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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Manchester United are "not a million miles away" from the best teams in Europe.

The United manager has spoken about progress this season, with his side sitting second in the Premier League and through to the semi-finals of the Europa League.

However, with United having beaten three of the four Champions League semi-finalists this season, the feeling is that they are not far away from the best in the world.

What was said?

Solskjaer again referred to fine margins as he spoke about the difference between his side and Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

“The reality is, we are in the Europa League and they are in the Champions League, that is the reality - but when you sit and watch the games and you know how well you’ve done against these teams, you know we are not a million miles away,” Solskjaer said.

“It is about consistency. It’s sometimes little details go against you, fine margins go against you, we would love to have been going through the group stage. I felt we had done enough at one point but we just couldn’t get it over line.

"Now it’s about improving again and taking inspiration from good performances against them and learning from the bad performances and results we have had.”

How have Man Utd closed the gap?

Solskjaer’s side finished third in the league last season, but if they win their game in hand against Burnley on Sunday they will have closed the gap on league leaders Manchester City to eight points with six games to play.

While he concedes City’s form is too good to see them drop off top spot, Solskjaer is happy with how his side have improved during his tenue.

“The last three games against Burnley we’ve conceded two goals and not won last three home games against them. It is a massive game to show the mentality they have shown over the last 13 or 14 months,” Solskjaer explained.

“The attitude has been spot-on, the determination, the 'bouncebackability', the quality of not letting one defeat derail your season or lose the momentum, get straight back on for a win.

"The way they’ve coped with the whole situation, the players, they’ve impressed me, I have said it many times. The coaches, the little details to improve on. The devil is in the detail, there can’t be too many coaches around the world who look at the detail as much as mine. I’m delighted to be working with them.”

Team news

Paul Pogba was only brought off as a precaution due to being on a yellow card against Granada on Thursday night so there are no concerns about his fitness for the weekend clash with Burnley.

Eric Bailly is back in England after receiving a positive Covid-19 test and could be available, but Marcus Rashford is going to have to be assessed last minute. The forward missed the win against Granada as he continues to play through the pain barrier.

“It is a decision I have to make on Sunday morning,” Solskjaer said. “He is important for us. It is a difficult one. Have to go by how he feels in a couple of days.”

Further reading

Hakim Ziyech has vowed to "always trust" in himself as he seeks to shake off the shackles that have held him back at times during a testing debut campaign at Chelsea.

The Morocco international was snapped up by the Blues from Ajax in a €40 million (£35m/$48m) deal during the summer of 2020, but found himself playing catch-up from the start as he arrived nursing an injury.

A starting berth has proved difficult to nail down since then, with Thomas Tuchel including the 28-year-old from the off in just four of his 12 Premier League games at the helm.

What has been said?

Reflecting on his struggles in Chelsea's 'Unscripted' series, Ziyech said: "Before I came I had been out for seven months mostly. I came here and started with injuries, so for me it was more that I was already behind everybody physically.

"So the way to work hard and coming back to the physical point where I’m normally at, and then still trying to go one step further, it takes some time. 

"I’m always the type of guy that always believes in myself, I always work hard in training. It’s not always that it comes out in games, but I’m working hard every day on it. I know what I can do and I always trust in myself."

He added: "It’s always about believing in yourself. Of course you have some points where some things worry you, but you have to be mentally stronger. 

"I’m still learning every day to be mentally stronger. I’m always thinking that things happen for a reason, that something better will come after that time. I always believed in that and have that mindset and the only thing I can do is try to stay calm and work as hard as I can."

Ziyech's record at Chelsea

There have been glimpses of what Ziyech has to offer across his 29 appearances for Chelsea - with four goals and as many assists recorded.

He was, however, handed just four minutes across a two-legged Champions League quarter-final clash with Porto that the Blues edged through to book a last-four showdown with Real Madrid.

Tuchel has often favoured other options in the final third, such as Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic, but Ziyech admits that positive progress has been made under the German.

He added, with the Blues also looking to wrap up a top-four finish in the Premier League: "It’s different, different than we’d had the last six months [under Frank Lampard]. He’s bringing his own vision. 

