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ATK Mohun Bagan are in a rich vein of form as they head into the fixture against Chennaiyin on Tuesday evening.

Antonio Habas' men beat FC Goa and Bengaluru recently and are currently level on points with league leaders Mumbai City. And the coach has shrugged off suggestions that his players may get complacent. 

"We are never complacent. We are improving but we have a long way to go. We have a good squad but we are looking forward to a difficult match against Chennaiyin," stated the manager. 

The two-time ISL winner rates Chennaiyin very highly and feels that it will be an exciting encounter. He also mentioned that the result of the ISL 2019-20 final is likely to have no effect on Tuesday's match.

"Chennaiyin are fighting for the title. They were the finalists last season. They are playing well this season. I have seen their matches and they are playing at a very high level. We respect them very much.

"It is a new season with new players. I know they will create problems for us. Both teams will want to win. The side who will be more lethal will get the three points," he reasoned. 

Habas informed that he has the entire squad at his disposal barring Michael Soosairaj who is out with a long-term injury. 

Bagan played high-pressing football and took the initiative against Bengaluru which saw them reap rewards. But the coach did not want to divulge whether he would stick to the same gameplan against Chennaiyin. 

"Bengaluru have one type of characteristic whereas Chennaiyin have another. You can prepare a match plan thinking about one thing and then the opponent can do another thing. The important thing is to have ideas very very clear and then you can adapt to the opponent."

Australian forward David Williams believes that his team can get the three points against the Marina Machans if they stick to their gameplan. He scored against Bengaluru and would like to start from where he stopped.

"We have to stick to our gameplan. They are a good team but they also have their weaknesses. We have done our homework and each team has their ways of playing and are dangerous. Every striker wants to score. I would like to score again but if we keep winning and get the three points I am happy with it. We are well-rested. We watched Chennaiyin the other night and we feel fresh," said the 32-year-old. 

Azam FC assistant coach Vivier Bahati is hopeful the team will register positive results in the second round to go back on top of the Tanzanian Premier League table.

After a good start to the 2020/21 league campaign, the Chamazi-based charges' form dipped and they failed to win any of their last six games. They managed to collect four draws and lost the remaining two games.

Romanian coach Aristica Cioaba was fired and Zambian George Lwandamina took his place in the team.

"For us coaches, our target remains the same, to help the team get to the summit of the league table; and we will strive to achieve it in the second round," Bahati told reporters.

"It is a fact, we struggled to get results especially in recent league games. Definitely, it was a disappointment to the fans because no fan enjoys seeing his team struggling but soon it will be a thing of the past.  

"Our responsibility as coaches is to ensure the team performs and gives fans something to smile about. We have to make the fans proud and make them happy just the way we started the season."

In the ongoing transfer windown, the Ice-cream Makers have so far signed Congolese striker Mpiana Monzinzi to bolster the attacking department.

"We need about three players capable of adding extra energy to the squad for us to bounce back and consistently post good results in forthcoming assignments," Bahati concluded.

Lwandamina's side managed to qualify for the fourth round of the FA Cup after a 2-0 win over Magereza FC.

The 2019/20 best defender Nicholas Wadada, Ayoub Lyanga, Mudathir Yahya, Obrey Chirwa, Never Tigere, and Idd Seleman were the usual first-teamers who were deployed against Magereza.

Although it largely looked a defensive approach by the Ice Cream Makers, the former cup champions looked comfortable in launching direct attacks as well as strikes from the wings. They duly opened the scoring in the 23rd minute.

Chirwa headed home from a corner kick that was delivered by Tigere, and the opener rejuvenated the home side, who would have gone into the break with a bigger margin had the visitors not denied them on three occasions.

Tigere then found the back of the net in the 65th minute when his fierce shot from inside the 18-yard area gave the 2013/14 Premier League champions a deserved second goal.

Arsenal are unlikely to get back into Europe this season, but Mikel Arteta should be given time to turn the club's fortunes around, says Nigel Winterburn.

Arteta's first year in charge at Emirates Stadium has been a tubulent one with success in the FA Cup and Community Shield undermined by a woeful start to the 2020-21 campaign.

