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Barcelona must drastically improve under Ronald Koeman if they are to save their season, says former star Rivaldo.

The Catalan side are through to the last 16 of the Champions League, but lost 3-0 at home to Juventus in the final game of the first round to finish second in the group.

They have underperformed domestically, too. Koeman's team sit ninth in La Liga and are 12 points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, having won just two of their last eight matches in the competition.

Rivaldo fears the Camp Nou side are far off the quality required to challenge for the European title this term and fears they could even miss out on next season's competition unless they turn things around soon.

"For now, I'm not seeing Barcelona producing enough football to fight for the Champions League title this season, but things can change if they manage to knockout a strong opponent in the last-16 as it would boost their confidence," he wrote in a column for Betfair.

"Many are starting to doubt whether Barca can claim a top four spot at La Liga in order to take part in the Champions League next season.

"If they keep under-performing then that is a real possibility. The team isn't playing well, and things are getting uglier.

"It's crucial that they wake up as soon as possible and get back to producing good performances and results."

He added: "At the end of Juventus match, Antoine Griezmann didn't find many excuses for their loss and blamed all the group for their lack of attitude on the pitch. I think he was right on his claims.

"You must be fully committed when playing in a Barcelona shirt - full of history and glory - but that isn't happening now, which I consider unacceptable. It's not normal to watch Barcelona losing 0-3 at home in an important match."

One of Barca's biggest worries is the future of superstar Lionel Messi, who is in the final season of his contract and has shown no signs he is willing to sign a new deal. 

Atletico Madrid star Koke has spoken about how he would love to persuade Messi to join his side, but admitted it would be difficult “for him to get out of there.”

Chelsea defender Thiago Silva has named the three coaches that have had the greatest influence in his career.

The Brazil star moved to the Premier League after a successful eight-year stint with Paris Saint-Germain.

He built his reputation, however, at AC Milan, while he has also enjoyed spells with Porto, Fluminense and even in Russia with Dynamo Moscow.

Silva, therefore, has had a multitude of different influences on his career but has narrowed down the outstanding three coaches.

“We can learn all the time,” he told the Brazilian FA. “With some coaches that I worked with, I saw how not to do things, whether it was in man management or in tactical work. But I also met a lot of good people.

“If I had to name three coaches whose work inspired me the most, I would have to saw Brazil coach Tite, Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel.

“Regarding Tite and Ancelotti, it’s almost impossible to love one and dislike the other because they are very similar. But the three of them understand football a lot and they stand out on a human level.

“And I can’t avoid mentioning a few of the coaches at the star of my career in Brazil, like Ivo Wortman, Oswaldo de Oliveira and Renato Gaucho.”

Silva, who has caught the eye during his brief time in the Premier League with the Blues, has said that he will always remain a fan of PSG, where he spent the bulk of his career.

“Personally, I’ll always remain a supporter of them,” he said. “It’s a team that works very well and it was difficult to leave.”

Thiago Silva’s next challenge for Chelsea is likely to come against Everton on Saturday night at Goodison Park – where he will square off against Ancelotti, one of the men he named as his greatest influences.

Frank Lampard’s side lie third in the Premier League table, two points shy of leaders Tottenham and second-placed Liverpool.

In addition to a strong domestic start, the Blues made serene progress in the Champions League, reaching the last 16 before a 1-1 draw with Krasnodar in midweek.

Express FC coach Wasswa Bbosa is confident his charges are ready to replace his suspended captain Enock Walusimbi in the game against Bright Stars.

The skipper was sent off in the team's 1-1 draw away to Onduparaka FC in the Ugandan Premier League (UPL) opening game. The tactician is confident whoever will be called in to replace his custodian will be up to the task.

"Yes, we will miss our captain because of the red card he received in the last match but the good thing is we recruited players in different departments who are always ready whenever need arises," Bbosa said ahead of the game that will be played at the Mutesa II Stadium.

"So, we expect and we are confident that whoever replaces him will as well give 100% such that we win the match."

The tactician is optimistic his team is ready to get maximum points after correcting mistakes made in their opening game.

"We have corrected our mistakes in regard to defending," Bbosa continued.

"We have concentrated more on scoring goals in the last two days, and certainly we will win."

Defender Murishid Juuko has also supported his tactician's sentiments regarding preparations for the Saturday game.  

"The last game was not as easy as we expected, we went to Arua expecting a win but all in vain," the experienced defender said. 

"We have spent this week preparing, trying to correct the mistakes we made and we think that with the tactics given to us by the technical bench. We are going to achieve something tomorrow in the game and hopefully it’ll be a win.

"It is so bad that we are going to miss [Walusimbi] as a captain because he is such a pillar. But, the team has so many able players."   