"I think his statistics say it all, so it goes well for everybody. We are doing what we have to do and winning a lot of games, we’re playing good football. So I think everybody at the club is happy with his journey here."

Chelsea will be back in action on Saturday when they take in an FA Cup semi-final clash with quadruple-chasing Manchester City.

Further reading

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta considers Alexandre Lacazette to be the "glue" holding his side together, with the France striker taking on more of a leadership role ahead of his 30th birthday.

The experienced forward, who boasts an impressive record in front of goal, has not always been the most reliable of options for the Gunners across four seasons at Emirates Stadium.

He has, however, taken the captain's armband at times, when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been ruled out, and found the target on six occasions through his last six appearances - with a vital brace recorded last time out in a 4-0 Europa League win over Slavia Prague.

What has been said?

With Lacazette firing the Gunners into the semi-finals of the Europa League, Arteta said of his influence in north London: "In key moments and in big matches, you need players - and senior players who have this experience - to make the difference for you. 

"For me, in his style and in his development, even if he's soon turning 30 years old, he's on the right path because he's very willing to learn. He's doing things in a much better way than before. 

"He really glues the team together and that's a quality that is not easy for a striker. He's got it."

Lacazette's record in 2020-21

The France international, who will turn 30 on May 28, has taken in 38 appearances across all competitions this season and hit 17 goals in total.

That tally leaves him just two efforts short of matching a personal-best return for Arsenal and within touching distance of passing 20 for the first time in England.

A deadly double in a must-win meeting with Slavia has aided that cause, with Lacazette able to push uncharacteristic misses in the first leg of that contest to the back of his mind.

Arteta added: "It shows the personality that Laca has. 

"He missed two big chances in the home game and then you have to see a reaction. That reaction could be with some fear, some doubt or feeling a little bit guilty. 

"Or the other one is to have a strong personality and to react, to say, 'Now I'm going to put them in the back of the net'. 

"He's done that in two games consecutively, being really, really efficient. Then his momentum continues, the form that he's in continues and it's really important for the team."

Arsenal, who sit ninth in the Premier League table with seven games left to take in, will be back in domestic action on Sunday when taking in a derby date with London rivals Fulham.

Further reading

Aidy Boothroyd is stepping down as manager of England U21s, the Football Association has announced, with European Championship failure in 2021 bringing his five-year reign to a close.

The Young Lions will not be in the knockout stages of the major championship this summer after being sent packing at the group stage thanks to a dramatic late goal from their opponents in a 2-1 victory over Croatia which saw a quarter-final spot fall agonisingly out of reach.

Boothroyd can look back on success at the 2018 Toulon Tournament, while a number of promising talents have made a step up into the senior squad.

What has been said?

Boothroyd, who joined the set-up at St George's Park in February 2014 and won 31 of his 48 games as U21 boss, told the FA's official website: “It's been the greatest privilege to represent the FA and lead England teams into high-profile tournaments. 

"While we didn’t finish in the way we wanted, I'm very proud to have been able to work so closely with players who I know will go on to have remarkable international careers and to have experienced some very special moments with them over the years.

"I'd like to thank my staff and all of the incredible support team that have done so much to help us remain competitive against other elite nations. In every single get-together they embraced our unique challenge of rightly prioritising the needs of the senior team while ensuring we gave our all to try and get a positive performance and result."

The bigger picture

Boothroyd initially worked with the England U19 and U20 teams before succeeding Gareth Southgate as U21 coach in 2016.

The current manager of the senior side said: "I’d like to thank Aidy for his wholehearted support and dedication to developing English players and coaches across the last seven years.

"His pride in working with all of our development teams has shone through and his support of the senior team has been greatly appreciated. I wish him every success on the next step of his career.”

The FA is now ready to begin its search for Boothroyd's successor, with the qualification campaign for the 2023 European U21 Championship set to get underway in September.

Further reading

Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino says he wants to keep Neymar and Kylian Mbappe at the club “for many years”, while playing down links with Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

The future of the star duo has been the subject of intense debate in recent months with both their contracts due to expire in 2022.

Messi, meanwhile, has been linked with a free transfer move to the French capital when his Barca contract runs out at the end of this campaign - though Pochettino is reluctant to add to the fevered speculation.