The Spaniard was expected to mastermind a return to the Champions League for Arsenal after delivering two domestic trophies, but instead finds himself trying to steer the club away from the relegation zone.

The Gunners have slipped to 15th in the Premier League standings, having lost eight of their opening 15 fixtures.

The north London outfit managed to bring a seven-match winless run to an end by beating Chelsea 3-1 on Saturday, but Arteta is still under pressure heading into the new year.

Arsenal are 15 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool and ten behind fourth placed Manchester United having played a game more, with another must-win fixture up next away at Brighton on Tuesday night.

Winterburn acknowledges Arteta could lose his job if the Gunners fail to string a run of positive results together over the next few weeks, but hopes the board will be patient with the Spaniard as he seeks to complete a long-term project at the Emirates.

"I never like to discuss the possibility of managers being sacked and who should replace them, but it does happen, of course it does," the Arsenal legend said at the launch of free-to-play fantasy football jackpot game Fantasy5.

"From everything I've heard since the day Mikel Arteta walked into the club, I've just heard good things. It would be wrong of me to say, 'I'd like to see this guy come in' if Arteta loses his job.

"You can bring a manager in who has won a Champions League, he's won league titles - but the only thing we're interested in is, can he do it when he comes to Arsenal? We shouldn't care about his past. His past really doesn't matter.

"I haven't thought about Arteta going as I didn't see it as an option that it could happen. I'd still like to see what Mikel Arteta can do and I'd like to see him given that time.

"However, results are everything and once someone squeezes, puts the pressure on and one of the board members starts to panic then I wouldn't be surprised if it did happen."

Asked if he thinks Arteta can salvage any silverware in the second half of the season, Winterburn responded: "You can't predict Arsenal winning anything in the form we're in - that's just ridiculous. You just can't do that. They would have to have some sensational form in the league from now until the end of the season to even get back into Europe.

"We need to talk about current form with the manager and the players who have got to turn it around quickly. Back-to-back victories will help them build confidence and belief within the team.

"There's lots of games still to come. People keep talking about the run in the Europa League - I expected Arsenal to win those games. When talking about the Premier League though, it's ruthless.

"You're coming up against strong opponents every single week."

The former Gunners defender went on to claim that only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka would get into the teams he played for under George Graham and Arsene Wenger, and he doesn't believe the duo would have been regular starters.

"Who would I put him [Aubameyang] in for? Would I put him in instead of Ian Wright? Would I put him in instead of Thierry Henry? I don't think many people would take that hit," Winterburn added.

"I'd have him in the squad. I'd have Bukayo Saka in the squad, for sure. There's probably a couple more."

Diego Costa has informed Atletico Madrid of his desire to leave the club ahead of the January transfer window and to have his contract with the club terminated, Goal can confirm.

The Spain international has had a tough time since returning to Atletico from Chelsea in 2018, with his appearances and productivity limited amid injuries.

Costa has made only seven appearances in La Liga this season, with two goals to his name.

AS reported that he had sought out club officials to inform them of his desire to move on and have his deal terminated, ahead of the expiry of his contract in the summer of 2021.

Goal can confirm that Diego Simeone’s side are open to the prospect of letting the 32-year-old striker move on, provided suitable replacement cover can be found in the January transfer window.

Simeone is reluctant to go into the second half of the season - with Atletico battling for honours on three fronts - with Luis Suarez as his sole attacking option.

Suarez has made a good start to his Atletico career following his transfer from Barcelona, but he is 33 and has had injury problems of his own this term. The Uruguay forward missed a month of the season due to injury and ended a lengthy goalless run in the 3-1 win over Elche on December 19.

Atletico are in excellent shape to challenge for the Liga title, level on points at the top of the table with Real Madrid with two games in hand.

Should Costa’s wish to move on be granted - and he is not currently training with the club - his final goal for the Atletico could be the penalty he scored in the same game as Suarez netted a brace against Elche.

Costa was a force of nature during his first spell at Atletico, as his powerful presence and eye for goal helped them secure the Liga title in the 2013-14 campaign.

He earned a move to Chelsea on the back of his exploits for Atletico and won two Premier League crowns at Stamford Bridge before returning to Atletico in 2018.

