21:32 BST 21/05/2021
Looking at the numbers behind the Caf Champions League quarterfinal encounter between Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly in Tshwane
The Nigerian-born Dutch forward has been voted as the best player by the club’s fans following his impressive performances
Arnaut Danjuma has been named winner of Bournemouth supporters’ Player of the Season award.
The 24-year-old has been one of the shining stars for the Cherries in the current campaign, helping the club to the playoffs.
The Nigerian-born Dutch forward has bagged 16 goals and provided eight assists in 36 appearances across all competitions this season, amid other dazzling displays.
His effort was convincing enough to the fans, who voted overwhelmingly for him to scoop the individual accolade.
Danjuma secured 40 percent of the votes cast to beat off competitions from Asmir Begovic, Philip Billing Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jefferson Lerma.
The attacker has appreciated all those who voted for him and hopes Bournemouth can clinch promotion to the Premier League through the playoffs.
"A big thank you to all the supporters who voted for me as supporters' Player of the Year,” Danjuma told the club website.
"Obviously there have been a lot of highs and lows this season, this one means a lot to me because it was voted on by the supporters.
"I've enjoyed the season so far, let's make sure we can finish on a high as well."
Danjuma has been at Dean Court since the summer of 2019 when he teamed up with the club from Belgian First Division A side Club Brugge in the summer of 2019.
The attacker has made more than 50 appearances for the Cherries across all competitions since his arrival.
Danjuma will hope to help Bournemouth see off Brentford in the second leg semi-final of the Championship playoff on Saturday.
The forward has made two appearances for the Netherlands, notwithstanding, he is still eligible to represent the Nigeria national team due to the new Fifa rule.
Danjuma has previously stated he could switch his allegiance to the Super Eagles if he is continued to be ignored by the Dutch senior team.
The Brazilian, who spent this term on loan with Bayern Munich, will return to his home country after struggling to settle at another European home
Juventus midfielder Douglas Costa will return to his former club Gremio on loan, the Serie A giants have confirmed.
The 30-year-old, who spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan with Bayern Munich after falling out of favour in Turin, has sealed a move back to where he began his career, with the Campeonato Brasileiro outfit.
It brings an end to a decade-long spell in Europe that has seen him win league titles in three different countries and appear at the World Cup with the Selecao at Russia 2018.
"Douglas Costa has officially signed for Gremio on a free loan from Juventus," read an official Bianconeri statement.
"The Brazilian winger, who joined Juventus back in 2017 and spent this past season on loan at Bayern Munich, will wear the shirt of the Porto Alegre outfit until 30 June 2022."
Juve were the first to confirm the deal and later on Friday, Gremio officially announced Costa's return.
The Brazilian club stated that should Juve not sign Costa to a new deal by the end of 2021, he would join them on a free transfer through December 2023.
The playmaker's return to his home country will surely stretch beyond the end of his year-long loan, given that his contract with Juventus will expire at the same time, paving the way for a free transfer to join Gremio for good.
It will mark an emotional comeback for a player who conquered a host of European leagues during his stay, emerging as something of an unsung hero for several leading sides.
He has endured a difficult few years since the World Cup, first falling out of favour at Juventus, before struggling to convince at former club Bayern, to whom he returned on a short-term deal.
Hansi Flick's side were uninterested in offering him a longer-term deal, paving the way instead for him to link back up with Gremio.
Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus has been named Talent of the Month of May in the Dutch Eredivisie, the club have announced.
The 20-year-old picked up the latest honour for the season after a string of fine performances for the Lancers in four appearances in the month under review.
It seals his renaissance and good end to the 2020-21 term after injury disrupted a strong start to the campaign.
"Mohammed Kudus has been personally decorated for his game on the Dutch fields in recent weeks,” Ajax have announced on their official website.
"The Ajax midfielder has been named talent of the month in May in the Eredivisie. Kudus received the accompanying trophy at the Toekomst Sports Complex.
