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Many teams have found it difficult since the restart to find their best form and consistency after approximately three months of inactivity but after a disappointing defeat to Genoa on their home return, AC Milan are undoubtedly the form team of the moment in Serie A right now.

The Rossoneri have gone on to achieve four wins from their next five matches  in great fashion with some very notable scalps against teams higher than them in the league standings. Big three points against Roma, Lazio and Juventus have reignited Milan’s hopes for a European spot next season.

Stefano Pioli’s time at the club may be numbered but it looks like he’s found the right formula at the 18-time Serie A champions, culminating in the come from behind win over the current league leaders. At the heart of it all, Hakan Calhanoglu is adamant that the belief is seeping back into the team.

“It feels very good [to beat Juventus]. We played against Juventus who are a very strong team. After the 2-0, we never gave up and we tried to do something on the pitch. We created a lot of chances. After the penalty that Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] scored, the confidence came back to us. It’s an amazing feeling, we are so happy and the atmosphere is so incredible now. 

“We also played well in the Coppa Italia against them but it was difficult with one less player. With 10, you have to run more and defend more. That game was in our mind during the league match and it showed in the way we played.

“This is what we missed in the past because against the big teams, we didn’t win too much. Now we’ve beaten Roma, Lazio and now Juventus with Napoli next,” said Calhanoglu in a special interview with Southeast Asia media earlier in the week. 

Calhanoglu has a special bond with Pioli who told him from day one that he understood what the Turkish international can do and is using him in his preferred position as the number 10, which has given the former Bayer Leverkusen player all the confidence he needs.

Signed by the Italian club in the summer of 2017, it hasn’t always been a rosy ride for Calhanoglu in the three seasons that he has been there thus far. Suspended in the initial months of his arrival, he also had to deal with the changes in head coach from Vincenzo Montella to Gennaro Gattuso to Marco Giampaolo to Pioli.

With five goals and three assists in the league thus far, Calhanoglu is finally able to show just why Milan pushed the boat out to secure his signature for a reported €23.30M fee and gave him the coveted number 10 shirt worn in the past by Ruud Gullit, Zvonimir Boban and Clarence Seedorf.

“I’m three years here but since I’ve been here, things are always changing. I’ve already trained with four coaches and new directors, the stability is not like it was before in Milan. Everybody tries to do the best for Milan but something is missing. As players we can only look at what we can do on the pitch. I’m hopeful that we can bring Milan back to what it was before. 

“Let’s not forget that I didn’t play for six months when I first arrived at Milan. It was very difficult for me to come back. I was in a bad condition physically. Arriving at a big club like Milan, people are expectant of me because they know me from Leverkusen. 

“The first year I didn’t show it like I wanted. The second year I was playing better day by day and when Gattuso arrived, he gave me big energy and pushed me a lot. Physically I was very good with him. Sometimes he let me play in my role but tactically he was not like Pioli, he’s more defensive style. With Pioli we play aggressive and always offensive, that is better for me. So my best year as the people say, is this year. That is true.”

Seven more matches remain for the 2019/20 season, seven more matches for Calhanoglu and Milan to attempt to reproduce that second half performance against Juventus in a full 90 minutes match. If they are able to do that, then Milan could find themselves taking that first step to perhaps a title charge in the 2020/21 season.

You can catch Hakan Calhanoglu and AC Milan in action via:

13 July: Napoli vs Milan on FOX Sports 2 (Astro CH 836 (SD) / 816 (HD), unifi TV CH 707)

16 July: Milan vs Parma on FOX Sports (Astro CH 835 (SD) / 815 (HD), unifi TV CH 706)

19 July: Milan vs Bologna on FOX Sports 2 (Astro CH 836 (SD) / 816 (HD), unifi TV CH 707)

22 July: Sassuolo vs Milan on FOX Sports (Astro CH 835 (SD) / 815 (HD), unifi TV CH 706)

Do you consider yourself a huge fan of the Indian football? How abreast are you when it comes to developments in and around the Indian football ecosystem?

How much do you know about ATK and Mohun Bagan, the ISL and I-League champions who have merged to form a new club?

This edition of Goal 's 'Sharp Minds' quiz is for the fans of the new club - ATK Mohun Bagan FC.

As we see football take a backseat among the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, here's your chance to while away some time.

We will bring you a set of 10 questions, a mixture of easy and tough ones, every week on Indian football. Try answering them on your own (without googling, we hope) and see how much you know about Indian football.

Share your scores with others and showboat. The latest edition of Sharp Minds is right here. Have fun.

NOTE : You are welcome to contact us through social media, if you need any clarification on the answers. We will try, to the best of our abilities, to explain.

Indian women's national team coach Maymol Rocky has claimed that 2019 has been the golden year for women's football in India.

"I think we played more than 40 international matches, traveled to more than 20 countries which was never done before and the girls were very lucky to be in this plan. We had the best year in 2019, for me what I would term as the golden year in women's football," Rocky told AIFF in an Instagram chat.

Not only was the year a landmark for Indian women, there was recognition for the women's game on the global scale as well. The 2019 Women's World Cup attracted a lot of attention with USA forward Megan Rapinoe stealing the show, winning the Golden Ball and helping her team win the World Cup. 