The highlight of his second spell at the club was Europa League glory in 2018.

Ebere Orji has signed for Swedish Elitettan side Kalmar as a free agent from Linkopings on a two-year deal, Goal can exclusively report.

The Nigerian striker would be hoping to continue her fine professional career in the European country, having seen out her one-year deal with Linkopings in the 2020 Damallsvenskan season. 

During her time under Olof Unogard's watch, Orji, who joined from Umea in February 2020, hit six goals for the Linkoping Arena outfit and was named the Damallsvenskan Player of the Month in July.

Having left Linkopings, the 28-year-old has now teamed up with an Elitettan side for the third time following spells at Mallbacken before helping Umea to top-flight promotion in 2019 in her second stint.

With Kalmar eyeing a Damallsvenskan spot, the Nigerian's acquisition will boost Frank Berntzen's attacking line as they bid to improve on their last season's fourth-place finish.

Before moving to Sweden in 2017, the striker previously played for three years at Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros, where she won three titles, including Noi Magyar Kupa twice and Noi NB I once. 

At international level, she featured for Nigeria at the U17 Women's World Cup in 2008, at U20 level in 2010, the senior event in 2011 and won the African Women's Cup of Nations in 2010.

Orji's switch to Kalmar means only seven Nigerians will be campaigning for their respective clubs in the Swedish top flight next season.

Those left are Chinaza Uchendu and Uchenna Kanu (Linkopings), Faith Michael and Anam Imo (Pitea), Ngozi Okobi and Halimatu Ayinde (Eskilstuna United), and Goteborg's Evelyn Ijeh.

At Kalmar, Orji will hope to gain more regular playing time under the tutelage of Berntzen when the new Elitettan season gets underway next year.

John Stones has hailed Ruben Dias following his return to form at Manchester City, saying he loves playing alongside the Portuguese centre-back.

Dias has had an immediate impact at City since completing his £62 million ($84m) move to Etihad Stadium from Benfica in September. The 23-year-old has featured in 20 matches across all competitions for the Blues already this season, scoring once with his latest stellar display coming in the 2-0 home win over Newcastle on Saturday .

Pep Guardiola's side currently boast the best defensive record in the Premier League, and Stones has also played a key role in helping them rack up the clean sheets over the past few months.

The 26-year-old has worked his way back into City's starting line-up after a frustrating 2019-20 campaign, with Dias proving to be the perfect foil for the England international at the back.

Speaking ahead of the Blues' trip to Everton on Monday night, Stones talked up the partnership he has struck up with the former Benfica star while stressing the importance of sharing attacking and defensive responsibilities across the entire team.

Asked if he has enjoyed working with Dias, Stones told the club's official website: "Yeah, I absolutely love playing with him.

"We’ve still got room to improve. Everyone has got different qualities which is great. The consistency is key and us keeping clean sheets has been massive.

"I’ve said it numerous times now but to keep those clean sheets and have that platform for the lads to go and win the game is massive and it’s our job at the end of the day.

"I was thinking the other day that its not all on us – its not all in the defenders to get the clean sheets or that when someone scores its solely on the guys who scores."

City will move level on points with second-placed Everton with a game in hand if they pick up a win at Goodison Park. Guardiola will then start preparing his players for another top-of-the-table encounter against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on January 3, with only a point separating the two sides in the table at present.

Ronald Koeman is relaxed about Lionel Messi being a “bit banged up in his ankle” as he expects the Barcelona superstar to be fit for the first game of 2021 against Huesca.

Barcelona issued an injury update about their Argentina superstar on Sunday, saying he would miss the game with Eibar on Tuesday on account of his ankle problem.

Doctors informed Koeman that a week away from training would be enough for Messi to return to the fold against Huesca on January 3.

“First he was a bit banged up in his ankle and that’s why he hasn’t trained and why he’s not ready to play tomorrow’s match,” Koeman said at his press conference on Monday. “That’s why we gave him two extra days off on vacation. 

“He will be back after the Eibar match. The doctors said a week without training would make him fit for a return after the match.”

While not having Messi available will be a blow to Koeman, he is expected to be able to call on Ousmane Dembele.