"Twenty-year-old Kudus came into action with Ajax four times this month and scored a hundred percent in terms of victories: FC Emmen (4-0), Feyenoord (0-3), VVV-Venlo (3-1) and Vitesse (1-3) were all defeated. The Ghanaian was also accurate against Feyenoord and VVV-Venlo.
"Kudus succeeds teammate Jurrien Timber, who was awarded the prize in April."
Kudus started in two of the four games played and scored two goals.
In his first game of the month, he came on as a second-half substitute against Emmen before scoring after once again coming on as a substitute against Feyenoord in a 3-0 win.
His strong impact from the bench earned him starts in the final two games of the season against VVV Venlo and Vitesse Arnhem, scoring in the penultimate match.
After a strong start to the season, Kudus suffered a big setback in October when he picked up a meniscus injury on his Champions League debut against Liverpool, a situation which kept him on the sidelines until January.
On his return, he suffered another setback which forced him back to the treatment room for one more month.
He joined Ajax in a five-year deal from Danish outfit Nordsjaelland last summer.
The attacker, who has urged former Nordsjaelland teammate Kamaldeen Sulemana to join him at Ajax, has been named in Ghana's squad for their upcoming friendlies against Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire next month.
The Wekundu wa Msimbazi coach is aware of how tough the challenge is but has asked his players for a proper response against Amakhosi
Simba SC head coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa has stated his players must play like men in order to pick up a meaningful result against Kaizer Chiefs in the Caf Champions League.
After going down 4-0 in last week's quarter-final first leg, Wekundu wa Msimbazi will need to score at least four goals in order to secure a place in the semi-finals.
Da Rosa admitted they are in a tight spot and must respond in a big way if they are to see off Amakhosi at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
“The challenge is big, the challenge is difficult but we believe nothing is impossible. The match we played on Saturday was a bad one for us and we were on a very bad day,” Da Rosa told reporters.
“We did too many mistakes; defensive mistakes specifically and now we are on the wall and if we play like men everything is possible on Saturday.
"We are very committed and determined and as I told the players we have to lift our attitude, be quicker movements, be aggressive and have high intensity.
“This is the Champions League and we must be committed and determined all through. I want to see that tomorrow from the beginning to the end.”
The tactician also emphasised the need to enjoy ball possession in areas Simba can hurt Chiefs, unlike how it was in the first-leg.
“We played well the other day and even the statistic show that because we had 66% ball possession and made more than 600 passes and we are going to play more directly because we need more opportunities to score,” he explained.
“We also need to be very balanced because we know Kaizer Chiefs can be very organised offensively.”
Despite the humiliation, Da Rosa is confident each and every player is buoyed for the home game.
“I am very happy with what I have seen in the training ground because I have seen dynamism and every player has shown me that they want to play. We are simply ready for this game knowing very well how it is a big match and how important it is,” he concluded.
At home, Simba have been very impressive in the Champions League this season as they are unbeaten.
The Amakhosi tactician reveals their plans are to start the return leg against the Msimbazi giants afresh and proceed from there
Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt has stated they will start Saturday's Caf Champions League quarter-final second leg against Simba SC with a clean slate irrespective of their first-leg advantage.
Despite carrying a 4-0 win from the first leg at FNB Stadium last weekend, Hunt has insisted Amakhosi will not be interested in the home result, and they will start the return leg at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on a fresh note and see what happens at the end.
“We have to start a new game on Saturday, we can’t consider ourselves through, we need to start the game properly and afresh and be prepared and then we can take it from there,” Hunt told Goal on Friday.
“It is going to be a much tougher game because they [Simba] are at home and all the conditions favour them but I don’t think we can think about that.
"We need to start the game on a clean slate, at 0-0 and then see where we can go from there.”
On whether they have injury concerns from the previous game, Hunt said: “No…no, we don’t have any injuries, it is pretty much the same squad that did duty in the first leg, it is the same squad of players we have.
“We all understand the game is not going to be easy, I know Simba will fight to get goals but we are all prepared.