What did Pochettino say about Neymar and Mbappe?

When asked about the futures of Neymar and Mbappe, Pochettino told Cadena Ser : “The objective is to keep the best players. The club wants to win the Champions League and the objective of this club is to keep Neymar and Kylian for many years.

"For three months we have had a very good relationship. Both players are very committed to the club. Every team wants to have them in their ranks. I am optimistic that they will stay.

"After sharing a changing room with Kylian for three months, I will fight with all my might to keep him with us."

What did Pochettino say about the Messi rumours?

Though Messi would be available on a free transfer when his Barcelona contract expires, few clubs would be able to afford the Argentine’s huge salary.

PSG are one of those sides, so it is no surprise to see the French champions regularly linked with a move for the 33-year-old.

Pochettino admits he spoke with his fellow countryman when the sides met in the Champions League earlier this year, but played down talk of potential transfer this summer.

“We said hello to each other and we spoke inside with Jordi Alba, Neymar and Rafinha. We had a good discussion,” added the former Tottenham boss. “I'm sure we'll find out soon what is happening with Messi.

"But I don't like to talk about players who are not in my squad. There are a lot of rumours and PSG work every year to improve the team. There is only a little time left before everything starts to move.”

The bigger picture

Though Pochettino is clear in his desire to keep Neymar and Mbappe, a decision over their futures is largely out of his hands.

If either player refuses to sign a new deal then PSG may be forced to cash-in this summer or risk losing them on a free transfer next year.

Of the two, Neymar looks the most likely to sign a new deal after revealing earlier this week that a renewal was "no longer an issue" due to his comfort level at PSG.

Mbappe’s future however seems more uncertain, with Real Madrid keen to land the France international and sources have also told Goal that the striker retains a boyhood ambition of playing for the Blancos.

However, there are still plenty of obstacles to overcome before Mbappe can join Real, not least the hefty transfer fee.

As for Messi, Goal can confirm  the attacker will wait until the end of the season before deciding his future.

Manchester City have also been heavily linked with a move for the player, while Barca are equally determined to hang on to their star man. That means finances are unlikely to be the deciding factor, with Messi’s decision expected to rest on who can best match his ambitions.

Further reading

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi had high praise for Rivaldo Coetzee, comparing him with modern greats of the world game such as Sergio Busquets of Barcelona and Manchester City's Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho.

At one point, after joining Mamelodi Sundowns from Ajax Cape Town, Coetzee's career had looked in jeopardy due to a recurring foot issue, which had even cost him a move to Glasgow giants Celtic. He did not play at all in the 2017/18 season for Downs.

However, he was given the time to rehabilitate at Sundowns and has gradually made his way back to full fitness. In the process, the man from the Northern Cape has also been converted from the central defensive position he played at Ajax into a deep-lying midfielder.

He's also regained his place in the Bafana Bafana setup, having been called up for the recent Afcon qualifiers, and is starting to reach his full undoubted potential, as was underlined with another classy display against Pirates in Pretoria.

"His passing range is unbelievable and we knew when we converted him into central midfield that very few midfielders have the passing range of Rivaldo," Mngqithi told SuperSport TV after the Nedbank Cup victory.

"At times players can rush their decisions but Rivaldo is always relaxed and he is always making sure that his passes are as precise as we want."

Coetzee made his Bafana debut in an African Nation Cup qualifier against Congo in October 2014 at just 17-years-old - at the time he was the youngest player ever to represent the senior national team, a record later broken by Fagrie Lakay.

Certainly, he was given an outstanding start in the game by Ajax, who first recognised the talents of the Kakamas-born player.

"Credit should be given to the development that he got - all of the coaches who have worked with him must get credit," Mngqithi added.

"For me Rivaldo can play for any big team in the world in that position, if you compare him with all the top central midfielders, you'll find Sergio Busquets and Fernandinho in that space.

"He's got those qualities and he performs at the highest level. His intellectual capacity and comprehension of tactics are out of this world."

Harry Kane has been sent a Manchester United title warning by Dimitar Berbatov, with the prolific Tottenham striker told that Old Trafford may not be the best destination for him as transfer options are weighed up.