The France international has been beset by hamstring problems since making the move to Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund, and the injury flared up again at the start of December. He has not featured since the loss to Cadiz on December 5, but has been training freely and is expected to be in the squad for the home clash with Eibar.

"The squad list we will give tomorrow after the training session, but he has been training with the team for the last several days," Koeman said of Dembele. "He was training well before the match with Valladolid, so in principal yes he will be in the squad tomorrow.”

Looking ahead to the game with Eibar, Koeman said: “They are a competitive team. They try to create pressure and go on the counter and we have to be playing well like we did in our last game.

“We have to be able to find space when the opposition creates pressure. We will have to play well otherwise it will be a very difficult match.”

Barcelona head into the game with Eibar eight points adrift of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the top of the table.

It always feels like there’s trouble brewing at Watford given their tendency to jettison head coaches at will, and it’s a pressure cooker William Troost-Ekong finds himself in after moving from Udinese (the Serie A club under the ownership of the Pozzo family).

The managerial precariousness has already seen Vladimir Ivic lose his job, with Xisco Munoz replacing the Serbian in December.

Knowing how quickly the higher-ups in Hertfordshire switch the men in charge, don’t be surprised to see Nigeria’s captain playing under a third manager in 2021!

Troost-Ekong: The story of 2020

While many questioned the logic in moving from Udinese, a team in the Italian top flight, to Championship club Watford, the decision could be justified upon the realisation that the centre-back, more or less, began his career in England and had his family based in Hertfordshire all this time.

Given the revelation, it was hard to argue with Troost-Ekong’s choice to leave a club that had by far the best defence — going by goals conceded, at least — in the bottom half of Serie A and ended the season in a respectable 13th spot.

For a bit of context: 51 goals conceded was three lower than Atalanta in third, same as Roma in fifth, five shy of AC Milan’s 46 and only one lesser than seventh-placed Napoli.

When taken into consideration that Udinese let in that eventual tally despite suffering a 7-1 hammering at the hands of Atalanta — a thrashing Troost-Ekong played in — their ‘achievement’ probably earns even more plaudits.

In truth, even though that obliteration by Gian Piero Gasperini’s team came in late October 2019, it’ll be remiss not to mention that defeat, as well as the 4-0 loss against Roma the following week, when assessing the Super Eagle’s 2019/20 season due to the subsequent response by the club to terminate Igor Tudor’s contract and appoint Luca Gotti.

The White and Blacks, by and large, tightened up for the remainder of the season — evidenced by the fact their heaviest defeat for the remainder of the league season (3-0 vs Lazio) came in November in the early weeks of Gotti’s reign.

Troost-Ekong was a firm contributor to the defensive steel of Udinese, even though he was rotated in and out of the side after the lockdown.

Still, the Nigeria international started 29 games in his second year at the club, with the biggest moment in the first half of the year coming in that 2-1 win over Juventus in July.

Being closer to his family is obviously the biggest merit in returning to England with Watford, still, the 27-year-old can help to continue the Hornets’ push to secure immediate promotion to the Premier League after last season’s relegation from the big time.

Troost-Ekong has featured in 12 league games since moving, ending on the losing side on only three occasions as the Hertfordshire outfit lie fifth in the table on 37 points, only two adrift of Swansea City in second.

Even though the head coach has been changed and the defender missed the club’s final game of the year — a 1-0 win over leaders Norwich City — the central defender ought to look forward to the New Year.

Troost-Ekong: Any transfer rumours?

None...for now. Due to the high turnover of players at Watford and Udinese, it won’t be much of a surprise to see Troost-Ekong either return to the Italian side or leave the Hornets in 2021.

Troost-Ekong: One big hope for 2021

Surely to play a big part in Watford’s promotion quest. From a Nigerian perspective, supporters of the West African nation will love to see the nation’s top centre-back in the world’s most-watched league week in week out.

Troost-Ekong: One big fear for 2021

Injuries. He’s already missed Xisco’s first game in charge vs Norwich and risks playing catch-up in trying to impress the already under-pressure head coach at the helm.

While family reasons was a primary factor in returning to England, playing games will make it more fulfilling for the centre-back.

As for Watford, missing out on a return to the PL will impact their finances but also reduce the prospects of Troost-Ekong playing in the top flight.

