to ensure that a certain per cent of the jobs is reserved for the girls who bring glory to the state by playing football. 

Jharkhand scored 24 goals in two matches of the group stage of the sub-junior championship. Nitu Linda, a cadet groomed by Pradhan and Bose, struck 13 times in the tournament. But the duo is not willing to rest on their laurels. At 57, Pradhan feels that his journey has just started and he is ready to scale any heights to help the girls of his state have a brighter future. 

"Trophy ke peeche nehi bhaagte hai hum. Ladikyo ko India k liye kaabil banana hai. (I don't run after trophies. But the girls should be capable of representing India)," asserts Pradhan whose personal journey as a player stopped leagues before donning the famed blue jersey of the national team. 

Maurizio Sarri praised the "incredible" Cristiano Ronaldo after the star's pair of penalties helped Juventus draw 2-2 with Atalanta.

Ronaldo converted two spot-kicks in Turin on Saturday as Juve took another step towards the Serie A title.

The Portugal international cancelled out Duvan Zapata's opener before securing a point in the 90th minute after Ruslan Malinovskiy had restored Atalanta's lead.

Sarri, whose side are eight points clear at the top with six games to play, hailed Ronaldo's ability to handle the pressure.

"He is a champion with his feet but also with his head," Sarri told a news conference.

"He manages to handle the pressures he has on him in an incredible way."

Juventus were coming off a 4-2 loss to AC Milan on Tuesday, and maintained a nine-point lead over third-placed Atalanta.

Sarri felt Juventus deserved their point, with their busy run of fixtures continuing against Sassuolo on Wednesday.

"Tonight's point was sweaty and deserved. We drew against one of the best teams in Europe, and it's a very important result," he said.

"Merit goes to a second half of quality, in which we attacked Atalanta higher, while focusing on their physical decline, and we scored goals in our best moment.

"The game in Milan, in which we played well for a long time, could have left us with waste. In the first half we suffered, but in the second half we came out well.

"The Scudetto race is by no means closed, there are still 18 points available. It is a very difficult phase of the season, the games are very expensive, and it is difficult to find continuity."

Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini, meanwhile, believed his side were worthy of picking up all three points. 

"I'm definitely more proud. We played great in the first half and in the second half there was a comeback by Juve," he told a news conference.

"But with our play, we managed to take the lead and play a great game anyway. Of course, we are also upset because we deserved to win. But, in football, your performance is not always enough."

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has explained why he calls his Arsenal team-mate Bukayo Saka the "Little Chilli". 

Saka, still just 18, has enjoyed a breakout season at the Emirates scoring four goals and contributing 11 assists in all competitions. 

The young English attacker has quickly worked his way into Mikel Arteta's plans and earned himself a unique nickname in the process. 

Arsenal's captain giving Saka the label of "Little Chilli" in a nod to the youngster's high-energy displays. 

"I call him this [Little Chilli] but in French so it is 'Petit Piment'," Aubameyang told Sky Sports. "It’s because he is like a little chilli, so much energy, so much power and is quite small so it’s funny."

Despite the funny nickname, Aubameyang is very serious about just how good Saka can become in the years to come, noting that he's got the ideal mentality to be a success.

"Oh for sure, he is one of the best, for sure. What I like about him is he is always listening to advice from us the experienced players," Aubameyang said.

"I really like it and he is really humble, he always wants to go forwards and learn more and try to improve his game so definitely he is one of the best.

"Of course, I think he’s 18 so he has a lot of time, but as I said to him the most important thing is to enjoy, because at this age to be at this club is really special and he just has to continue like this, to keep improving and I am sure he will go straight to the top."

Arteta, meanwhile, wants Saka to enjoy his breakout season, warning football is a mix of good and bad moments. 

“First of all, enjoy the moment,” Arteta said of his message for Saka. “Football has some really good moments and some difficult moments.

"You are doing so well, enjoy it. But then understand this changes in 24-48 hours. You have to live [on] your toes all the time, ready to react and act.

“Bukayo is like this. Every training session, he doesn’t give you any sign there’s something different. There are going to be moments when he was a little bit up and down. It’s normal because it happens to every player, whether you are 18 or 38. He needs to understand that, take it naturally and we are here to support him, to try to make him better, and that’s it – enjoy.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has advised Bukayo Saka to enjoy the plaudits he is receiving because of his impressive performances this season.