A big-money move away from Spurs is being mooted for the England captain, with personal ambition needing to be taken into account as the prolific 27-year-old waits on a first piece of silverware in his distinguished career.

United have been long-standing suitors, and would welcome the opportunity to add another proven number nine to their ranks, but plenty of rivals are in the mix and Berbatov has urged Kane to think carefully about his next move.

What has been said?

Berbatov, who made his own switch from north London to the north west back in 2008, told Betfair of Kane: "If he is to leave Spurs I have no preferences to where he goes, as long as it is somewhere that sees him continue to play the same football. 

"But when you change your environment when you have been number one, people expect you to then produce straight away. When you don't score straight away, people will get on top of you, that is how football is these days.

"If he moves, is it because he is looking for trophies? People are connecting him with United but they haven't won the Premier League for eight years. He needs to go somewhere that will see him win trophies regularly. 

"What happens if he goes to a team and doesn't win anything again? Then he will think, why did I change my environment if I'm not winning anything again?

"I think he will stay in England, so where does he go? Man City have a striking option with [Gabriel] Jesus. At United, Kane could fit in because they don't have a typical centre-forward who is his age. Edinson Cavani is in the latter stages of his career. Liverpool have lots of talent up front and Arsenal is simply a no.

"He's been linked with Chelsea, but will that be suitable for Spurs, selling to another London rival? There are lots of question marks, so he needs to read the game carefully and make the right decision. 

"The easiest decision is to stay at Spurs, he is a club legend and can break every record he wants there. I don't see Kane moving abroad, he is an England legend and everyone respects him and I think he will stay in this country.

"If Kane called me I would tell him he has to make the right choice, decide on his personal ambitions and motivations. If he leaves, he will let some people down. It is his decision and it is going to be a difficult one."

Kane's record at Tottenham

A product of Spurs' academy system has become one of the most sought-after forwards in world football as a result of the remarkable consistency he has maintained over several years.

Kane has hit 217 goals through 329 appearances for Tottenham, with the 20-goal barrier broken in seven successive seasons.

He has also taken on the armband with England and found the target on 34 occasions through 53 outings for the Three Lions.

Such quality is of obvious appeal to leading sides across Europe, with some big decisions approaching for a man who remains tied to a lucrative contract through to 2024.

Further reading

Police FC coach Abdallah Mubiru believes the fasting period should not be an excuse for players to produce below-par displays.

The tactician believes those who are not ready to deliver have a weak spirit and went on to state he will keep rotating his charges to ensure they deliver the desired results.

"I don’t normally look for excuses because I used to play every game during the fasting period," Mubiru said.

"This is a spirit and only affects those with weak spirits and those who fasted managed to play 90 minutes for my team. We will keep rotating players at certain moments to ensure they are fresh and do not accumulate fatigue."

The veteran tactician led the Cops to a 3-0 win over the Uganda People's Defence Force FC in the Ugandan Premier League assignment on Wednesday.

Derrick Kakooza scored a brace with another goal coming from Frank Tumwesigye. He went on to praise them for a good display in every aspect.

"It was some good performance and the scoreline is also encouraging," Mubiru continued.

"I am very happy with my players. They were very positive in all aspects of the game and they managed to put up a good show. At the very least, we are pleased with that as the technical team."

He went on to praise Hippos striker Kakooza, stating he is developing into a superb player and should remain focused.

"Derrick [Kakooza] is improving every single day. His character is positive and he uses his body very well and his touches are improving.  

"The goals he scored are typical of a number 9 goals that ordinary player couldn’t score. You can see he was in the right position at the right time.

"We only have to keep nurturing him and encourage him to stay focused."  

The 2005 champions have been pushing for the top positions on the league table in the ongoing campaign.

They are currently placed fourth on the table with 31 points from the 17 games they have played. Police have managed nine wins, four draws, and as many losses.

Carlo Ancelotti is prepared to make Moise Kean an "important player" at Everton, with Paris Saint-Germain warned there is no guarantee that a permanent transfer will be allowed.

The Toffees allowed Kean to head for France during the summer window of 2020 on a season-long loan.

Kean has thrived at Parc des Princes, registering 16 goals for the Champions League semi-finalists, and is expected to be the subject of further interest this summer.

What has been said?