Gor Mahia are sweating over a bill amounting to Ksh 810,000 to be paid to the Algerian hotel they have been staying in.

K'Ogalo have been in the hotel since December 25 and after playing CR Belouizdad in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the Caf Champions League, a match they eventually lost 6-0, they were scheduled to leave on Monday, December 28 at 17:00 EAT.

"Chairman Ambrose Rachier called me early this morning and echoed what senior [Francis] Wasuna just told us about the challenges of leaving the hotel," read part of the communication from a Gor Mahia official to other members and obtained by Goal.

"Dolfina [Odhiambo] herself just called me and said the hotel is adamant that they will only accept credit card payment. 

"This is a unique position. I urge that we act immediately as any delay will mean losing the flight as well."

Our source from the club has explained to Goal why it will be tough for the club to get anything from the ministry on Monday.

"After handing in the invoice, they could have made a follow up to ensure the monies are released," the source added.

"The ministry has made it clear the monies cannot be released on Monday and since the Kenya Embassy in Algeria is closed for the holiday, it means another alternative has to be used.

"Someone has to try and send the cash to the hotel before the departure time, or else the team might miss the flight back to Kenya."

Efforts to reach chairman Ambrose Rachier for comment bore no fruits as our calls went unanswered. 

K'Ogalo have a huge task of overturning the 6-0 loss in the second leg to make it to the group stage of the Caf Champions League.

On Saturday night, the Great Chabab scored their goals through Amir Sayoud, who scored a hat-trick, Hamza Bellahouel, Larbi Tabti, and Maecky Ngombo during a thoroughly one-sided encounter. 

K'Ogalo came into the match without the services of their influential captain Kenneth Muguna, midfielder Bernard Ondiek and Nicholas Kipkirui. The first two were nursing injuries while the former Zoo FC man had family issues. 

The East African charges have never made it to the group stage of the competition.

Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted he will put no pressure on his son to pursue a career as a footballer, even though the Juventus superstar has said he "would like it" to happen.

The Portugal international has been at the summit of the game for more than a decade, dominating football alongside Lionel Messi, but he is now in the tail end of his career at the age of 35.

He was named Player of the Century at the Globe Soccer Awards  on Sunday, and said in his acceptance speech that children need to be shown the right path into the game.

His own son, Cristiano Jnr, has been showing promise and is part of the Juventus academy.

Ronaldo is famed for his work ethic and has attempted to instil drive into his son, although he has admitted it can be difficult to persuade a 10-year-old to take an ice bath.

“Sometimes he drinks coke, sodas and eats crisps and he knows it makes me angry,” Ronaldo said, according to A Bola .

"Sometimes I tell my son after a run on the treadmill to dive into the cold water to recover and he says: ‘Dad, it’s so cold there.’ That’s fine, it is normal, he is only 10 years old."

While his son has been making good strides with the Juventus academy, there will be no pressure from his father to forge a career in football.

“We’ll see if my son will become a great footballer,” Ronaldo said. "He has potential. He is fast and dribbles well, but that is not enough. I always tell him that it takes work and dedication to have success.

“I won’t pressure him to become a footballer, but if you ask me if I want him to, yes I would like it. The most important thing is to become the best at whatever he does, whether it is as a footballer or a doctor.”

Ronaldo’s current focus is on firing Juventus back into the Serie A title race. They have lifted the trophy for the past nine seasons but they are 10 points adrift of leaders AC Milan, albeit with a game in hand, and were beaten 3-0 by Fiorentina in their final outing before the winter break.

Juventus resume their Serie A campaign with a clash against Udinese on January 3. Three days later they take on AC Milan.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) held mediation talks between coaches Johnathan McKinstry and dismissed Fred Kajoba on Sunday.

Kajoba was sent away from the team’s camp at Kasasi Hotel for allegedly breaking protocols, including the coronavirus guidelines, but Fufa held the peace meeting between the two tacticians who are reportedly not seeing eye to eye.

The mediation meeting was convened at 18:00 and according to Football256, was conducted at the Kabira County Club and was attended by Fufa president Moses Magogo and the Chief Executive Officer Edgar Watson.