Maymol, who travelled to watch the tournament in France, recalls meeting Rapinoe and calls her as an ideal athlete whom every player needs to learn from.

"I remember watching a match between Australia and Brazil and the atmosphere was fabulous. I was thinking that we are far behind but we are not very far behind. I'm sure that we can make it. When I was playing, I would never dream of making it to the World Cup but now we can believe. 

"I had a very small chat with her (Rapinoe). I wished her congratulations for winning the World Cup. She said 'thank you' and the first thing she asked me was 'where are you from?'. And she was like 'nice meeting you'. The personality that she has, every player needs to carry that and work like her also. She (Rapinoe) has really worked very hard to get where she is," she explained.

The best result for the India women's team in the Women's Asian Cup was a runners-up finish in 1979 and 1983. They also finished third in 1981. However, this achievement came under the aegis of the Women's Football Federation of India (WFFI) that was categorised under the Asian Ladies' Football Confederation (ALFC) with no affiliation to FIFA or the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Fast forward, as the affairs were eventually taken over by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) from the early 2000s, the women's national team failed to make it past the group stage on five consecutive times between 1995 and 2003. However, they are set to make their ninth appearance in the competition as India are set to host the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup.

The country is also set to host the U-17 Women's World Cup in February 2021.

"As a senior team head coach, I am really looking forward to this (U-17 Women's World Cup) because we are preparing for the 2022 Women's Asian Cup. I will definitely get a few players from the U-17 team," Maymol explained.

"When the base becomes bigger for the senior team, scouting can be expanded and you have more players in the pool to choose from in different positions."

With regard to the 2022 Women's Asian Cup that also serves as a qualifying tournament for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, she added, "This is the top-most tournament the girls will be playing in recent times. The tournament happening in India itself gives us goosebumps.

"We don't want to play against countries who we can defeat. Now we want to play against countries who we have to compete hard to defeat. So the plan is already in process. We are going to play the qualifiers as well and I can just say that everybody needs to back us up. The girls will give it all."

Raphael Varane dismissed talk the VAR favoured Real Madrid after the La Liga giants moved closer to the league title with a win over Deportivo Alaves.

A Karim Benzema penalty and Marco Asensio goal saw Madrid record a 2-0 win on Friday, moving four points clear of rivals Barcelona with three games left.

Madrid were awarded a spot-kick for the third straight game, while the VAR was needed after Asensio's goal was initially incorrectly ruled out for an offside decision against Benzema.

Varane, who helped Madrid keep a clean sheet for the fifth straight game, was unfazed by any talk decisions were going his team's way.

"Outside noise doesn't matter to us. We are focused on winning and giving everything on the pitch," the defender told Movistar.

"We don't control the VAR, we control the effort and attitude we show on the pitch."

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu accused the video technology of favouring Madrid after Los Blancos won 1-0 against Athletuc Club last week.

Madrid's game-winning goal in that match came after the referee viewed the VAR pitch-side monitor to award a 76th-minute penalty dispatched by Sergio Ramos, while Athletic appeared unlucky to not receive a late spot-kick themselves.

"I watched San Mames match until almost the end of the second half," Bartomeu said. "I feel bad because we have the best league in the world and VAR after coronavirus isn't fair.

"It has changed some results and always favours the same team."

Madrid are closing in on their first league title since 2016-17, with Barcelona having clinched the past two crowns.

Varane said Madrid still had finals to play ahead of matches against Granada, Villarreal and Leganes to finish the league season.

"We are focused on our objective and we have three finals left," he said.

"It was important to win, of course, but it is very important to keep a clean sheet. That gives us a lot of confidence.

"We will continue with the positive dynamics we have."

Madrid's title rivals Barcelona will play fixtures against Valladolid (away), Osasuna (home) and Alaves (away) as they attempt to haul in the four-point gap established by Los Blancos.

Barcelona have won the last two La Liga titles with Real Madrid last claiming the honour after the 2016-17 season.

Zinedine Zidane praised the "phenomenal" Thibaut Courtois after Real Madrid took another step towards the La Liga title with a win over Deportivo Alaves.

Madrid kept a clean sheet for the fifth straight game, recording a 2-0 win on Friday to move four points clear of rivals Barcelona with three games remaining.

Zidane lauded Courtois, who made four saves in Madrid's win as Karim Benzema netted a penalty before Marco Asensio's second-half goal.

"He has a very big influence. He is our goalkeeper, what he is doing every game is phenomenal," Madrid coach Zidane told a news conference, via AS.

"It is a matter for everyone when it comes to defending … today, he [Courtois] has been good for us with two or three stops, and then the strength of the entire team.

"We have to continue like this."

Madrid scored a penalty for the third straight game, while the VAR was needed to award Asensio's goal after it was initially ruled out due to an offside decision against Benzema.

As another clean sheet helped Madrid, Zidane said he was happy with his team, who are away to Granada on Monday.

"I'm not worried because the important thing is to win matches," he said.

"We didn't score four or five goals, but because there is an opponent who defends. We scored two goals, one very beautiful in play.

"I am happy and calm with what we are doing."

Following the Granada match, Real Madrid have league matches at home against Villarreal and a trip to Leganes to round out the season before they attempt to overturn a 2-1 deficit in their Champions League second round match versus Manchester City.