"We know what to expect in the game, let us just get into the game and start from zero and see how far we can go.”
In an earlier interview, Hunt identified two players – winger Luis Miquissone and midfielder Clatous Chama - as Simba's dangermen ahead of the quarter-final clash.
“We must be at our best to stop Simba wingers, and especially that one from Mozambique [Miquissone] and Clatous [Chama] from Zambia, they are players we don’t have to give space to play their game, because if they are on top of their game, then we will be in trouble,” Hunt told Goal.
It will be Chiefs' second game in East Africa in the Caf Champions League having faced Rwandan club Kiyovu Sports in Kigali in March 1993.
The Soweto giants emerged 4-2 winners in the first round first-leg match and they advanced to the second round after winning the tie 9-3 on aggregate.
The Nigeria international has been rewarded for his impressive showings in front of goal after he was honoured with an award
Kelechi Iheanacho has won the Leicester City Goal of the Season award for his wonder strike against Crystal Palace in April.
The 24-year-old scored the match-winning goal in the encounter after Timothy Castagne had cancelled out Wilfried Zaha’s opener.
The centre-forward cut inside with his left foot before unleashing a ferocious shot past helpless goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.
The strike has been adjudged as the best from any Leicester player in the 2020-21 campaign and has been rewarded for his effort.
In scooping the individual accolade, the Nigeria international beat competition from Dennis Praet, James Vardy, James Maddison, Cengiz Under, Harvey Barnes, James Justin, Ayoze Perez, Youri Tielemans and Luke Thomas.
Iheanacho is currently enjoying his best season at King Power Stadium since teaming up with the side from Manchester City in the summer of 2017.
The attacker was named the Premier League Player of the Month for March for the first time in his career after bagging five goals in only three games.
Iheanacho’s form has helped Leicester maintain their third spot on the Premier League as they aim to secure a place in next season’s Champions League.
His contribution also played a key role as the Foxes won the 2021 FA Cup title, scoring four goals in the competition.
Iheanacho has now found the back of the net 19 times and provided seven assists in 38 appearances across all competitions this season.
He will hope to add to his tally when Leicester square off against Tottenham Hotspur in their last Premier League game on Sunday.
The attacker signed a new three-year contract with Leicester in April to ward off other European clubs ahead of the summer transfer window.
Iheanacho remains a key member of the Nigeria national team and recently helped the three-time African champions qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
The former national team assistant is widely tipped to succeed Joachim Low following Euro 2020 and looks to have just about wrapped up personal terms
Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick has hinted that his appointment as Germany's next national team boss is almost complete, indicating that it is only now a matter of the final few details.
The 56-year-old, who was assistant boss to outgoing figurehead Joachim Low between 2006 and 2014, is all but expected to succeed his former colleague when the latter steps down at the end of the rearranged Euro 2020 tournament this summer.
Ahead of his final game in charge of the Bavarian giants, who he led to a continental treble last term, against Augsburg on Saturday, Flick has implied that an announcement on his appointment is due imminently, amid loose speculation linking him to other European clubs.
"I've talked to the DFB and everyone knows how I feel about the national team," the ex-Hoffenheim boss told his pre-match press conference.
"But it is also the case that these things always have to be settled when it comes to the small things.
"[When everything is ready,] things can be announced quickly."
The veteran coach also weighed in on his time as Niko Kovac's successor at Bayern, where he has claimed seven trophies, including two Bundesliga triumphs and the Champions League in just over a year-and-a-half in charge.
"I was a Bayern fan from childhood and will continue to be a Bayern fan," he added. "This is a club that is close to my heart [and] I will continue to cheer [for them]."
"[But] something new is coming. Life is always in flux, it is not that I regret anything."
Since announcing his intention to quit Bayern at the end of the campaign amid heavy speculation he was poised to succeed Low, Flick has also been linked with other jobs across Europe, including Barcelona - who are speculated to be considering a split with Ronald Koeman - and Tottenham.