On Friday, three games were played across the country.

Meanwhile, KCCA FC continued with their excellent run in the Ugandan Premier League after defeating Mbarara City 2-0 at Lugogo Stadium on Friday evening.

Denis Iguma and Samuel Ssenyonjo ensured the Kasasiro Boys walked home with maximum points from the opening three games. 

Onduparaka bounced back from a humiliating 8-0 loss to KCCA to defeat Myda FC 3-2.

The Purple Sharks started the match on a high but it was the promoted side who opened the scoring in the 10th minute through Ibra Nsimbe. 

It was the goal that woke the visitors and in the 16th minute, it was 1-1. Living Kabon was at the end of a flowing move to give his team something to celebrate about. 

With three minutes to the break, the Sharks grabbed their second courtesy of Gabriel Matata. 

In the 49th minute, the home team was caught napping and Amis Muwonge punished them and gave Onduparaka a two-goal advantage.

Nsimbe completed his brace in the 68th minute to ensure the game ended 3-2 in favour of the visitors.

Busoga United and Kyetume played out a 1-1 draw.

Lionel Messi is capable of doing the impossible on the pitch, and has been lauded as one of the greatest footballers of all-time.

He has carved out a legacy as Barcelona's talismanic striker, synonymous with the club and the city.

But does the Argentina international speak English? Goal takes a look.

Having spent his entire life living in Spanish-speaking countries Argentina and Spain, it is safe to assume that Messi does not speak English.

The Barcelona striker might be able to understand a few English phrases, but Messi is known to be fluent in only Spanish and Catalan.

Non-English footballers usually learn the language after playing at a club where English is the dominant language. Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, became fluent in English playing for Manchester United before he left for Real Madrid and still has a strong grasp of the language.

Ronaldo even joked about acting as translator for both Messi and Neymar, neither of whom speak English, at the 2016 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

All three superstars were up for the individual award for the year 2015, with Messi eventually claiming his fifth award.

Ronaldo, who was playing for Real Madrid at the time, finished in second place, with Neymar in third.

"We got closer, but we have always had a good relationship," Ronaldo joked when asked about his experience at the gala with Messi.

"Before the gala, on the stage, I was a translator for Neymar and him [Messi]. I told them they would have to pay me."

While Messi himself may not speak English, his partner Antontella speaks the language fluently.

In 2019, 11-year-old Mackenzie O’Neill encountered the surprise of his life when he and his family bumped into Messi, who was vacationing in Antigua with his own children.

Messi invited the youngster to play football with him and his son, Thiago.

“Messi’s wife [Antonella] translated because she speaks English very well," Mackenzie said.

"Later on I ended up swimming with Messi and we went out on a little boat and spent a lot of time in the water.

"Messi was with his family on the beach. I was on my own and began to kick my ball a few feet from where they were.

“His dad Jorge threw a ball to me and asked if I wanted to play with them and then we played football with Thiago and Messi for 45 minutes.

“Playing with Leo in the water was great fun. He acted like a normal dad. I also realised that Messi really enjoyed seeing his son play with other children.”

He added: “The last night Messi and his family were here I was playing with Thiago and gave him my football to keep.

“But he ran after me along the beach and insisted I keep it. Afterwards Messi and his wife said goodbye to me with huge smiles. I am not going to forget them.”

Everton will be without star playmaker James Rodriguez as Carlo Ancelotti takes on his former club Chelsea on Saturday.

James, 29, sustained a minor calf problem in last week's 1-1 Premier League draw at Burnley and has not trained this week.

Everton have lost their last two home games against Leeds United and Manchester United, dropping to ninth in the table after topping the standings in the early stages of 2020-21.

Ancelotti has not lost three straight home league games as a manager since 2006 with Milan, while March 2016 was the last time it happened for Everton.

They will now bid to avoid that fate at Goodison Park against an in-form Chelsea side who sit third in the table.

"We have James out – he had a little problem in the game against Burnley," Ancelotti said at his pre-match news conference.

"He was not able to train this week, I think he will start to train next week. For this game, we don't want to take a risk.

"He had a charge on his calf muscle after the game against Burnley. Nothing special, but he was not able to train.

"We have to look at him after the game to see if he will be able to train and play against Leicester [City, on Wednesday]."

As well as James, Everton boss Ancelotti ruled out captain Seamus Coleman and midfielder Fabian Delph, who had both hoped to feature, while Lucas Digne and Jean-Philippe Gbamin are longer-term absentees.

"I'm not used to complaining about the players who are not available," added the Italian. "The players who are available trained well and are in good condition.

"We understand that there will be an important moment and test, not only on Saturday but in this period of December.

"So, I think we arrive at the game with confidence and motivation."

