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Bruno Fernandes considers Paul Pogba to be "one of the best players in the world" and says working with the Frenchman at Manchester United has helped to raise his own game.

A 26-year-old Portuguese playmaker has been a revelation at Old Trafford, with a role as club talisman taken on from the moment he walked through the doors in January 2020.

Fernandes is often the man that the Red Devils look to for inspiration, with 36 goals and 22 assists to his name, but there is plenty of talent around him - including a World Cup winner who has rediscovered a spark as part of an exciting midfield unit.

What has been said?

Fernandes has told United's official website of playing alongside Pogba, who can be a divisive figure for some: "My relationship with Paul since the beginning, as I met Paul already in Italy, I already know him with much, much relation but, of course, we have a good relationship.

"I think, on the pitch, there is still to come the best for both of us. We can do much better together. I think we are doing better now because people and players are concerned about who they might mark – we have Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes in the same places, the same pockets. Sometimes it is difficult for players to find who to mark and who to give freedom and so it’s good for the team. That is the best for us because we know we can help the team playing together.

"I think when you play with the best, your best comes out also. For me, playing with Paul, it’s playing with one of the best players in the world. So I think the best of me comes out and it’s helped me to have those kind of qualities.

"I think Paul is one of the players who has a good spirit, good moments in the dressing room. He’s a really funny guy and can always have something good to say to make people laugh."

Will Pogba be sticking around?

While the 28-year-old France international appears to be happy for now, questions continue to be asked of his ongoing presence at Old Trafford.

Transfer talk surfaces in each passing window, with this summer expected to be no different.

Pogba is approaching the final 12 months of his current contract and is yet to commit to an extension.

If no fresh terms can be thrashed out, then United will be left with little choice but to cash in on their £89 million ($125m) club-record signing.

Various landing spots have been mooted for Pogba, from Real Madrid to Paris Saint-Germain, but Fernandes and United will be hoping to see him stay put.

That is because, against the backdrop of Super League proposals in Manchester, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has his side in contention this season for a top-four finish and Europa League glory.

Further reading

The 2020-21 season has been a mixed bag for FC Goa star Brandon Fernandes. The attacker had started the season on a good note in the Indian Super League (ISL) but an injury midway into the campaign meant that it was a stop-start campaign personally for him. 

Fernandes regularly played for the Gaurs in the first 12 matches of the season before picking up the injury against ATK Mohun Bagan. He had appeared as a late substitute in the second leg of their semifinal tie against Mumbai City. The Goan footballer managed to provide three assists this season in the ISL but he did not score any goal

The injury-laden campaign in the ISL resulted in Fernandes' not risked by including him in the Indian national team which travelled to Dubai in March to play two international friendly matches against Oman and UAE.

Brandon's injury was a big blow for the Gaurs, who finished fourth on the points table this year and were knocked out of the play-offs by eventual champions Mumbai City. The Goan player over the years has become an integral part of the FC Goa side and is almost indispensable in the team.

In the last four seasons in the ISL, Fernandes has appeared in 62 matches for FC Goa where he has scored five goals and provided 18 assists. He is the second-highest assist provider in the history of the league, six behind his former FC Goa teammate Hugo Boumous who is at the top.

The best thing about the India international is his versatility as he can play in a number of positions - in midfield, on the flanks and also as a No.10..

The injury in the middle of the season did not dent his confidence even one bit as he has recovered extremely well and is back to his usual best in the AFC Champions League (ACL). The former Sporting Clube de Goa player has been in fine form and was one of the best performers for FC Goa after the first two matches of the group stage in their maiden ACL campaign.

He came agonisingly close to scoring his first-ever goal in Asia's premier competition. He had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock against UAE's Al Wahda in the second game but his shot from the edge of the box struck the goal post and come back. In the first match against Qatar's Al-Rayyan, he had a passing accuracy of 98 per cent as he completed 41 out of 42 passes he played. 

From a rising star just a few seasons ago to now an integral and indispensable member of the FC Goa side, the Goan star's rise in stature has been immaculate. Brandon Fernandes' contribution to his team is almost as good as any foreign player which is a huge value addition for a club in Indian football.

The Goan has already signed a fresh three-year contract extension with the Gaurs which will keep him at the club until 2024 and this certainly bodes well for the club. 