Madrid's title rivals Barcelona will play fixtures against Valladolid (away), Osasuna (home) and Alaves (away) as they attempt to haul in the four-point gap established by Los Blancos.

Barcelona have won the last two La Liga titles with Real Madrid last claiming the honour after the 2016-17 season.

Despite winning 33 titles in their existence, Los Blancos have only won it twice in the last 12 years.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has warned his Premier League rivals that the club’s talisman Wilfried Zaha is back to his best.

The Ivory Coast international has been playing influential roles for the Eagles over the past seasons, helping them to avoid relegation a number of times with his brilliant performances.

The forward, who failed to secure a move away from the side last summer, has, however, not lived up to his standard in most part of the 2019-20 campaign before delivering an eye-catching display against Chelsea on Tuesday.

The winger scored a spectacular long-range effort against Frank Lampard's side and was a constant threat to the Stamford Bridge outfit on the flanks.

Ahead of their Premier League game against Aston Villa on Sunday, Hodgson has backed the 27-year-old to maintain his new-found form.

"He's had some good games during this period and some games where I'm sure that he'll have said he can do better," Hodgson was quoted as saying by the Standard.

"The other night he was certainly at the very, very top of his game and I see no reason why he shouldn't keep that going in the last four games.”

Zaha has only managed four goals and five assists in 34 Premier League games this season and Hodgson believes the former Manchester United striker can add to his tally.

"I'm convinced we're going to see some very good things from him in these last 360-odd minutes,” he continued.

“ I'm pretty sure also he'll be looking to try and add to that tally of goals and assists so at the end of the season he's got a bit more to show for what he's done this season."

Zaha has scored 49 league goals in 323 appearances since his promotion to Crystal Palace first team in 2010 amid other dazzling displays which have endeared him to the club’s fans.

Palace are without a victory in their last four games and Zaha will hope to help them return to winning ways against Aston Villa. 

The Eagles are already safe from relegation, given their current points of 42 in 34 games, the forward will, however, look to help them finish above the 12th place they achieved last season.

Jose Mourinho expects to turn Tottenham into trophy winners before his contract with the club is up.

The Portuguese joined the Premier League side in November on a three-year contract, replacing Mauricio Pochettino at the helm after a difficult start to the season.

Last year’s Champions League runners-up have not collected silverware since the 2008 League Cup, and this campaign will end without any, too.

But Mourinho says it could take some time for the London team to end their trophy drought, but pointed to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool as evidence that patience and smart signings pay off.

"How long did it take for Jurgen and Liverpool?" he said to reporters. "Four years, four seasons. Buying one of the best goalkeepers in the world, buying one of the best centre-backs in the world and so on and so on and so on.

"I'm focused on my three-year contract. I believe that in my three-year contract we can win trophies. If we don't, but the club does it in the new era if I stay here only for three years, I will be happy with that."

He added: "I work for the club. I'm not thinking about myself. I keep saying that my ambition is the same, my DNA is the same, but probably I am in the stage where I look less to myself and my records and I look more to the club.

"I am optimistic because I start working from day one. Because I believe we are going to make some changes in our squad, and for that we don't need a huge investment like the club made in the past summer.

"I cannot believe that the season is going to be so full of negative episodes like we've had since practically day one.

“There are many reasons to believe that it is going to be different."

Spurs have spent a lot of money over the last year to bring record signing Tanguy Ndombele as well as Ryan Sessegnon and Steven Bergwijn to the club and the coach feels it is unfair to say they are reluctant to invest in the squad.

"The only thing that I feel is quite an injustice is to forget that the best stadium in the world is there, the best training ground in the world is here, and around £100 million investment in the summer," he said.

"That was probably one of the biggest investments by a Premier League club [that] is considered quite not committed with evolution or not committed with an investment - £100m.

"Then you can discuss good, bad, successful, not successful. You can discuss all these things.

"But nobody can discuss that around £100m was on the table in the last summer which I think is proof, open proof, that the club wanted to invest."

Bukayo Saka and Musa Juwara are the names on everyone’s lips in the world of African football this week, with the duo scoring their first goals for Arsenal and Bologna respectively.

These two youngsters are two of the hot topics discussed in this week’s African Football HQ Podcast, as Malek Shafei and Ed Dove dissect the big stories in the African game.

In the same week that Saka signed his first contract with Arsenal, he also opened the scoring for the Gunners as they downed fellow Champions League hopefuls Wolverhampton Wanderers in Premier League action.

Typically lauded for his work in wide areas, and his ability to set up goals for his teammates, the wonderkid showed off another string to his bow with a delicious finish, meeting Kieran Tierney’s cross with a deft finish beyond Rui Patricio.

Juwara was also among the goals for Bologna, coming off the bench to equalise against Internazionale in Serie A last Sunday, before Musa Barrow added a second to defeat the Nerazzurri and all but end the title hopes of Antonio Conte’s side.

The 18-year-old’s route to the top has been remarkable, with the orphaned Juwara only arriving in Italy four years ago, on a migrant ship having traversed the Mediterranean, before working his way up the rungs of the national game.

Also up for discussion this week, Wazito’s project in Kenya continues to lurch from crisis to crisis, with the club owner sacking 11 players and then publishing an expletive-laden rant on social media in which he criticised those he had kicked to the curb.