Kajoba had claimed McKinstry instigated his dismissal after he attended a Christmas mass service.

“I requested the coach [McKinstry] and I was allowed to go to church and celebrate Christmas day mass,” the Vipers SC’s head coach said in an interview.

“It’s interesting how McKinstry would find trouble in me going to church when some other people including himself have on a regular basis been going out of the camp.

“Can’t they too bring in the coronavirus? I’m fine with the dismissal and in fact happy that I was dismissed from the camp because I had gone to church but not any other place!”

The coach added his expulsion from the pre-Chan squad will not affect his devotion to the church.

“Nothing or no one will ever separate me from my God and Mother Mary. I am what I am today because of the God that I have always worshipped and believed in,” the retired goalkeeper added.

“My present and future lay in him. I am yet to get someone to make me understand the wrong in worshipping more so on Christmas day.”

With Fufa keen on finding a truce between the two national coaches, McKinstry has already named a 25-man squad that will take part in a pre-African Nations Championship tournament in Cameroon. Kajoba’s role will be handled by Sadiq Wasswa in the meantime.

Pre-Chan squad;

Goalkeepers: Joel Mutakubwa (Kyetume FC), Nafian Alionzi (URA FC), Tom Ikara (Police FC)

Defenders: Eric Ssenjobe (Police FC), Aziz Kayondo (Vipers SC), Paul Willa (Vipers SC), Ashraf Mandela (URA FC), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers SC), Mustafa Mujuzi (Kyetume FC), Patrick Mbowa (URA FC), Hassan Muhammad (Police FC)

Midfielders: Shafiq Kagimu (URA FC), Tony Mawejje (Police FC), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers SC), Karim Watambala (Vipers SC), Saidi Kyeyune (URA FC), Hassan Ssenyonjo (Wakiso Giants FC)

Forwards: Ben Ocen (Police FC), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers SC), Vianne Ssekajjugo (Wakiso Giants FC), Joseph Ssemujju (BUL FC), Joakim Ojera (URA FC), Milton Karisa (Vipers SC), Stephen Mukwala (URA FC), Mohamed Shaban (Vipers SC).

Former Nigeria goalkeeper Carl Ikeme was satisfied with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ performance in their 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur and he thinks they deserved all three points instead.

The visitors opened the scoring at Molineux Stadium as early as the first minute through Tanguy Ndombele, but Morocco defender Romain Saiss scored a late equaliser for Wolves in the 86th minute, after nodding in Pedro Neto’s corner kick.

Shortly after both teams were level, Reuben Neves and Fabio Silva had their chances to complete the comeback but Hugo Lloris produced some good saves late in the game.

The result left Nuno Espirito Santo's side with just one win in their last five Premier League matches but Ikeme described Sunday’s display as promising, with the Portuguese attacking trio of Pedro Neto, Daniel Podence and Fabio Silva.

“I enjoyed the football we played tonight, deserved all three points in honesty,” Ikeme tweeted. “There’s some real exciting players up top with Podence, Neto, Silva.

“Even though we haven’t seen the best I’m really excited about watching them grow and improve.”

Wolves are 11th on the league table with 21 points from 15 matches, and they travel to Old Trafford for their next fixture against Manchester United on Tuesday.

Ikeme spent his entire club career at Wolverhampton Wanderers where he played over 200 games before he retired from football in 2017 following an acute leukaemia diagnosis.

The former Super Eagles goalkeeper has the No. 1 shirt at Wolves left vacant in his honour with current goalkeeper Rui Patricio opting for no. 11 after his move from Sporting CP in the summer of 2018.

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo, in his reaction, was happy with his team's resilience at Molineux on Sunday.

"I think we performed really well, we played a very good game. We conceded very early in the game but the team reacted and we played good - very intense, very aggressive against a dangerous side. I'm happy,” Espirito Santo said.

"It's a learning process. Sometimes you cannot explain how else things happen in the first minute, we demanded focus, we [had to remain] alert, we know how games are going without fans, the edge is not there.

“There are many games with early goals but if it happens to you, you have to react and I think we stayed in the game and performed well. We combine, we defend, we reacted to the loss of the ball and we had good chances."