In their third match of the AFC Champions League group stage, Indian Super League (ISL) club FC Goa will take on Iranian club Persepolis FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa on Tuesday. 

FC Goa qualified for the ACL 2021 by winning the league stage of the 2019-20 ISL. 

TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM

The Star Sports Network have announced that they will telecast FC Goa's ACL campaign.

Commentary will not be available in vernacular languages for the ACL games on Star Sports. 

 SQUADS

FC Goa have registered a 28-man squad for their ACL campaign this year.

All clubs are allowed to have at most four foreign players in their squad including a player from an AFC (Asian Football Federation) member association. Australian defender James Donachie fulfils that criteria for the Gaurs. 

Forward Igor Angulo and midfielder Alberto Noguera have been left out from the squad that competed in the Indian Super League.

Indian forward Romeo Fernandes has been included in the FC Goa first team for the first time since 2016.

Goalkeepers :

Mohammad Nawaz, Naveen Kumar, Shubham Dhas, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem

Defenders:

Sanson Pereira, Seriton Fernandes, Leander D'Cunha, Iván González (Spain), Mohamed Ali, James Donachie (Australia), Aibanbha Dohling, Saviour Gama, Adil Khan

Midfielders:

Edu Bedia (Spain), Glan Martins, Princeton Rebello, Brandon Fernandes, Phrangki Buam, Redeem Tlang, Makan Winkle Chothe, Alexander Romario Jesuraj, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Romeo Fernandes

Forwards:

Jorge Ortiz (Spain), Devendra Murgaonkar, Ishan Pandita

 KNOW THE OPPONENTS

FC Goa are up against a tough opponent after managing to hold their first two opponents to goalless draws. 

2020 ACL finalists Persepolis are the defending champions of the Iran Pro League. The Red Army has lost only one game in the ongoing 2020-21 season of the league and are at the top of the table.

The Persian Gulf Pro League champions and last year's ACL runners-up are coached by Yahya Golmohammadi.

In their first two Group E fixtures, the Iranian club defeated UAE's Al Wahda 1-0 and then thrashed Qatar's Al-Rayyan 3-1.

Former Iran international defender Jalal Hosseini, midfielders Mehdi Torabi and Ahmad Nourollahi are the players to watch out for in the Persepolis squad.

Persepolis XI vs Al-Rayyan: Hamed Lak (GK); Jalal Hosseini, Siamak Nemati, Hossein Kanaani, Vahid Amiri; Ehsan Pahlavan, Kamal Kamyabinia, Mehdi Torabi; Ahmad Nourollahi, Omid Allishah, Shahriyar Moghanlou. 

Jose Mourinho flashed a smile and said he had no intention of fading from the spotlight after his Tottenham sacking, instead claiming there was "no need for breaks".

In an impromptu interview near his car on Monday, the manager appeared in good spirits and insisted he would be back in the dugout soon.

Mourinho exited Tottenham with the club in seventh place in the Premier League and set to compete in the Carabao Cup final, which will be played on April 25 against Manchester City. Securing a trophy of any kind has been top priority for the club, but Mourinho will not be around to see out that mission.

What has been said?

When asked by Sky Sports whether he felt he had been treated unfairly, Mourinho declined to make a direct statement, responding, "You know me. I'm not going to say anything."

He was more clear on his future, however.

"No need," Mourinho said about a potential vacation. "No need for breaks or recharged batteries. I'm always in football."

Mourinho's Tottenham record

Jose Mourinho recorded the lowest winning percentage (51%) of his managerial career since his time as the inexperienced boss of Uniao de Leiria in 2001, and his final month at Tottenham included a Europa League collapse vs Dinamo Zagreb.

Still, his work taking Spurs to the Carabao Cup final this year counts as a bright spot amid a difficult season, and his prior success at other clubs should allow him plenty of opportunities to manage elsewhere.

Further reading

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has dismissed threats from UEFA president Alexander Ceferin, who said that players participating in the Super League "will be banned from the World Cup and Euros".

There has been a major outcry over the Super League proposal, which was announced on Sunday and includes 12 teams with a further three expected to be added.

Ceferin was left fuming at the plan, which is set to directly threaten the Champions League.

What was said?

Perez spoke about Ceferin's threats in an interview with El Chiringuito on Monday, saying: "Every player can be calm because that’s not going to happen. They won’t be banned if they join the Super League."