We also discuss the future of Al-Ahly under Rene Weiler, examine what’s in store for Africa’s biggest leagues following updates from Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria.

Major League Soccer returns this week following the coronavirus-enforced suspension, as football in the United States continues to be a hotbed for African players.

There’s plenty of Ghanaian interest in the division, with Black Stars like Jonathan Mensah, Harrison Afful, David Accam and Latif Blessing among the African players hoping to have an impact in the top flight this season.

Dove is particularly excited to see what Lalas Abubakar can achieve this term; is he a player who could be turning out for the national side within the next 12 months?

Victor Wanyama will be hoping to bounce back at Montreal Impact following his decline at Tottenham Hotspur, while Kei Kamara—the second highest scorer in the MLS history—will be hoping to fire himself further up the all-time goal king charts.

Simy Nwankwo scored his 17th goal in the Serie B this season as Crotone grabbed a crucial away victory by defeating Citadel 3-1 on Friday.

The Super Eagles forward doubled the Pythagoreans' lead in the 37th minute, after Junior Messias broke the deadlock at the Pier Cesare Tombolato Stadium in the 11th minute.

He made it four goals in his last five league outings after scoring a hat-trick in Crotone’s 3-0 victory over Benevento last Friday.

The effort was Simy's 17th goal after 32 league outings this campaign, and he is currently the joint-second top scorer in the Italian second division, with a goal behind Perugia's Pietro Iemmello.

Four minutes into the second half, Messias sealed maximum points for the visitors with his second goal of the night which has now made them unbeaten in their last nine league matches.

Since their 3-2 loss to Juve Stabia in February, Crotone have drawn three and won six of their last nine league outings.

Simy was in action for 90 minutes alongside Libya midfielder Ahmed Benali before they were replaced by Maximiliano Lopez and Tomislav Gomelt respectively in the stoppage time.

Crotone maintained their second spot in the Serie B standings after the win at the Citadel which earned them 58 points after 33 games. They still hold a three-point lead above third-place Pordenone.

With five games remaining, the race for Serie A promotion is heating up with two slots left for grabs after runaway leaders Benevento sealed their spot.

Crotone have the chance of extending their lead when they host Pordenone at the Stadio Ezio Scida for their next league fixture on Monday.

Real Madrid moved a significant step nearer to a 34th LaLiga title as Karim Benzema set them on the way to a 2-0 win over Deportivo Alaves.

The gap to Barcelona in second place is back to four points, and it would take a mighty collapse from this position for the teams to swap positions.

Marco Asensio grabbed Madrid's second goal after Benzema's early penalty, and Zinedine Zidane's side could have stretched their lead as a string of chances came their way.

But lowly Alaves contributed plenty to an entertaining game, enough to suggest they can survive in the top flight under their new coach Juan Muniz.

Madrid edged ahead with an 11th-minute spot-kick from Benzema after Ferland Mendy – starting in place of the injured Marcelo – was brought down by Alaves right-back Ximo Navarro.

Benzema, filling in for suspended regular penalty taker Sergio Ramos, calmly fired into the bottom-left corner.

Madrid had by that stage survived a scare when Joselu headed against the crossbar from just five yards and Lucas Perez's follow-up was booted off the line by Raphael Varane.

Joselu squandered another chance when he shot wide for Alaves, who have now lost six straight games to put their place among the elite in unexpected peril.

The visitors to the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, being led by Muniz for the first time, continued to ask questions of Madrid's backline.

But the jig was up for them early in the second half, with Benzema fed by Rodrygo before slipping in Asensio to score from close range. To the naked eye, Benzema appeared offside, but VAR replays favoured Zidane's team.

Benzema and Rodrygo saw shots pushed away by Roberto Jimenez as Madrid went in for the kill.

It hardly mattered that they failed to add to their haul, the pressure now overwhelming for Barcelona as they head to Real Valladolid on Saturday.

What does it mean? Madrid edge closer

Barcelona are waiting for a Madrid stumble that does not look like coming. Los Blancos rode their luck in this game, especially in the first half when the clearest chances were created by Alaves, but it is eight wins from eight since the restart for Madrid, and a four-point cushion with three rounds remaining is massive. Alaves could do with halting their slide sooner rather than later, given their last game of the season is against Barcelona.

Benzema steps up

Not only did Madrid's number nine take over penalty duties from Ramos, he also took on the captaincy and performed like a true talisman. He finished the game in the stands, seemingly nursing an injury that may make him a doubt for upcoming fixtures.

Reasons to be cheerful for Muniz

Alaves are worryingly close to the drop zone, but this was always unlikely to be the game where they turned the corner results-wise. Six straight defeats is an awful run at any stage of the season, but it could be calamitous now should it be extended any further. However, for much of the first half here they were the more dangerous attacking unit, with Oliver Burke and Joselu especially threatening, and they should survive if this bold performance was not a one-off to mark the arrival of Muniz.

What's next?

Madrid are back in action when they face Granada on Monday. That could be the game in which they win the title, should Barcelona slip up against Real Valladolid on Saturday. Alaves face Getafe next, also on Monday.

Phil Foden believes he has been in excellent form in recent weeks and feels he will score with every chance he gets for Manchester City.