Rene Meulensteen has admitted his surprise at Donny van de Beek’s lack of playing time at Manchester United.

The midfielder arrived at the club from Ajax in September in a deal worth £35 million ($47.5m), but his impact has been limited under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Bruno Fernandes is an automatic selection in the attacking-midfield role, while further back Fred, Scott McTominay, Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic are pressing for starts.

Former United coach Meulensteen says there can be teething problems when players move clubs, but he had expected to see more of the Netherlands international in the Red Devils’ starting XI.

“I don’t think it’s about [just] the treatment - it’s part and parcel of being a professional footballer - especially when you move clubs,” Meulensteen told Stadium Astro. “I think why people in Holland are baffled is that Donny van de Beek - you can ask anyone in Holland - is a very, very good player. 

“He had a similar impact for Ajax at the time that Bruno Fernandes has for Manchester United now. It really surprises me that we haven’t seen him more often and to have more starts.” 

Meulensteen does not believe it is a personality issue, as he claims Van de Beek has the ability to operate in a number of positions and only requires a run of games to cement his role in the side.

‘Good players always find ways to play with each other,” Meulensteen said. “Donny van de Beek is also a very versatile player. It’s not that he can only slot in one position. He can play in the deeper midfield position next to Fred or [Scott] McTominay, it would be no problem. 

“He can play higher up or he can even play coming off the side coming in to the pocket if you have a full-back that is going forward all the time. 

“So there are different ways to use him and utilise him.

“At Ajax he was really instrumental, especially in the latter years of his career at Ajax he was very important in the front end of the pitch to create chances and score a lot of goals. He has a great intelligence and an overview, and a bit of disguise to play players in and to set up other players.

"It is something that really surprises me that he’s not being used as much by Ole.” 

Meulensteen has urged the 23-year-old to keep working hard in training and grasp the chance when it comes his way.

“To get form, you need rhythm and to keep playing,” Meulensteen said. “I have seen some really good moments when Donny did play.

“In other games I have seen that he was not at his best, but the only thing you can do is keep training well, keep your focus and when that moment comes you take it.

“There are a lot of games around the corner and I am 100 per cent sure Ole will use him. He is a top, top player.”

Gor Mahia vice-captain Philemon Otieno has apologised tthe club's fans after suffering a humiliating 6-0 loss to CR Belouizdad in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the Caf Champions League played at the Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 on Saturday night.

K'Ogalo came into the match without the services of their influential captain Kenneth Muguna, midfielder Bernard Ondiek, and Nicholas Kipkirui. The first two were nursing injuries while the former Zoo FC man had family issues. 

The Great Chabab scored their goals through Amir Sayoud, who scored a hat-trick, Hamza Bellahouel, Larbi Tabti, and Maecky Ngombo during a thoroughly one-sided encounter. 

"On behalf of fellow players, l would like to apologise for the loss against Belouizdad," Otieno said as quoted by the club's official portal.

"It i’s football and we learnt our lessons."

"It is a wake-up call for us to pull up if we want to achieve our goals for this season."

On Sunday, a senior player faulted the management for the big loss in North Africa.

"It is an embarrassing and shameful outcome for a big and respectable club like Gor Mahia," a senior player who is part of the squad in Algeria told Goal.

"This is a very competitive competition and it needs good preparations. It is a shame when we are just sent to play when nobody takes care of our needs.

"Nobody trained for this game, we were not fit for the game and the results were evident.

"We cannot get positive results this way, as players we are suffering. Someone might think we do not know how to play or we are not equal to the task but it is because of what is going on at the club. 

"The office [management] is the main cause of this. I feel sorry for ourselves, fans and families."  

K'Ogalo have a huge task of overturning the 6-0 loss in the second leg to make it to the group stage of the Caf Champions League.

The East African charges have never made it to the group stage of the competition.

Jurgen Klopp is facing another defensive dilemma as Liverpool anxiously await news on Joel Matip’s latest injury setback.

Matip lasted just an hour of the Reds’ 1-1 draw with West Brom on Sunday before going down with what appeared to be a groin problem. He was replaced by teenager Rhys Williams, with Klopp confirming afterwards that the Cameroon international had “felt something in his adductor.”