Ceferin wasn't the only UEFA figure making threats on Monday, with Executive Committee member Jesper Moller saying Madrid, Chelsea and Man City could all be booted out of this season's Champions League due to their involvement in the Super League.

Perez, again, dismissed those threats, saying: "Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea will not be banned from the Champions League or domestic leagues. Impossible, I can assure you of that. 100 per cent, it won’t happen, the law protects us. This is impossible."

Ceferin branded Manchester United and Juventus chiefs Ed Woodward and Andrea Agnelli as "snakes" after they led proposals for the Super League, comments that also did not go down well with Perez.

"President Ceferin insulted Andrea Agnelli today, it is not possible," Perez said. "It’s crazy to discuss a president of a world club like Juventus.

"This is something unacceptable, UEFA must change, we don’t want a president who insults other presidents.

"Why aren’t UEFA and La Liga salaries public? Why haven’t salaries been reduced like everyone else during the pandemic? We need more transparency. We know the salary of LeBron James but we don’t know the salary of the UEFA president."

Who else is in the Super League?

Aside from Real Madrid, there are two other La Liga teams involved in the competition: Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.

That trio is joined by three Italian sides, AC Milan, Inter and Juventus, as well as six teams from England: Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham.

Three more teams are expected to be involved annually for a total of 15, with a further five clubs able to qualify each season.

Further reading

Florentino Perez has claimed the Super League, which he has been picked to lead, will "save football" with the money generated by the elite clubs welcomed to the competition trickling down to everyone else.

The comments by Perez, who also heads Real Madrid, come as his proposed 20-team annual tournament has received intense backlash from many European clubs, as well as UEFA. Real Madrid are one of 12 announced founders who would be immune to relegation. Three more founders have yet to be announced.

Despite Perez's assertions, those left outside of the Super League believe that it's the new competition and not the sport's traditional framework that would be ruinous, with football's governing bodies so worried about the economic damage that they've threatened bans for players at participating clubs.

What has been said?

"[We are doing it] to save the more modest clubs, before the chance to save them has gone," Perez said during a Monday interview with El Chingruito.

"This will save everyone. Football is going through a really delicate moment. The worst in 20 years. It won't disappear but it could slip down to a different level, if the youngsters aren't interested in it.

"We're fighting for the future of football. There are people who aren't taking this seriously.

"We will help football at every level and take it to its rightful place in the world. Football is the only global sport in the world with more than four billion fans and our responsibility as big clubs is to respond to their desires."

Who is in the Super League?

Further reading

Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah is the second player to record 100 shots in the English Premier League in the ongoing 2020-21 campaign.

In his team’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road, the Egypt international was substituted for Sadio Mane in the 71st minute.

To show for his presence against Marcelo Bielsa’s team, he recorded two shots, 12 touches, six passes and a passing accuracy of 50%.

His shots ensured that he summed up to 101 in total and moved closer to Tottenham Hotspur captain Harry Kane, who boasts of 117 shots so far this term.

Sadio Mane had given Jurgen Klopp’s men the lead after 31 minutes thanks to an assist from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Nonetheless, the hosts ensured that the game ended on a no winner no vanquished note with Diego Llorente’s equaliser with three minutes left on the clock.

Having failed to find the net against Leeds, Salah remains two goals shy of leading goalscorer Kane in the race for the Golden Boot. So far, he has scored just 19 times in 31 league appearances.

Before taking on Leeds, manager Klopp claimed the chance to secure a third Premier League Golden Boot prize would act as an added motivation for the two-time African Player of the Year.

"A football player has 15 years, maybe 17 or 18 in some cases, in their career. It is a time in your life when you are at your physical best and you want to squeeze everything you can out of your career,” the German said as gathered by Goal.

"Most of the players never win the Golden Boot. If you win it once it is a big achievement. If you win it twice it is a really big achievement, if you can win it a third time, there are not many players who have won it three times.

"Strikers have to be selfish. I have never met an unselfish striker. You can be the nicest person in the world but in the end you want to score goals and that means you do not see players in the same shirt.

"He [Salah] is just a natural goalscorer, he wants to score goals. That is something he has developed later in his career. That is what world-class players do [score season after season]. Knowing your own quality helps you get back on track quicker than others."

Salah is expected to be in action when Liverpool take on Newcastle United on April 24.