But his fate looks all but wrapped up with the national team, who he will look to help guide in the wake of a Euro 2020 campaign where the national will hope to bounce back from the horror-show of the Russia 2018 World Cup, when their defence spluttered at the first hurdle.
The World Freestyle Football Association (WFFA) has revealed the date for the 2021 South African Football Freestyle Championships.
The event is scheduled to kick-off -virtually- on the 3rd of June and is brought to you by the WFFA, in partnership with Hit-Tec South Africa & Goal South Africa.
The WFFA has picked out 16 of the best football freestylers from around South Africa to battle it out for the PRIZED title.
There's a major cash price and Hi-Tec vouchers to be won and the overall winner will be crowned the official 2021 South African Freestyle Football Champion.
For more details follow Goal South Africa and keep an eye on these hashtags #ZAFreestyle #hitecsa #GoalZA.
The Rojiblancos' hunt for a second domestic crown under their boss will be decided on Saturday as they jostle for a sophomore triumph
Diego Simeone says that Atletico Madrid will "give their lives" in order to be crowned champions of La Liga this weekend, as the title race goes down to the wire with Real Madrid.
The Rojiblancos, who have led the top flight for the majority of the 2020-21 campaign, head into the final matchday against Real Valladolid two points ahead of Zinedine Zidane's crosscity rivals and current holders.
Yet owing to Los Blancos' superior head-to-head record, any tie at the summit would see Atletico let the title slip through their fingers, while Sergio's hosts at Estadio Jose Zorrilla are fighting for their own survival against relegation - and Simeone fully expects both clubs to commit to a metaphorical life-or-death encounter.
"[It is] a final where two teams fight for different goals," the Argentine told his pre-game press conference ahead of the clash. "Both are going to give their lives to achieve [those goals].
"As we have been throughout the season, we will be immersed in solving our game. We will try to take it to where we can harm them.
"It has been a very long season in which we have all gone through many situations. This is La Liga, and we find ourselves fighting for the title."
As Simeone looks to secure the second domestic league crown of his tenure at Wanda Metropolitano, he will know that victory against Valladolid is the only surefire way to secure a sophomore title.
Madrid, who will play Europa League-chasing Villarreal, face their own tough test, but a victory for Zidane's side would be their only way to stay in with a shout.
If Los Blancos win, then no other result but victory will hand Atletico the title - defeat would mean that Madrid pip them by a point, while a draw would still see the title go to Santiago Bernabeu, as they have a worse head-to-head record with their rivals, have lost their first encounter in December, with the spoils shared in the reverse.
16:10 BST 21/05/2021
Alex Ferguson's incredible career has been documented for all to see by his son Jason.
The Red Devils are hoping to close the gap on Man City next season and challenge for the title but know it won't be possible without signings
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Manchester United need ‘two or three’ signings this summer if they have ambitions to challenge for the Premier League title next season.
United have finished second this term and are 12 points behind champions Manchester City with one final league game to play against Wolves this weekend.
The club have already begun work on their summer transfers and Solskjaer believes they need a number of fresh faces if they are to keep on improving.
The United manager was asked about the club’s transfer plans for the coming window, saying: “We're planning as we normally do. It's not like end of season and let's see what we do, that's an ongoing process.
“We are looking at the squad, the players who are going to stay, those who might be leaving and I hope that we're going to strengthen with a few.. two or three players that we definitely need to challenge higher up in the table.
“We're still too far behind to think it is just going to come by itself.”
Centre-back, central midfield and right wing are all positions Solskjaer is keen to strengthen and the Norwegian refused to rule out a move for a striker despite Edinson Cavani agreeing an extension which will keep him at Old Trafford until the end of next season.
There’s plenty of speculation about Harry Kane, with the striker looking to leave Tottenham and United long-term admirers, but they will face strong competition from Chelsea and Manchester City.
Sergio Romero is one player who is expected to leave in the summer and Juan Mata’s future is up in the air as well.