PSG are yet to enter into talks though, and Ancelotti has left the door open for Kean to return to Goodison Park, saying: "I don't have to convince [Kean] to stay at Everton.  This is what the [loan] papers say. He is on loan and he has to come back.

"If Paris Saint-Germain want him they have to open discussions about him.  We are open [to negotiations] but if nothing happens then he will be an Everton player next season and an important player."

Everton's transfer plan

Ancelotti has already admitted that he is in the process of drawing up transfer plans on Merseyside. He is eager to add more quality to his squad after edging Everton into contention for European qualification this season.

The Italian is, however, adamant that another striker does not form part of his thinking. He already has Dominic Calvert-Lewin on his books, while Kean could be absorbed back into the fold to provide another option in the final third.

Ancelotti added: "Honestly, we didn't have a look at the market [for strikers] for next season because we are in the fight for European positions, but I can tell you that it [a striker] will not be the position we are looking for.

"In front we are really well covered because we have Dominic Calvert-Lewin, we have Richarlison, we have in this moment Joshua King and we have Moise Kean coming back."

Further reading

The 2021 Europa League final will be keenly contested, with a place in next season's Champions League on offer to the victor in addition to the silverware.

Some of the biggest clubs in Europe have been involved in the knock-out stage of UEFA's secondary club competition and things are beginning to heat up as competitors are whittled down.

Ahead of the final, Goal brings you everything you need to know, including when and where it will take place, as well as how to watch on TV or stream online.

Contents

When is the Europa League 2021 final?

The 2021 Europa League final will be played on Wednesday May 26. The kick-off time for the game is 8pm BST (3pm ET).

This year's final takes place three days before the Champions League final, which is scheduled for Saturday May 29.

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Where is the Europa League 2021 final?

Stadion Miejski in Gdansk, Poland is the venue for the 2021 Europa League final.

The stadium was originally meant to host the 2020 Europa League final, with Seville's Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium meant to host the 2021 final, but the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic forced a change.

UEFA made the call to host the 2020 Champions League and Europa League finals in Portgual and Lisbon respectively, pushing the original venues for those games back a year.

Also known as the Gdansk Arena, construction of the stadium was completed in 2011 and it served as one of Poland's venues for Euro 2012.

A UEFA Category 4 stadium, Stadion Miejski has a capacity of 40,000.

Where is Gdansk?

Gdansk is a city in northern Poland which sits on the Baltic coast. It has a population of just under a half a million people.

The city's main professional football club is Lechia Gdansk, which plays in the Polish Ekstraklasa. Stadion Miejski is the home stadium of Lechia Gdansk.

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Which teams are in the Europa League 2021 final?

One of Manchester United or Roma will play either Arsenal or Villarreal in the 2021 Europa League final.

The teams that will contest the 2021 Europa League final will be confirmed on May 6, when the last semi-final games are complete.

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How to watch or stream Europa League 2021 final

BT Sport will broadcast the Europa League final on TV in the UK, with BT Sport's digital streaming service providing online access.

In the U.S., Univision and CBS have broadcasting rights for UEFA competitions, so the game will be available on networks such as TUDN, Univision and UniMas.

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Will fans be allowed to attend Europa League 2021 final?

It remains to be seen if fans will be permitted to attend the 2021 Europa League final and it will depend on the public health situation in Poland.

In March, UEFA said that the previous 30% of capacity limit was lifted, but that the decision regarding how many spectators will be permitted to attend would be a matter for the authorities in a particular country.

A statement explained: "The [executive] committee decided that in light of the fact that each of UEFA’s 55 members associations faces a different situation with regard to tackling the pandemic, such a cap is no longer needed and that the decision on the number of permitted spectators should fall under the exclusive responsibility of the relevant competent local/national authorities."

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South Africa Under-23 coach David Notoane has included some star names in the provisional Tokyo Olympic Games squad and is optimistic about their chances of silverware.

The Olympics, which were postponed from last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, are scheduled to start on July 23 this year.

The final Olympic Games squad is to consist of 18 players: 15 of them must be 23 years old and under, while three of them are allowed to be 24 or older.