Leeds striker Patrick Bamford has agreed with many fans that the proposed Super League is a toxic idea, but has questioned whether those people should also be speaking out more about racism in football.

After Leeds earned a 1-1 draw with Liverpool, one of 12 clubs who've backed the new competition, Bamford said "it is amazing the uproar [about the Super League] that comes into the game when someone's pocket is being hurt. It is a shame it isn't like that with other things going wrong at the minute, like racism."

Racism has been problematic in football and wider society for years but has been superpowered by social media platforms that allow people to anonymously spew slurs toward players online. Punishment and prevention techniques have been insufficient, particularly when contrasted with such an overwhelming reaction to sport-related events such as the announced Super League plans.

What has been said?

"We have just seen what everyone has seen [with the Super League news]," Bamford told Sky Sports. "It is amazing the things they are talking about. I can't comprehend. It is amazing the uproar that comes into the game when someone's pocket is being hurt. It is a shame it isn't like that with other things going wrong at the minute, like racism.

"We are like fans. We can't believe [the Super League proposal] and don't know what is going to happen. We are in shock. From what I have seen, I haven't seen one fan who is happy, and football is ultimately about the fans. Without the fans football is nothing and it is important we stand our ground and show football is for the fans."

What is the Super League?

The proposed Super League, officially announced by 12 clubs on Sunday, would be an annual competition that essentially bans almost everyone except the elite from participating on the grandest of stages.

Founding members could never be removed, regardless of performance level, while only five outsiders would compete each year. There are 12 founding clubs: six from the Premier League (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham); three from La Liga (Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid); and three from Serie A (Inter, Juventus, AC Milan). Three more founding clubs are expected to be revealed at a later date.

It has been labeled a greedy cash grab by its critics and created concern about the survival of the vast number of teams who would be left out. Protests have been swift, including from Leeds and Liverpool's own fans on Monday.

Racism in 2020-21

There have been two main areas where racism or alleged racism have popped up in football this season - from players (or referees) on the pitch, and from fans on social media.

The former has been an issue for decades, and many footballers are upset more hasn't been done to combat it. Earlier this month, for example, Rangers' Glen Kamara opened up about allegedly being called a "f*cking monkey" by a Slavia Prague player in the Europa League. There were also recent claims of racism in La Liga made by Valencia.

Problems on social media, meanwhile, are relatively new but have led to similar calls for more to be done both by technology companies and football organisations. Marcus Rashford, Antonio Rudiger and Reece James have been among those targeted this campaign.

Further reading

Jurgen Klopp insists he will not walk away from Liverpool despite his reservations over the club’s involvement in a proposed European Super League.

The Reds have been under fire since it emerged on Sunday that they were one of 12 clubs set to launch their own closed-shop competition, which threatens to alter the footballing landscape both at home and abroad in the coming months and years. Klopp and his players were booed and jeered by fans ahead of their Premier League game at Leeds on Monday night, and the club’s actions have been roundly condemned by media pundits, former players and even their own supporters. 

Even James Milner, the vice-captain, admitted he was against the notion of a Super League after the 1-1 draw at Elland Road, which leaves the Reds still outside the qualification spots for next season’s Champions League – a tournament it appears Liverpool are unlikely to play in anyway at this stage.

What’s been said?

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Klopp insisted he would remain Liverpool manager as long as he was wanted.

Asked if he felt let down by Fenway Sports Group, the club’s owners, he said: “I don’t think that, I don’t feel that. I am 20 years in football, and a lot of times owners made decisions without asking me, and I deal with it. I don’t want to be involved in these things, I don’t understand them. I’m a football person. It’s not about letting me down.

“I’m here as a football coach and manager, and I will do that as long as people let me do that. I heard today that I will resign or whatever. If times get even tougher, that makes me even more sticky that I will stay here. I feel responsible for the team, responsible for the club and for the relationship we have with our fans. It’s a very tough time, but I will try to help to sort it somehow.”

He added: “I am at the club six years, around about. I know our owners, they are serious people, reasonable people. They care about us. But they never had to explain these kinds of decisions to me or ask me for permission. That’s the situation. I speak a lot to them, but I was not involved at all in the process. I got the information yesterday. 

“The English system is like this, there is pretty much one voice in the club and that’s the manager. It’s different to Germany. But there will be a moment for sure when our owners say what they have to say. Definitely, I’m sure.”