The 20-year-old has scored four times in the Premier League this season, with all of his goals coming after football’s return from the three-month long coronavirus-enforced suspension.

Foden struck against Arsenal, Burnley and Liverpool to take his tally in all competitions this term up to seven for the campaign.

The midfielder is happy with his current form for Pep Guardiola’s team and believes he will add even more before the season is up.

"I am feeling really confident in front of goal. Every chance I get I feel like I am going to score,” he told Sky Sports.

“I just enjoy scoring goals and that is what I always want to do in training.

"I was in okay form before we broke up, if I am honest, but I have come back flying.

"Through quarantine I tried to work on some things like one-on-ones and come back stronger. I think I have had good start to the restart and I just want to keep the form going.

"Everyone is getting game time so I am really enjoying it at the moment.

"[Guardiola] has told me that he likes me in and around the box.”

Foden has played in several positions for City this term, moving from central midfield to a more advanced role and being deployed on both wings in recent games.

And he hopes he can continue to show his versatility as he develops as a player.

"It is good if you can play in as many positions as possible. I can play in midfield as well as out wide. I want to play in these different positions. I want to be flexible.

"The defensive side of the game, pressing from the front and things. I think I have come on a lot more in the last year with that."

He added: "I have become more physical up top and that is definitely helping my game.

"You obviously don't have to be physical to be a footballer but it is good when you have that little bit of physicality and you can use it well.

"I don't want to be too big but I just want to be big enough to give me that yard of space. It is something that I have been working on and it has come on a lot. It can still get better."

Foden has been compared to City team-mate David Silva, who is closing in on retirement after 10 years with the club.

The England Under 21 international says he will be sad to see his boyhood hero leave the club and says the Spain star has played a big role in the progress he has made since his breakthrough.

"He has been my idol growing up. I have tried to learn from him as much as I can and take it into my game," he said.

"It is not like I am trying to copy everything that he does but if I take his strong points - how he moves into spaces and receives the ball - it can only help me as a player.

"I think he has brought my game on massively."

As leagues around the world restart their seasons following the severe disruption due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, a slow return to normality has begun with games coming back - but it might be a long while before we see stadiums at full capacity.

Major European leagues restarted their seasons in May and June behind closed doors to no fans, with strict safety measures in place and regular testing done for both players and club staff.

But when can supporters expect to watch games live and in person again?

When will fans be allowed to return to stadiums in UK & Europe?

There has been no official guidance on when clubs will welcome supporters back to the stadium in the UK.

Premier League medical advisor Mark Gillett stated that games would be forced to be played behind closed doors for up to a year, saying: “It’s very clear the public and social health situation is not going to change in the next six to 12 months."

With the UK having the worst Covid-19 death toll in Europe in May, opening stadiums up to fans - with games being a viral hotbed - would no doubt worsen the public health situation.

Supporters should be braced to watch games from their own homes for up to 12 months, and potentially beyond that.

According to Sky Sports however, the Premier League could introduce a system for the 2020-21 season that will allow fans who have tested negatively for Covid-19 to enter stadiums.

The report states that the Premier League could use a 'digital health passport' next season, created by the company administering testing programmes for the clubs, to link testing history to a person's mobile phone - with individuals testing negative using a QR Code on their device to enter the ground.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has given a more positive verdict, saying that he predicts supporters will be able to be allowed back into the stadiums sooner rather than later.

Speaking to the Guardian, Ceferin said: “It’s a serious situation but it is going down now and we are being more cautious.

“We know more about the virus and in general I’m an optimistic person.

“We are ready and we will follow the recommendations of the authorities but I’m absolutely sure, personally, that good old football with fans will come back very soon.”

The situation for fans in Germany might be a bit more positive.

The Bundesliga were the first major European league to restart their season following the Covid-19 outbreak, resuming their campaign on May 16 after passing safety protocols.

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes credited Germany's health care system for allowing the Bundesliga to return smoothly, while Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge thanked the efforts of the country's politicians who tested aggressively nationwide and administered a vigorous test-and-trace regime to contain the virus.

“We can be the first to start again because of our health care system,” Rolfes said via the New York Times. “We are thankful to have the opportunity.”

"We have to say thank you to our politicians,” said Rummenigge.

On July 10, it was announced that the German Football League (DFL) would be collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health for the possibility of fans returning to the stadiums in the Bundesliga, stating that there are currently talks "to discuss conditions and framework for a possible re-admission of visitors".

The ministry added that "compliance with infection protection standards" would be a prerequisite to the public being invited to football games again, with the possibility of partial admission of spectators - with everything having to be pre-approved by the local health authorities.

When will fans be allowed to return to stadiums in U.S.?

With the United States continuing to be the worst-hit country in the world, passing three million cases in early July and the country's daily Covid-19 numbers regularly hitting record highs, it is unlikely that stadiums will allow fans back at full capacity soon.

However, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent stated that they plan to see crowds back at football games as early as this autumn.

“We’re planning for full stadiums,” Vincent told NBC Sports, “until the medical community tells us otherwise. Now, remember when we’re talking. We’re talking about September... August, September. So, there’s a lot that can happen here. So, we’re planning for full stadiums.”