Asked specifically about Mata, Solskjaer replied: "We're talking to Juan, we've had good dialogue, good discussions and that dialogue will continue. Let's see what he wants to do at the end of the season.
"He's such a top professional, a very good player. It's hard for me not to play him more than I have done. There have been circumstances this season, personal issues that made him less available but still he is a top player. That decision will be made after the season is finished.”
And pushed on other outgoings Solskjaer said: “We've had a few players on loan that might come back in, there is interest in a few others going out but you want to come out of the transfer window strengthened.
“It might be we allow some players to go out and gain experience and come back stronger from it later on. Apart from that it's difficult to say, I can't see too many outgoings.”
The Dutch international is set to play his final game for the Reds this weekend, with Bayern Munich the latest club linked with him
Jurgen Klopp refused to confirm whether Gini Wijnaldum is set to play his final game for Liverpool this weekend, but insisted the midfielder’s commitment to the Reds cannot be questioned.
Wijnaldum’s contract at Anfield expires next month, and there is no sign of the 30-year-old agreeing a renewal.
Bayern Munich and Barcelona have been strongly linked with the Dutch international, who is likely to captain the Reds on Sunday in their crunch clash with Crystal Palace at home.
Klopp refused to be drawn on Wijnaldum’s future at a press conference at Kirkby on Friday, telling reporters: “There’s nothing to say in this moment. We have a game to play. We will see after the final whistle on Sunday.”
Later, though, he was asked whether the idea of such an influential player - Wijnaldum has made 50 appearances in all competitions this season - heading into such an important game with uncertainty over his future was a concern.
He said: “It’s not the first time we had situations like this, and the boys always did well. All of the boys show incredible character. The boys are used to being in negotiations and stuff like this.
“Gini’s character is not in question. He’s a sensational guy, a sensational guy, and completely committed to the team and to the club until the last day.
“We will see when that will be.”
Klopp did confirm one departure from Liverpool, however, with long-serving kit man Graham Carter leaving the club.
Carter has been with the Reds’ first team since 1999, having previously worked for the club as a driver.
“The best kit man I ever had,” Klopp said. “The most experienced kit man I ever had, anyway! Father figure, grandfather figure.
“We will say goodbye to him in the appropriate way.”
“I would like to use this opportunity to welcome them all,” he said. “You cannot imagine how much I am looking forward to seeing you all again, or at least 10,000 of you.
“But it is really important that with all the excitement we feel, we don’t lose patience after a minute or something, if it is not going in the right direction.
“We need the best support. Very positive, very encouraging, all these things. Like when we left each other, what feels like years ago.”
Klopp added: "It makes all the difference. We all need support through life. It means if it is a positive criticism, a boost or a gee up or whatever, we all need that – playing football especially because it's a game based on a lot of things but for sure on emotion as well.
"That means we were alone. We knew they are there but we were alone. And getting 10,000 of them back is the best news I can imagine."
13:32 BST 21/05/2021
The Spaniard has been encouraged by the Gunners' form towards the end of the campaign but admits as a whole it has been underwhelming
The Red Devils defender is recovering from ankle ligament damage and his manager is not optimistic he will recover in time for next week's match
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not believe Harry Maguire will be fit to play in the Europa League final against Villareal next week.
Manchester United’s captain damaged ligaments in his ankle and has been wearing a protective boot and used crutches since.
He was spotted without his crutches on Thursday night, which prompted hope from some supporters he would be available, but Solskjaer is not optimistic about his chances.
Solskjaer said: “He's walking but it's a long way from walking to running, so to be honest I don't think we'll see him in Gdansk, no.
“I'm going to give him until Tuesday night, the last training session to see if he can try to be out there. Steadily but surely he's improving, but ligaments take time to heal.”
If Maguire isn’t passed fit to play, as Solskjaer expects, the United manager anticipates he still has a key role to play in motivating his teammates.
Solskjaer said: “He's a very important person in the dressing room and a leader and I think before fans came in you all heard him from the stands, he wants the team to do well.