What else did Klopp have to say?

The German insisted he had no problem with supporters who are angry at the news of Liverpool’s involvement but said he disagreed with the decision of the group Spion Kop 1906, who will remove their iconic flags and banners from Anfield ahead of Saturday’s game with Newcastle.

Klopp said: “I understand that they are angry, absolutely. My problem is that the banners are there for the team, and that’s why I think I would leave them there. We have still a lot to go for in this season, and I really think over the last six years we created a great relationship between the team and the supporters. I understand that they want to act and show their anger, but the team had nothing to do with it, so in this moment they take the support away from the team.”

He added: “It’s a tough one at the moment, to hear pundits talking about the club. This club is bigger than all of us, we should not forget that. This club was built on difficult times, went through difficult times and all these things. 

“Our owners made a decision. That’s part of the club. The whole club is bigger than everyone. They should calm down a bit. We are human beings as well, and it’s only the first day. I know the media world will keep it going, but the Leeds supporters are shouting at us as if I said we should go to the Super League!”

Further reading

Jurgen Klopp has struck back at criticism from Gary Neville over Liverpool's participation in the Super League, saying the former Manchester United defender has followed the money his entire career.

The Reds were one of 12 clubs to sign up to the Super League, and they were the first of those teams to take to the pitch following the announcement late on Sunday, drawing 1-1 with Leeds on Monday.

Klopp also called for his Liverpool players not to be targeted over the club’s decision to join the breakaway Super League.

Klopp hits out at Neville

Klopp in particular was upset with Gary Neville, who harshly criticised Liverpool along with his former club Manchester United on Sunday.

“I’m disgusted with Manchester United and Liverpool the most,” Neville said. “Liverpool say they’re the people’s club, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, the fan’s club.”

Klopp hit back at the former defender, saying on Sky Sports following Monday's game: "Gary Neville speaks about 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. That should be forbidden. We have the right to sing our anthem, it is ours not his. He doesn't understand it, anyway. It is not fair. I understand all the talk that is around but I don't talk about other clubs and you should not.

"I would wish Gary Neville would be in a hot seat somewhere and not everywhere where the most money is. He was at Man Utd where the most money is. Now he is at Sky where the most money is."

Klopp unhappy with T-shirt stunt

Leeds took to the field ahead of the game wearing T-shirts with the words “Earn It” on them, a reference to the fact that the founding members of the Super League will never have to qualify to play in it each year.

Klopp revealed that Leeds placed the same T-shirts in their dressing room, which he took exception to.

"I don't think it is right," he said. "They put them in our dressing room, I don't think we deserved that. I don't like the way a lot of people are talking about Liverpool."

Klopp calls on players to be left alone

"This is a fantastic football club,” Klopp added. “In this specific moment we can't blame the team for that. I take the criticism for everything, but this we have nothing to do with.

"Now people write articles about what they should do with it. People are shouting at us. We have to be careful because we are people as well. We have to be careful. I understand all the talk and I don't like it as well.

"Don't forget we have nothing to do with it. We still have to play football. It is really not OK. 

"I coach a football team. If people want to criticise me, completely fine. But other things, it is not OK. Everyone should not forget."

Further reading

Sadio Mane’s notable influence away from Anfield continued during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Monday night.

In the cagey Premier League encounter at Elland Road, the Senegal international put Jurgen Klopp’s men ahead in the 31st minute thanks to an assist from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Diogo Jota picked out Alexander-Arnold with a great crossfield pass over to the right. Instead of taking a touch for himself with Illan Meslier rushing out to meet him, he squared it to Mane who tapped home into the empty net.

In the process, the African ended his 10-game goal drought in the English elite division this season.

More importantly, 75% of his Premier League goals in the 2020-21 campaign have come away from home. Overall, the 29-year-old has scored eight times in 29 topflight outings.

After playing for 71 minutes, he was substituted for Egypt international Mohamed Salah.

While it looked like Klopp’s team would be heading home with all three points at stake, the hosts levelled matters in the 87th minute courtesy of Diego Llorente’s header.

Jack Harrison bent in a great inswinging corner from the right, and the Spain international got between Ozan Kabak and Roberto Firmino to head past goalkeeper Allison Becker from six yards.

In his post-match assessment, captain James Milner disclosed that fatigued cost his team against the Peacocks in the last 45 minutes.