Saka has proven his versatility in Arteta’s side this campaign, playing both defensive and attacking roles impressively on different occasions.

He recently broke his Premier League duck in the Gunners’ 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

On Tuesday, the Nigerian descent laid his 12th assist in the 2019-20 season for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who scored Arsenal's only goal in their 1-1 draw against Leicester City.

When quizzed for his advice for the 18-year-old who is gathering attention from all angles, Arteta thinks there is no call for concern.

“First of all, enjoy the moment,” the Spanish manager was quoted as saying by the Guardian.

“Football has some really good moments and some difficult moments. You are doing so well, enjoy it. But then understand this changes in 24, 48 hours. You have to live [on] your toes all the time, ready to react and act.

“Bukayo is like this. Every training session, he doesn’t give you any sign there’s something different. There are going to be moments when he was a little bit up and down.

“It’s normal because it happens to every player, whether you are 18 or 38. He needs to understand that, take it naturally and we are here to support him, to try to make him better, and that’s it – enjoy.”

Saka has played in all of Arsenal’s matches since the resumption of football in England, and he is in contention for his first North London derby when they host Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The teenager has played 35 matches across all competitions this season, including 23 Premier League outings.

Saka joined Arsenal’s academy at the tender age of eight and he recently committed his future to the club with a long-term contract that will last until 2024.

Manchester United will be hoping to show off their brand-new Adidas jerseys in the Champions League next season as they target a top-four Premier League finish this campaign.

Goal has the latest information about the Red Devils' 2020-21 shirts - home, away and third - as well as when they expected to be fully released and more.

New 2020-21 football kits: Chelsea, Bayern Munich & all the top clubs' shirts & jerseys revealed

Man Utd's 2020-21 home kit

The Red Devils' new home kit under Adidas has yet to be revealed, though leaks circulating online have hinted that it won't be much different to the 2017-18 edition with the trademark red - but with some added accents.

It is dominantly all-red save for the signature Adidas white stripes across the shoulders, along with the black and yellow stripes.

Man Utd's home kit is expected to be released in late July.

Man Utd's 2020-21 away kit & release date

Leaks have suggested that the Manchester club's away kit will be a dark black - or green - colour, with a subtle pattern all over.

They have drawn speculation that the ridge-like pattern on the kit is a subtle nod to the cover of the iconic 'Unknown Pleasures' album artwork by Manchester Joy Division.

Of course, it's all conjecture at this point, but the away kit could be a tribute to the pulsating waves on the album cover as it is one of the most recognisable pieces of artwork in music history.

The away kit could be released in late July alongside the home kit, if not a few weeks later in August.

Man Utd's 2020-21 third kit & release date

Details on Man Utd's third kit are scarce but if online leaks are to be believed, it will sport a standout design of jagged black stripes across a white background.

Man Utd's third kit is expected to be released in August.

Arsenal are embarking on a new era under Mikel Arteta, and they will mark the occasion with a brand-new collection of shirts from Adidas after their deal with Puma expired.

Goal has the latest information about the North Londoners' 2020-21 shirts - home, away and third - as well as when they expected to be fully released and more.

New 2020-21 football kits: Chelsea, Bayern Munich & all the top clubs' shirts & jerseys revealed

Arsenal's 2020-21 home kit

The Gunners' latest home strip has yet to be announced, but leaks circulating online have suggested that it will sport a darker shade of red alongside the club's traditional white sleeves.

The new home kit is the first under Arsenal's new deal with Adidas, who took over from previous supplier Puma.

The dark shade of red has a subtle geometric pattern, and it looks like the white-capped sleeves will be adorned with stripes - similar to the Germany and Juventus home kit.

Arsenal's brand-new home jersey is expected to be fully revealed in late July, with supporters likely able to purchase the kit soon after.

Arsenal's 2020-21 away kit & release date

No details have been released on Arsenal's away kit, but if leaks online are to be believed, the Gunners will be outfitted in an off-white strip with a red streaks during their away days.

The pattern resembles a marble surface, which could be a nod to the famed Marble Halls at their old home of Highbury.

Arsenal's away kit is expected to be launched in late in July.

Arsenal's 2020-21 third kit & release date

Arsenal's third kit is suggested to be completely blue and repeating the marbled pattern from the potential away kit.

With the home jersey and away strip expected to be released in July, the third shirt could be slated for unveiling in August.