The NFL's Baltimore Ravens announced in early July that they plan to allow less than 14,000 fans  to attend any home game at M&T Bank Stadium in 2020, if the situation even allows for fans to go to games.

It is a small portion of the 62,000-capacity stadium.

"To offer a proper level of safety for fans who want to attend games, a reduction in capacity is necessary," Ravens president Dick Cass said.

"We are disappointed that this will be a disruption for many ticket buyers, but we have an obligation to our fans and our community to keep M&T Bank Stadium as safe as possible."

Ramon Azeez made a second-half substitute to help Granada clinch a 3-2 victory over Real Sociedad in Friday’s La Liga game.

The Nigeria international was afforded his 21st league appearance at Reale Segzuros and gave a good account of himself in the encounter.

Having recorded a victory against Deportivo Alaves and played out a draw with Valencia, the midfielder helped his side extend the unbeaten run to three games against the Whites and Blues.

Granada hit the ground running in the match with Antonio Puertas opening scoring for the visitors in the 21st minute after he was set up by Domingos Duarte.

Roberto Soldado then doubled the lead for the Nasrids moments before the break with a brilliant individual effort.  

Mikel Merino reduced the deficit for the Whites and Blues shortly after the restart of the second half before Mikel Oyarzabal dew the hosts levelled.

Super Eagles midfielder Azeez was introduced for Yan Brice Eteki in the 63rd minute as Granada aimed to secure all three points in the contest.

Duarte then scored the matching-winning goal with two minutes left to play after receiving a fine assist from Darwin Machis.

Azeez had an 86% pass rate in the game to help his side enjoy more possession and secure their 14th win of the season.

The victory propelled Diego Martínez’s men to the ninth spot on the league table after gathering 50 points from 35 games.

Azeez, who played a key role in their promotion to La Liga last season, has now featured 26 times across all competitions for the Nuevo Los Carmenes outfit this season.

The 27-year-old midfielder will hope to make more impact when Granada take on league leaders Real Madrid on July 13.

Frank Lampard has offered words of encouragement to 19-year-old midfielder Billy Gilmour, who sustained a knee injury against Crystal Palace that will now keep him out for four months.

Gilmour is one of the most highly-rated players to come from Chelsea's academy in recent seasons and Lampard has given him full status as a first-team player since February.

Amid an injury crisis in late February and early March, Gilmour stepped up and produced two man of the match-level performances against both Liverpool and Everton, moving him past Jorginho in the midfield pecking order.

During the 19th minute of his side's 3-2 win at Selhurst Park, Gilmour suffered an injury in an innocuous collision with Joel Ward. Not knowing the extent of the damage, Gilmour continued to play for over 60 minutes, but will now be sidelined for several months.

Having himself suffered a broken leg in 1997 while playing for West Ham as a teenager, Lampard knows what it takes to come back from a big early setback in your career.

"It was a single moment, it happened in the game," Lampard told reporters ahead of his side's clash with Sheffield United on Saturday. "I saw it happen, midway through the first half. Completely accidental as he crouched down I saw his reaction as he got up, had a bit of a grimace.

"It’s a tear of his meniscus in his knee, that’s as far as my expertise will go as far as the injury itself but we have the best surgeon on it this morning so the things that are behind Billy are the fact that he is young and has an incredible attitude, health and he will build himself to hopefully get over it as quickly as possible.

"I haven’t been absolutely privy to all that [what the players have said to him] but I certainly got him in yesterday morning and spoke to him. He has got a tight-knit family, he is a good old Scottish lad and he’s tough as well so don’t be shocked or tricked by the babyface because there is a tough nature to him.

"I remember being out myself around 17, 18 with a broken leg for about three months which went over a summer as well and is part of the process, unfortunately."

Despite the injury to Gilmour, Chelsea remain in a strong position in their bid to qualify for next season's Champions League as they sit in third place. having gone above Leicester City during the midweek fixtures.

Mateo Kovacic will return from his Achilles problem, but N'Golo Kante remains out. Jorginho remains an option having not started since the restart.

Lampard believes that the Italian reacted well but added that he isn't scared to have unhappy players in his squad should they get dropped.

"I can sometimes see in players’ faces that they’ve got the hump," he continued "That’s the nature of my job. There’s 11 places for a squad of 20 odd players. I can’t keep everybody happy all the time. I don’t mind an unhappy face.

"I have to accept that in my job and I see that. But at the same time, we want professionalism and players to act the right way. He’s absolutely done that and, for that, I’m delighted with him. It says a lot about him and of course, he is a top-class player. There’s absolutely no doubt about that.

"With Jorginho I feel we’re hanging on this one at the moment. He’s been a big influence this season. Sometimes we play a holding midfield player. N’Golo Kante’s done it; Billy Gilmour’s done it; Jorginho’s done it a lot this season.

"I choose it where I see fit for the games and if we are playing well, I want to go again. I look at the opposition, I have to make choices. They’re not easy choices. Jorginho knows I’m always ready to talk. I’ve got a very good relationship that’s very open with him.

"Where he’s trained well and shown the right character, we haven’t had to have any sit-downs and I know I can rely on Jorginho when he plays at any moment. I know I can rely on him to drive the team and be the one in training who wins a small-sided game as much or as more than anyone else. In that way, he’s a fantastic player to manage."