“First half was very good, second half we looked very tired. When you’re in that situation you need to push up and you need to keep the ball better than we did, so that was disappointing,” he told Sky Sports per Liverpool website.

“Probably the Madrid game took a lot out of us as well… first half was good but to beat a team like Leeds you’re going to have to put in a good 95 minutes and we didn’t do that.”

Following this result, Liverpool remain sixth in the log after accruing 53 points from 32 games. For Marcelo Bielsa's side, they occupy the tenth position with 46 points from the same number of outings.

The Reds welcome Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United in their next outing on April 24.

Liverpool veteran James Milner has openly criticised the proposed Super League breakaway, saying he hopes it does not happen. 

Liverpool are one of the 12 clubs to have signed up to form a Super League, which has prompted a huge backlash.

The Reds were the first of the 12 clubs to play since they broke cover, and Milner was vocal in his criticism of what his club are planning.

What has been said?

“I don’t like it and hopefully it does not happen,” Milner told Sky Sports of the proposal.

“I can only say my view, I don't like it and hopefully it doesn't happen. I can imagine what has been said about it and I probably agree with a lot of it."

The Reds received a frosty reception when they arrived at Elland Road, and Milner feels the players should not be targets for abuse.

He said: "The welcome we got at the ground tonight was a bit unjust. We are just here to play football.”

The bigger picture

Away from the Super League talk, Liverpool are pushing for a place in the top four and Champions League qualification. 

The Reds were a couple of minutes away from jumping back into the top four after leading through Sadio Mane - but Diego Llorente’s header earned Leeds a 1-1 draw.

The result leaves the Reds in sixth place, two points adrift of West Ham. Chelsea are in fifth and they have a game in hand on the teams either side of them.

Further reading

Following the announcement of the Super League that involves 12 of Europe's biggest clubs forming a breakaway league, UEFA have announced their own reforms of the existing Champions League.

These changes are not expected to be implemented for another few years, but they are still the most substantial alterations to the Champions League as we know it.

Goal has everything you need to know about the revamped Champions League and more.

Contents

How many teams will be in the new Champions League?

The number of teams will be increased from 32 to 36 in the new Champions League.

When will the Champions League structure change?

The new format is expected to be implemented for the start of the 2024-25 season.

What changes will be made to the existing Champions League format?

Aside from the increase of teams from 32 to 36, the biggest alteration is that the group stage will essentially be axed, replaced with a single league stage that includes all participating teams.

Games will also be played on Thursdays instead of Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Each participating club will feature in a minimum of 10 league stage games against 10 different opponents (five home games and five away), instead of the usual six matches against the same three teams in the group.

The top eight sides will then automatically qualify for the knockout stage, with the teams finishing in ninth to 24th place facing off in a two-legged play-off fixture in order to progress to the last 16 of the competition.

These changes will also be made for the Europa League (eight matches in the initial league stage), as well as the new Europa Conference League set to begin its inaugural season later in 2021 (six matches in the league stage).

These two lower division competitions will also be expanded to 36 teams in each league stage.

Qualification to the Champions League will more or less be the same, with spots earned through a team's results in their respective domestic leagues.

With the competition being expanded to allow for more teams, the additional spots will be allocated towards the club ranked third in the championships of the fifth-placed UEFA national association rankings.

Another spot will go to a domestic team through "Champions Path" qualification.

The last two spots will go to the clubs who have the highest club coefficient from the past five years that have not managed to qualify for the Champions League group stage, but have managed to qualify for the Champions League qualification phase, Europa League or Europa Conference League.

The Champions League games will still be played in the midweek, as is traditional.

How will the Super League impact the Champions League?

Since the new plans for the Super League involve twelve "founding clubs" who are Champions League mainstays – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Man United, Tottenham, AC Milan, Inter, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid – the Super League would effectively doom the Champions League as we know it.

Without Europe's most elite clubs featuring in the Champions League, the competition would be devoid of its allure, prestige and romance.

Plans for the Super League have been condemned by the majority of the football world including pundits, former players, fans, as well as the likes of UEFA and Premier League.

UEFA president Alexander Ceferin has even threatened to ban individual players from participating in the World Cup and Euros, stating: "We are all united against this nonsense of a project. Cynical plan, completely against what football should be. We cannot and will not allow that to change.