In his provisional squad of 40, Notoane has included Bafana Bafana, Brighton and ex-Mamelodi Sundowns forward Percy Tau, national team and SuperSport United goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, as well as five players from Sundowns: Themba Zwane, Ricardo Goss‚ Mosa Lebusa‚ Mothobi Mvala and Thapelo Morena.

Incidentally, Notoane juggles his job as national Under-23 coach with being a member of the Sundowns technical team.

Speaking on his choice of overage players, Notoane emphasised the need for not only quality and experience, but personality and character.

“We are going to a global showpiece. We are going to come up against the best of the best out there. So we also need to make available the best talents‚” he was quoted saying by Times Live.

“I mention that because it becomes important for me to strengthen the team in certain key areas. And also bringing personalities that can help advance our cause.

“Because we are going to the Olympics not to add numbers‚ we are going to come back with a medal. We are going to the Olympics to improve on South Africa teams’ performances generally.”

The full list of participants at the Games are hosts Japan, Brazil, Argentina, South Korea, Mexico, Germany, Honduras, Spain, Egypt, New Zealand, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Australia, Romania, France and Saudi Arabia.  

Provisional SA squad:

Goalkeepers: Mondli Mpoto (Bloemfontein Celtic)‚ Sifiso Mlungwana (Golden Arrows)

Defenders: Reeve Frosler (Kaizer Chiefs)‚ Luke Fleurs (SuperSport United)‚ Repo Tercious Malepe (Minaj FC‚ Ukraine)‚ Katlego Mohamme (University of Pretoria)‚ Thabiso Monyane (Orlando Pirates)‚ Thendo Mukumela (Cape Town Spurs)‚ Sifiso Ngobeni (Bloemfontein Celtic)‚ Bongani Sam (Orlando Pirates)

Midfielders: Athenkosi Dlala (University of Pretoria)‚ Luke Le Roux (Varbergs BoIS‚ Sweden)‚ Kganya Leshabela (Leicester City‚ England)‚ Kobamelo Kodisang (Sporting Braga B‚ Portugal)‚ Gift Links (Aarhus‚ Denmark)‚ Kamohelo Mahlatsi (Swallows FC)‚ Keletso Makgalwa (Mamelodi Sundowns)‚ Grant Margeman (Mamelodi Sundowns)‚ Kgaugelo Chauke (Southampton‚ England)‚ Sipho Mbule (SuperSport United)‚ Happy Mashiane (Kaizer Chiefs)‚ Teboho Mokoena (SuperSport United)‚ Nkosingiphile Ngcobo (Kaizer Chiefs)‚ Goodman Mosele (Baroka)‚ Kgaogelo Sekota (Swallows FC)‚ Sithole Sphephelo (Belenenses‚ Portugal)‚ Ashley Du Preez (Stellenbosch)

Strikers: Lyle Foster (Vitoria Guimaraes II‚ Portugal)‚ Zakhele Lepasa (Orlando Pirates)‚ Fagrie Lakay (Cape Town City)‚ Evidence Makgopa (Baroka)‚ Luther Singh (Pacos de Ferreira‚ Portugal‚ loan),  Siyabonga Ligendza (Cardiff City U18‚ England)

Over 23's: Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United)‚ Ricardo Goss (Mamelodi Sundowns)‚ Percy Tau (Brighton & Hove Albion‚ England) Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns)‚ Mosa Lebusa (Mamelodi Sundowns)‚ Mothobi Mvala (Mamelodi Sundowns)‚ Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns).   

Kenya striker Michael Olunga produced a superb showing as Al Duhail SC started their 2021 AFC Champions League group stage campaign with a 2-0 win against Al Shorta of Iraq on Thursday night.

The Qatari giants went ahead through a Hassam Kadhim own goal nine minutes before half-time while man-of-the-match Edmilson Junior’s volley made the points safe in the 53rd minute at the King Abdullah Sports City.

Duhail started the game on a high note with Olunga coming close to breaking the deadlock in the 17th minute but his effort flew wide and five minutes later, Ali Karimi saw his header fizzle wide from close range after he latched onto Ismail Mohamed’s cross.

However, it was not long before Duhail scored the opening goal in the 36th minute, when Olunga and Karimi played a neat one-two, with Olunga’s shot ending up in the back of the net via the foot of Kadhim, who was credited with an own goal.