Chelsea were relieved to survive and get the three points against Crystal Palace this week having sustained pressure for more than half the match despite taking a two-goal lead on two different occasions.

Palace hit the post and had Christian Benteke through on goal in the final minute as the latter incident was miraculously saved with a sliding tackle from Kurt Zouma. It came after Tammy Abraham cheaply gave the ball away and Lampard admits he can tolerate big mistakes as long as he sees effort from his players.

"Well in terms of that, yeah, Tammy gave the ball away and has to react better and yes, of course, I speak with the players when these things happen," he concluded. "It's part of the development but that can only go so far.

"Some things need to be better. Tammy gets us the goal that wins the game. I know his intentions are good, like all the players. They want to see out the game, it's a mistake, which can happen to anybody.

"Reactions and work ethic kind are areas where I would really come down hard and I generally think with the players we don't have that issue. But we do make mistakes maybe sometimes with youthfulness and that's something that we work on and we'll get better at.

"In terms of issues on the pitch. I'm not mad on seeing players fighting like that. I think those things should be at least held for the dressing room that can happen in the dressing in the training ground in the dressing room. I'm not an advocate of fairness, always positive things they care, every situation is different.

"Sometimes I feel when players have pointed fingers at other players, they’d better make sure their whole games are right as well and they're, they're doing the right thing. So I think a good squad of individuals will push each other and there's more of an unspoken rule of you don't let each other down and moments.

"I'm not mad on things that are in front of everybody else like that. But we're all humans and sometimes that happens and how you deal with it activates probably the important thing."

Jurgen Klopp believes Jordan Henderson is now “a role model for future Liverpool captains” – as he confirmed the Reds skipper WILL lift the Premier League trophy despite his season-ending injury.

Henderson will miss the remainder of the campaign after picking up a knee issue in the win over Brighton on Wednesday, although Klopp revealed that there is no need for surgery and that the 30-year-old is expected to be back in time for the start of the 2020-21 season.

It means he will not be on the field for the game with Chelsea at Anfield on July 22, when Liverpool will be presented with the Premier League trophy for the first time.

Klopp, though, says Henderson will be there to lift the trophy – even if his trademark ‘shuffle’ is not on display.

“We will do everything possible to do it the right way,” he told reporters. “I have no idea what the rules are, if you cannot lift the trophy if you are not in the starting line-up or whatever? That is not a rule? OK, so Hendo will be there and he will wear the match kit, and everything will be fine.

“It was a big relief that the injury is not as serious as we first thought. He deserves [to lift the trophy] for what he did in the last years. But life is like life is. If he would have had surgery and been in hospital, then it would have been difficult. But he is not. His rehab starts immediately, he will be fine in a few weeks. 

“We will find a solution where we can show the respect he deserves. They [the players] all want that, by the way. They want him to be there. 

“That was one of the first things I heard after we won the league. Virgil [Van Dijk] told Hendo he could do ‘the shuffle’ again! I’m not sure if he will be able to do the shuffle now, but that is the smallest problem of all!”

Henderson’s rise as Liverpool skipper has been remarkable. Having had to fight for acceptance in the early years of his Reds career, he has now captained the side to European, World and Premier League glory, putting his name alongside some of the all-time legends at Anfield.

“He is absolutely,” Klopp said. “He is the only captain I had here at Liverpool, and I am happy that this was decision was made before I came in.

“It’s always the same way in life, people have to grow in new roles. He had to do that. It was the most difficult job you can have. After Stevie [Gerrard], whatever manner the person doing the job did it, it was going to be difficult.

“Hendo grew in that role, and now he is probably a role model for the next generation of Liverpool skippers. That’s absolutely great and it is nice to be part of this development.

“He became a man, age-wise, and he became a proper captain. That’s exactly how it should be, and on top of that he improved. He was always a good player, but he made big steps in his game as well. 

“And when you are massively under pressure from outside, with big expectations, that is not easy to do. He achieved that, and after his career when he looks back, there are a lot of reasons why he should be proud.”

Mikel Arteta has hinted he wants Shokdran Mustafi to sign a new contract - but says the defender’s future is in the club’s hands.

Mustafi has been much maligned since he made the move to Arsenal from Valencia in 2016, with high profile errors a constant theme of his stay in north London.

He looked certain to leave under previous boss Unai Emery, with the Spaniard publicly advising the German that it would be better for his career if he moved elsewhere.

But Mustafi stayed put and has been brought back into the fold by Arteta, starting 15 of Arsenal’s last 17 matches and helping them to six clean sheets along the way.

There is now even talk of a new contract, with the defender into the final year of his current deal, and Arteta has hinted he would be happy if the World Cup winner put pen to paper and extending his stay at the Emirates.

“That’s something the club has to address but he knows my opinion,” said Arsenal’s head coach.

“I’m really happy with him as you can see. The way he’s playing, how committed he is with everything we’re trying to do, the level in his performance ever three or four days, he’s been really consistent.”

Mustafi will start again for Arsenal on Sunday when they travel to Tottenham for a crucial north London derby.

The Gunners go into the game eighth in the table, one point and place above their rivals - with both eyeing qualification for the Europa League next season.