"Players who will play in the teams that might play in the closed league will be banned from the World Cup and Euros. We urge everyone to stand tall with us as we do everything in our power to ensure this never ends up in fruition."

But when asked if the Champions League could continue without the 12 clubs founding the Super League, Ceferin said: "Yes, of course. In Europe, there are many good clubs and devoted fans. You heard the changes already today of the UEFA changes from 2024. We will do it with or without them."

OL Reign has signed goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi and midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan on loan from sister club Lyon.

The duo will arrive in Washington at the end of Lyon's season in June, with their loan deals set to run through December 2021.

The pair will inject serious star power into the NWSL side, with both considered among the world's best at their respective positions.

What was said?

“By loaning Sarah and Dzsenifer to OL Reign, we take a step further to achieve one of the key goals of our project in the United States: to keep building a team able to compete with the best clubs in the world,” said OL Groupe president Jean-Michel Aulas in a club statement.

“Both players bring a lot to the football ambitions of OL. They helped us win many trophies and they delivered the club honors which are unprecedented in the history of sport worldwide.”

“Since I was a little child, I have watched the U.S. national team," Bouhaddi added. "They are way ahead of what is happening in Europe.

"The American league and the fans have made me dream about playing in the U.S., but I didn’t come just to have a dream – I came to learn, to discover a new experience, and above all, to win as many matches as possible and win the championship."

Marozsan added: “I would like to thank Olympique Lyonnais and OL Reign for giving me the opportunity to play in the NWSL. I know many players who played in the U.S. and they told me about a lot of positive experiences, which got me excited to play there as well."

Bouhaddi and Marozsan's resumes

Bouhaddi, 34 is the reigning Best FIFA Goalkeeper and has been a mainstay for Lyon and France for years. 

The shot-stopper has represented France at four World Cups, four European Championships and two Olympics. She has also won 11 French league titles with Lyon and seven Champions Leagues.

Marozsan, 28, is considered one of the world's top attacking midfielders and has won the 2013 European Championship and 2016 Olympic gold medal with Germany, amassing over 100 caps.

At club level, Marozsan has won the French league title and Champions League in each of her four full seasons with Lyon.

Further reading

Eric Bailly is back in Manchester United training after recovering from coronavirus.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had revealed that the centre-back – who was an unused substitute in Cote d’Ivoire’s last Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Ethiopia – was yet to return to England and would be unavailable for selection.

“Unfortunately he won't be with us for a little while,” Solskjaer was quoted by the club website.

“He's been away with Ivory Coast and he tested positive with Covid and he's not back in the country yet.”

As a result of that, the 27-year-old has missed the Red Devils’ last five fixtures against Brighton and Hove Albion, Granada [away], Tottenham Hotspur, Granada [home] and Burnley.

However, the former Espanyol and Villarreal star gave an update on the latest development concerning his fitness on social media.

“Back to training. Excited to be back with the team very soon. Thanks for all the concern and support messages after being diagnosed with Covid,” Bailly tweeted.

This news is a massive boost for the Old Trafford giants who are preparing to face Leeds United in Sunday’s Premier League clash.

Undefeated in their last five games in all competitions, United would be hoping to continue with their impressive run against Marcelo Bielsa’s men at Elland Road.

After 32 matches played in the ongoing 2020-21 campaign, they are second in the log having accrued 66 points.

This season, Bailly has played in 15 games for Solskjaer’s men in all tournaments, including eight appearances in the English elite division.

Since joining the English side from the Yellow Submarine in the summer of 2016, he has featured in more than 100 games for 20-time English champions.

Nonetheless, he has struggled with injury problems in the last two seasons, including a knee injury that saw him sidelined for a long time.

His current contract will run out in the summer of 2022 which will make him a free agent if a new deal is not reached before then.

On the international scene, he is a key member of the Elephants squad. Since his debut on January 11, 2015, in a friendly against Nigeria, he has amassed a total of 37 caps for the West Africans.

UEFA is set to hold talks regarding the immediate future of this season's Champions League in the wake of Sunday's announcement confirming the creation of a Super League.

On Tuesday, UEFA will meet to determine whether or not the trio of Super League-involved clubs still active in this season's Champions League will be kicked out of the competition, Goal and Spox can confirm.

Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid are set to compete in the semi-finals starting on April 27, while fellow semi-finalist Paris Saint Germain are among the clubs to have turned down overtures from the new Super League.