At first, the goal was credited to the Harambee Stars forward before it was chalked off for an own goal.

On resumption after the half-time break, Duhail continued to stretch their rivals and they scored the second goal in the 53rd minute when Almoez Ali’s shot was blocked but Edmilson reacted quickly to lash home a volley from just short of 15 yards.

The result put Al Duhail as the early leaders in Group C, with only the group winners and three best runners-up to advance to the knockout stage from the West Zone.

Subsequently, their coach Sabri Lamouchi described the opening match as a deserved victory.

“The team appeared with a good level and succeeded in achieving the required from it, and we could have scored more goals in the first half where we had more than one opportunity to score, but in the end, we succeeded in achieving the required,” Lamouchi told the club’s official website after the game.

“For us, it was very important to achieve victory in this match either in the technical staff or for the players because the good start in these championships gives the players the required morale to present more in the upcoming matches.

“I was not afraid from the match, but the match was not easy and we have to think throughout the match, and the players achieve the required from them which they succeeded in, and in the second half the players controlled the match and reached the second goal.”

Duhail will next face Esteghlal FC in their second group match on Wednesday, April 21.

Granit Xhaka will happily continue filling in at left-back, as he provides cover for the injured Kieran Tierney, if it means that Arsenal get their hands on the Europa League trophy this season.

A combative Swiss midfielder finds himself operating outside of a professional comfort zone at present, with fitness struggles endured by others forcing Mikel Arteta to get creative with his team selections.

Xhaka has fared admirably in a defensive berth, allowing the Gunners to avoid any unwelcome headaches at home and abroad, and major silverware is edging into view after booking a semi-final date with Villarreal in continental competition.

What has been said?

Having lined up at left-back again in a stunning 4-0 victory for Arsenal away at Slavia Prague, Xhaka told the club's official website: “If we win the Europa League like this, I don't care which position I play!

“If I have to help the team there, I have to help. I'm the guy who will do everything for the team. 

"Of course, everyone knows it's not my regular position but with the team-mates, they help me and coach me as well, in front and behind. 

"I'm so happy I helped the team in this position as well. I try my best and in the last two games it was a good performance."

Xhaka added: "We had a very good game

"The game plan that the boss gave us was excellent and we showed a big game. I think we deserved to go through after the two games.

"The character of the team was excellent. To win here 4-0 is not easy but like I said before, we showed over 90 minutes a great performance."

The bigger picture

Slavia had been enjoying an unbeaten run on home soil that stretched to over 30 games, but that sequence was brought to a shuddering halt by Arsenal.

Alexandre Lacazette bagged a brace in a must-win quarter-final clash for Arteta's side, with Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka also getting in on the act.

The Gunners will now face former boss Unai Emery in the last four, but have important domestic fixtures to take in before then.

They will be back in Premier League action on Sunday at home to London rivals Fulham, with a top-six finish being chased down alongside Europa League ambitions.

Xhaka will be hoping to play a prominent role in both of those quests, with Scotland international Tierney in danger of seeing a knee problem rule him out for the remainder of the season.

Further reading

The third match of the 2021 AFC Champions League Group E will see Indian Super League (ISL) club FC Goa taking on UAE-based club Al Wahda at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa on Saturday. 

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

Abu Dhabi's Al Wahda plays in the UAE Pro League and are coached by former Ajax head coach Henk ten Cate. 

Their league campaign is ongoing and the club is currently placed eighth on the table, 35 points from 23 matches and with three games to go.

This will be their 12th appearance in the AFC Champions League. In their first Group E fixture, the Abu Dhabi-based club lost 0-1 to a first-half goal by Persepolis' Jalal Hosseini.

Slovenian striker Tim Matavz and UAE international Ismail Matar are the players to watch out for in the Al Wahda squad. Matavz is the club's top scorer in the league with nine goals and only Al Jazira's Khalfan Mubarak has registered more assists in the UAE top division than Matar who has eight to his name. 

Al Wahda XI vs Persepolis: Rashid Ali (GK); Ahmed, Fares Juma, Pimenta, Al Kurbi; Esmael, Hamad, Lee; Khalil, Kharbin, Matavz.