But Arteta’s side sit 42 points adrift of runaway champions Liverpool and 19 behind second-placed Manchester City and Arsenal’s head coach accepts there is a lot of work to do if his side are to start challenging for the top honours again.

He said: “The level of the two top teams in the league has raised so much in a very short space of time.

“There are many reasons you can analyse but the gap has become so big in the past two or three  years that we all have to make good decisions and good work to catch up and make the distance much smaller.

“And don’t think it is just one or two clubs. It is a lot of clubs that are trying to do that at the moment.”

Real Madrid left-back Marcelo was ruled out of his side's La Liga clash against Deportivo Alaves after it was confirmed he suffered a muscle injury.

The Spanish giants are unsure how long the 32-year-old will be unavailable for as their defensive problems worsen towards the end of the season.

Marcelo played all 90 minutes of Los Blancos' 1-0 victory over Athletic Club on Sunday, but was sent for a scan at the club's medical center on Friday which confirmed the injury.

"Following the tests carried out today on Marcelo by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to his left adductor muscle," a statement on the club's website read.

"His recovery will continue to be assessed."

The Brazil international could be out for the remainder of Madrid's La Liga campaign, as they have just four games left to go.

Marcelo has been limited to just 15 appearances in the Spanish top flight in 2019-20 having suffered neck and calf injuries throughout the campaign, while coach Zinedine Zidane has opted to pick Ferland Mendy ahead of him on occasion. 

The ex-Fluminense player could be fit on time to face Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, which will be played next month. City hold a 2-1 aggregate lead from the first leg and the winners of the tie will face either Juventus or Lyon in the quarter-finals.

Zidane has already been forced to get creative to deal with his side's availability issues heading into Friday's clash at the Santiago Bernabeu with Nacho Fernandez out with an injury and right-back Dani Carvajal and centre-back Sergio Ramos missing because of suspension.

Mendy was called upon once again to start at left-back for this week's match, while winger Lucas Vazquez lined up on the right side and Raphael Varane and Eder Militao lined up in the heart of defence.

Madrid are top of the table and could extend their lead over main rivals and reigning champions Barcelona to four points if they get the better of Alaves, who sit 17th in the Primera Division and three points above Mallorca, who are in the relegation zone.

Renowned Ghanaian coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani believes the nation's quest for success at senior level has not been helped by their choice of players at various youth levels.

Despite winning the U17 world title on two occasions and the U20 world championship once, the West Africans continue to struggle for success at senior level.

The Black Stars' last major title came 38 years ago when they won the Africa Cup of Nations tournament at Libya 1982.

“When you look at the way sometimes we pick our U17, do we pick them based on the fact that our projection is that if we pick them when they are 10 years, in 10 years they should have played in our U20 and U23 teams?" Dramani, currently a youth coach with Danish side Nordsjaelland, told YAC Media.

“You should be thinking that in 25 years, they should be able to win something for the country.

“When we are able to think like this, we will be experts in putting people in their right places, because when you think about immediate success, then you are only thinking about today and tomorrow.

“It means you are only thinking about how to win and qualify for the U17 Afcon and when you begin to think about just qualifying for the Afcon, it means you have relegated players who would have been able to fit in for the 2025 period.”

Ghana beat Spain to win the U17 World Cup in Italy in 1991, becoming the first African nation to win the youth championship.

Four years later, the Black Starlets clinched their second title at Ecuador 1995, this time around accounting for Brazil in the final.

In 2009, Ghana became the first African nation to win the U20 World Cup following a penalty shoot-out victory over Brazil.

At U23 level, the Black Meteors won bronze at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.

The senior Ghana team, however, only qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2006 but their best outing came at South Africa four years later when they reached the quarter-final of the championship.

At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the Black Stars exited the competition in the first round and failed to qualify for the tournament altogether in 2018.

Their last quest for an Afcon title ended in a Round of 16 elimination at hands of Tunisia in Egypt last year, the team's first time of failing to reach the quarter-finals since 2006.

Dramani won the Ghana Premier League title with Asante Kotoko in 2012 and 2013.

Ajara Nchout opened her 2020 goal account in the Norwegian Toppserien game on Friday as Valerenga claimed a 2-0 win over Roa.

The forward scored 15 goals in all competitions to help her side to a Toppserien runners-up spot and Champions League berth last term.

Nchout was making her first league appearance of the season for Valerenga, having come on as a substitute in their opener which ended 3-2 in favour of her former side Sandviken last week.

Stunned by defeat at Sandviken, the Cameroonian broke the deadlock at Intility Arena in the 31st minute after Synne Jensen teed up Nchout, who chipped the ball elegantly over Linn-Mari Nilsen.

In the 68th minute, the hosts came close to scoring their second goal of the match when Nchout sent a pass through to Celin Ildhusoy, but the latter's effort was denied by the visitors' defence.

Dejana Stefanovic then doubled the hosts' lead after capitalising on a goalmouth scramble in the 71st minute.

Five minutes from full-time, Nchout set up Rikke Madsen on the right side of the box but the latter was denied by the woodwork.
 
It was the Cameroonian's first goal for Monica Knudsen's side on her first start since the resumption after the coronavirus lockdown.

Knudsen's side are second in the league log with three points after two games and they visit Klepp for their next fixture on July 18.