The current schedule

As things stand, Chelsea are set to visit Real Madrid for their first leg clash on April 27 with the second leg set to be held at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester City are set to take on PSG starting on April 28, with their first leg scheduled to be played at the Parc des Princes.

Danish FA chairman Jesper Moller, a member of UEFA 's Executive Committee, revealed on Monday that he believes that the three teams involved in the Super League could be kicked out of the Champions League by Friday.

Who else is in the Super League?

Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid are just three of the 12 teams to have signed on as founders of the Super League. 

They're joined by Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal from the Premier League, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid from La Liga and Italian sides Juventus, AC Milan and Inter.

Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and PSG are among other teams to have been tipped for a Super League spot, but all three have confirmed their commitment to the current system for the time being.

Further reading

Manchester United have no plans to break away from the Premier League and are confident they can continue to compete domestically despite the proposal to form a Super League.

Plans for the tournament were officially unveiled late on Sunday evening and have been widely condemned by the vast majority of football authorities and fans.

The Premier League has threatened to expel their six participating teams, United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham, should they push ahead with these plans but it is understood that the Red Devils remain confident of keeping their place within the league despite the threats.

What has been said?

The Premier League issued a statement on Sunday which read: “The Premier League is proud to run a competitive and compelling football competition that has made it the most widely watched league in the world. Our success has enabled us to make an unrivalled financial contribution to the domestic football pyramid.

“A European Super League will undermine the appeal of the whole game, and have a deeply damaging impact on the immediate and future prospects of the Premier League and its member clubs, and all those in football who rely on our funding and solidarity to prosper.”

What is United’s stance?

United sources stressed that Super League plans did not mean the club intends to leave the Premier League and that it was still important to play in the domestic competition.

The proposed structure for the new European league means those games would be played in midweek while still allowing for domestic competition at the weekend.

Club sources do not believe that the introduction of a Super League would dilute the competitive nature of the Premier League as there will "always be the race to become champions", and they are confident the powers that be at the Premier League would not throw out all six clubs who have signed up.

What comes next?

United, along with the other five Premier League clubs involved in the Super League, will continue to work with the league and UEFA to reach an agreement on how and when they will be able to proceed.

Goal understands there will be a league meeting on Tuesday with the 14 clubs not involved in the Super League, with those teams set to discuss how they move forward.

Further reading

Kenneth Omeruo was given his marching orders as Leganes played to a 1-1 draw with Ponferradina in Monday’s Spanish second-tier fixture.

With his side leading 1-0 against La Deportiva, the 27-year-old was dismissed by referee Saul Ais Reig in the 73rd minute for a second caution.

His team paid dearly for his dismissal as the visiting side levelled matters a minute later courtesy of Oscar Sielva.

This is the fourth time Omeruo would be shown the way out for club and country since he began his professional career with Dutch Eredivisie outfit ADO Den Haag in 2012.

Having suffered a 2-1 defeat to Espanyol the last time out, the Cucumber Growers were hoping to bounce back against the visiting side at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque.

Ponferradina – who are also chasing a ticket to the Spanish elite division next season – showed a lot of confidence as they stopped the hosts’ attacking line anchored by Javier Eraso and Miguel de la Fuente from wreaking havoc.

In the 32nd minute, Leganes took the lead through Sergio Gonzalez who benefitted from a goalmouth scramble to fire past goalkeeper Jose Antonio Caro.

That lead restored the self-confidence for the home side as they chased the second goal. However, the first half ended 1-0 in their favour.

Coming into the second half, Ponferradina were more adventurous. Even at that, they were unable to beat goalkeeper Asiego Riesgo.

In the 74th minute Omeruo fouled a goal-bound Sielva – an action that saw him getting sent off by Reig, with the visitors awarded a direct free-kick.

The Spanish midfielder converted the ensuing kick and Bolo’s team got on level terms.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, the hosts pushed harder for the winner, but the visitors put up a solid defensive showing.

This result is a setback for Leganes who were pushing to pick one of the two automatic spots to the Spanish elite division.

As it stands, they are fourth in the log having accrued 58 points from 35 outings. For Ponferradina, they are eighth with 50 points - six points from the promotion play-off position.

Omeruo will be unavailable for action when his team takes on Kelechi Nwakali's Alcorcon on April 25.