Liverpool expect to obtain a full diagnosis on Monday, but the fear is that the 29-year-old will face a number of weeks on the sidelines, leaving the Premier League champions once more without a senior specialist centre-back. 

“Joel told me he felt something in his adductor and that’s obviously not too good,” Klopp told reporters on Sunday. “I am not sure how serious it is now, but it was serious enough that he had to leave the pitch. The rest of the information I will get tomorrow [Monday].”

Matip had only returned to action against Crystal Palace the previous weekend having missed the win over Tottenham with a back issue. 

He has been beset by injury issues since moving to Anfield in 2016, not once managing to reach 30 league appearances in a single season.

He played just 13 games in all competitions last term, and has so far been limited to only nine starts this time around – two of which have seen him substituted early.

With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez both likely to miss the rest of the campaign with serious knee injuries, Klopp had been forced to gamble on Matip’s fitness alongside Fabinho, who has impressed since moving to centre-back from midfield.

Liverpool’s other defensive options are 19-year-old Williams or the inexperienced Nat Phillips. Those two have just four Premier League appearances between them, although both have performed admirably whenever called upon this season.

Jordan Henderson filled in during the second half at Fulham recently, but moving the captain would impact on Klopp’s midfield.

Goal understands at this stage that the Reds have no plans to sign a centre-back in January, despite calls from a number of quarters to do so. 

There was more bad news for the Reds before kick-off against West Brom, with Naby Keita ruled out due to a muscle injury.

The Guinea star, like Matip, has been plagued by injury issues, and will now sit out the trip to Newcastle on Wednesday, with Klopp unsure of a return date at this stage.

Keita has managed just seven starts so far this season, and has featured in just 50 of a possible 91 Premier League games since moving from Leipzig in 2018.

“He felt a muscle again,” Klopp said. “I don’t know exactly how long [it will be], but he was not ready for today and not for Wednesday, I think. We will see.”

More reassuring for the champions was the sight of both James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri among the substitutes against West Brom, while there is a chance that Thiago Alcantara could feature in the squad for the game against Newcastle.

The Spanish midfielder has not played since the Merseyside derby with Everton in October, but has returned to training in the last week and has so far shown no adverse reaction. Klopp may however err on the side of caution, with the visit to Southampton next Monday a more likely target for Thiago’s return.

Just months after parting ways with Kedah, defender Azmeer Yusof on Monday announced that he has retired from playing professionally altogether, at only 30-years of age.

Writing on his Facebook account, the left back apologised for the decision, in a statement that hints at the religious direction of his post-football career.

"In the name of Allah, I, Azmeer Yusof am announcing my retirement from professional football. I want to thank my parents, family, friends and all Malaysian fans who have been supporting me.

"I'd like to apologise for not being able to continue your hopes in me. It's a heavy decision, yet it's one I believe in after discussing it with Syeikh Muhd Zainol Asri and Ustaz Moqti (Azmeer's Islamic mentors)." 

Azmeer also took the time to cryptically apologise to his peers from his playing days, who he claimed are resentful of him for unknown reasons.

"To players who despise me, I beg forgiveness of you. Until now I don't know why you hate me so.

"I still pray the best for you. Whatever happened, we are still brothers in Islam. May we meet in heaven in the afterlife, God willing."

At the start of the Covid-19 lockdown in the country and domestic competitions suspension this year, Azmeer took the chance to concentrate on his fishmongering business, as well as on his plans of establishing an Islamic studies centre in Alor Setar, Kedah. He then opted to quit Kedah. 

READ: Azmeer announces shock Kedah departure, insists wage problem not the cause

He now plans to concentrate on these two ventures in the state where he retired.

"Praise Allah for the chance to retire in the state of Kedah. Hopefully I will be received warmly here as a 'representative' of the state's residents.

"We will build our finances together in order to help those who are needy out there. WE DON'T NEED TO BE RICH TO HELP THE DESTITUTE!"

Throughout his playing career, the defender had played for a total of seven clubs, including Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur and Kedah.

He won the 2017 Premier League with Kuala Lumpur, and the 2016 Malaysia Cup with and the 2019 FA Cup with Kedah.