“He's organising even from the stands which has been easy because it's been so quiet. He'll come and be in the dressing room and make sure everyone's ready for the final.”
Scott McTominay and Fred are both expected to be available despite coming off with knocks in the draw against Fulham on Tuesday, but Anthony Martial is not expected to recover from a knee injury in time. Solskjaer said: “I know Anthony is not going to be available. Scott and Fred should be ok.”
The Argentina star can leave the club for free at the end of the season but the coach believes there is still a chance they can persuade him to stay
Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman still hopes Lionel Messi will stay at the club next season.
The Argentine may have played his final game for the Catalan side after Koeman permitted him to miss training and sit out their upcoming clash with Eibar.
Messi wanted to leave Camp Nou last year and could still depart for free when his contract expires in the summer, but the club have not given up on convincing him to stay.
"Hopefully he will continue here for many years," Koeman told reporters when asked if Messi will still be there next season.
"He is a unique player. He is a 10 as a professional. If he does not stay, Barca will have to train other players and seek effectiveness in other footballers.
"Leo has scored 30 goals this season, with him the team has come much further."
Despite Messi's impressive goal haul this season, Barca have dropped out of the title race in La Liga.
Koeman's team cannot finish higher than third in the table as they prepare for the final game of the season.
Pressure has been building on the Dutch coach as a result of their disappointing campaign and he admits he does not know if he will be sacked.
"I don't know [if I will stay]. Really, I don't know," he said.
"I haven't spoken to the president since lunch. We will speak after tomorrow's engagement.
"I have said from day one that I want to continue. We have to change things, but I want to continue. The last word will be for the president.”
The Amakhosi tactician reveals the players he fears most at Msimbazi giants as the two giants prepare to face off in return leg
Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt has identified two players as Simba's SC's dangermen when the two sides clash in the return leg of their Caf Champions League quarter-final tie on Saturday.
Ahead of their return leg at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium which will decide which team proceeds to the semi-finals, Amakhosi coach Hunt has singled out midfielder Clatous Chama and winger Luis Miquissone as the players he is most wary of in the Msimbazi giants squad.
“We must be at our best to stop Simba wingers, and especially that one from Mozambique [Miquissone] and Clatous [Chama] from Zambia, they are players we don’t have to give space to play their game, because if they are on top of their game, then we will be in trouble,” Hunt told Goal when asked about his opponents after the team landed in Dar es Salaam.
Hunt also explained how they still have a mountain to climb to succeed in qualifying for the semi-finals, insisting Simba have always been a good side while playing at home, which they must strive to overcome.
“Simba are a team that has always played well when at home, they always believe they can do it and they have always succeeded to get positive results, and they also have their fans rallying behind them and that is also an extra weapon for them to do well, so we must be at our best to get a good result at Mkapa," he continued.
Chiefs won the first leg played at FNB Stadium 4-0, leaving the Msimbazi giants with a huge mountain to climb in the return leg, however, under Didier Gomes Da Rosa at Mkapa, Simba has not lost a single match.
They have beaten Egyptian giants Al Ahly 1-0 with Miquissone notching the all-important goal, they then hammered AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 4-1 with Chama scoring two goals and setting up two and also beat Al-Merrikh of Sudan 3-0.
Chiefs have already landed in Tanzania with goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune being named in the Soweto giants' traveling squad after missing the first leg due to suspension and injury.
However, influential attacker Khama Billiat is not in the traveling squad as he is yet to recover from an injury that he picked up in Chiefs' 2-1 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in a PSL match last month.
Also missing from the traveling party is Dumisani Zuma after the 25-year-old attacker picked up an injury in the first-leg clash last weekend.
It will be Chiefs' second game in East Africa in the Caf Champions League having faced Rwandan club Kiyovu Sports in Kigali in March 1993.
The Soweto giants emerged 4-2 winners in the first round first-leg match and they advanced to the second round after winning the tie 9-3 on aggregate.