Ancelotti will do battle with his former player, Frank Lampard, who impressed under his stewardship at Chelsea.

He was in charge of 76 Premier League games with Chelsea from 2009 to 2011 and Lampard played in 60 of those, scoring 32 goals.

Only under Jose Mourinho did Lampard score more in the Premier League (49 in 140 appearances).

Barcelona presidential candidate Toni Freixa has given his full backing to coach Ronald Koeman, but would provide no assurances with regard to Lionel Messi’s future at the club.

The jockeying for position is underway ahead of the vote for the club’s new president, with the majority basing their campaigns on assuring fans that Messi will remain at Camp Nou.

Messi is free to talk to other clubs outside of Spain from January 1, with his current deal to expire next summer, and both Jordi Farre and Victor Font have said in recent days that they confidently expect the Argentina international to remain at the club if they are given the top job.

Given Messi’s importance and links to the club, that is a sensible stance to take. Freixa has adopted a slightly different tone, saying he does not want to talk about the player’s future.

“Messi is one more piece of the team and we believe that commenting on questions about what he did, what he does or what he will do, does not do him or the team any good,” Freixa told Goal .

“Messi is a fundamental piece of the team and I want things to go as well as possible but I don't think that constantly talking about it will help anyone.”

Koeman is under increasing pressure with Barca struggling in La Liga, and they were beaten to top spot in their Champions League qualification group after losing to Juventus earlier this week.

Should Freixa be appointed as club president on January 24, the Dutchman can rest assured that his position is safe.

“I was the first to say it even when other candidates mentioned other names,” Freixa said in reference to Koeman’s position at the club. "I did it for two reasons. First, because Koeman is an indisputable figure of Barcelona and has shown his feelings for the club by accepting the job at such a difficult time. 

“And second, because I believe that giving tranquility and stability to the coach is good for the club. 

"In previous periods of our history, [Josep Lluis] Nunez gave continuity to Johan Cruyff after a difficult first few years, just like [Joan] Laporta gave it to Frank Rijkaard. I think now is another complicated moment and the club needs stability. 

“Koeman can embody that stability. I am pleased that the rest of the candidates are already in agreement.”

Leeds United winger Raphinha has opened up on his move from Rennes during the off-season, admitting that he was disappointed by the Ligue 1 club's decision to sell him to the Premier League outfit without his prior knowledge.

The Brazilian, who had only joined Rennes ahead of the 2019-20 campaign from Portuguese side Sporting CP, played a major part in helping to guide the club to a top-three finish and Champions League football for the first time in their history.

Yet, despite eight goals and seven assists in his maiden campaign, the 23-year-old was sold to Leeds for a reported fee of £17 million ($22m) in early October, and for what was reported to be less than he was originally bought for.

Speaking out on his switch to Elland Road - where he has gradually established himself as a core member of Marcelo Bielsa's newly-promoted Whites squad - Raphinha has acknowledged that he had little forewarning of the move.

"I learned on the Saturday [October 3, two days before his move], when I joined the rest of the squad for training, that Rennes had accepted an offer for me," Raphinha, who signed a four-year contract, told ESPN Brazil.

"I was a little surprised, because I was just finishing my debut season in France. We had started the season well in the league and I was already thinking of playing my first Champions League."

Raphinha acknowledged that the saga - though quickly resolved and executed - left him with a bitter taste, after Rennes moved to quickly replace him with Jeremy Doku, with the winger adding that he had been previously told he would only be sold for a high price tag.

"They told me that they would not want to sell me for less than €60m (£55m/$73m)," he noted. "Knowing that the club accepted the offer, no more and no less, without telling me, I felt devalued.

"The offer was less than what they had spent to recruit me. It made it clear to me that I was not part of the plans of the club and the coach. They just decided to sell me."

Indian Super League (ISL) new entrants East Bengal have lodged a complaint against the quality of refereeing with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). 

Robbie Fowler's team is placed at the bottom of the league table after four matches with a point next to their name. They lost their first three matches and managed to get a point against Jamshedpur on Thursday despite playing most of the game with a numerical disadvantage. 

Eugeneson Lyngdoh was shown a second yellow card and was sent off in the 25th minute for a challenge on Aitor Monroy in which the player made contact with the ball first. Towards the end of the game, Jamshedpur were also reduced to 10 men following a second yellow to Laldinliana Renthlei. 

After the game, Fowler had said that his team felt they were against 12 men on the field. Now, the SC East Bengal management has responded to the situation with feedback to the Indian FA. 

Fowler had said, "I don’t think any decision was going our way. Everyone does seem to be against us. We just had to go out there and defend like the way we can and don’t concede and it was important for us to get the point."

"We have suffered in the last three matches so after yesterday's match we have shared our feedback with AIFF, Hopefully, it will be taken into consideration to enhance the quality of referee to maintain the spirit of the game during the remainder of the tournament," a source close to the development told Goal . 

He added, "This is a process that is available to every club where they can share feedback about the officials with the federation."

East Bengal's next match is against Hyderabad on Tuesday. 

Cristiano Ronaldo's evolution from wide forward to striker reached its peak when Carlo Ancelotti arrived at Real Madrid, winning the Champions League at the end of the 2013-14 season. 

Paul Clement worked with Ancelotti at Chelsea and later at Paris Saint-Germain, Madrid and Bayern Munich and the pair's time at Santiago Bernabeu marked Ronaldo's conversion to full-time striker. 

Clement, who assisted Ancelotti alongside Zinedine Zidane, believes moving Ronaldo up front was both a tactical and man-management masterstroke from the Italian.

"When we first got to the club, he had played as a number nine but Carlo had the idea for him in 2013-14 that he would become a full-time striker so he didn’t have to track a full-back," Clement told Goal.

"He spoke to Carlo and asked to be on the left, cutting inside, shooting, crossing and providing key passes. Carlo just said: 'Look it is important for you to be comfortable and we don’t want you to be uncomfortable'.

"It is an example of how Carlo manages top players; he didn’t put his foot down and say you’re a striker now. It was important for Ronaldo to be comfortable because he was the match-winner and it worked well.

"They had to adjust everything else to ensure he didn’t have to track his full-back so he played one system offensively and another defensively. Defensively, it would be a 4-4-2 where Ronaldo would be a striker with Karim Benzema.

"Then Angel Di Maria, who was on the left of midfield, would move out to the left to create a four. It was a lopsided shape that would change to allow Ronaldo to play more advanced."

Tactical innovation and flexibility are characteristics of Ancelotti's career - traits which have always seen him adapt his methods to the players available. It has brought staggering success for the current Everton manager, who has also won major honours with AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG and Bayern. 

At the heart of Ancelotti's success with Madrid was his relationship with Ronaldo. They won four trophies in a two-year spell, including that 2014 Decima victory against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final, and Ronaldo claimed the Ballon d'Or in his first season in the process. Clement remembers Ronaldo as the model professional behind the scenes.

"I always quote what Carlo says: 'When Ronaldo walks onto the pitch, you have always got a 1-0 lead',” Clement added. "In our two years there, he scored 50 goals a season. So when he misses a couple of games through niggles, then you miss that goal he brings in every game.

"You are starting 1-0 ahead just by having him. What an advantage that is! I liked him a lot. He was a good guy, clever and a businessman with great languages. He was a great people person with a good character for the squad.

"He was always telling stories and he helps his team-mates. That’s before talking about his talent with his work ethic. He worked on and off the field. His job was to provide and score goals. Scoring goals motivated him.

"Off the field, he is super professional with his care and attention to recovery, gym work, strength training, diet and nutrition. It was incredible."

After working in England at Derby County, Swansea City and Reading, Clement has been given his first managerial role overseas working with Monaco's sister club in Belgium, Cercle Brugge.

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has described Billy Gilmour as a “fabulous little player” but insisted there have been no talks with Chelsea over a loan move for the midfielder.

Gilmour is working his way back to fitness from the knee injury he picked up earlier this year, and Blues boss Frank Lampard is mulling over whether to send him out on a temporary move away from Stamford Bridge.

After coming through the ranks at Ibrox, a return to his native Scotland has been put forward as a viable option for the 19-year-old.

Gerrard appears to be a fan of the Scotland Under-21 international, but said no attempt has been made to strike a deal.

“There is always a lot of paper talk and a lot of speculation about a lot of players,” Gerrard is quoted as saying by the Evening Standard . "From what I see from afar, I think Billy Gilmour is pretty settled at Chelsea. 

“He has obviously had an injury. Every time I listen to Frank he is really happy with the player.

"He's a fabulous little player but there has been no contact between the clubs or the managers. I know Frank extremely well and I know his coaching staff extremely well. I think that's just people putting two and two together and looking for stories.

“There is nothing in it from our side but what I will say is that he is a fabulous little player and we wish him well.”

After a five-minute cameo against Sevilla in the Champions League earlier this month, Gilmour played 90 minutes against Krasnodar on Tuesday.

Lampard was happy with Gilmour’s performance and, given how hectic the schedule is this season, the Blues boss may keep him at Stamford Bridge for the remainder of the campaign.

"I thought Billy was outstanding on his return, I felt very comfortable with him coming back in, he's trained so well, done his rehab and he deserved his chance tonight," Lampard said.

"The way he played today and how he trains I see him growing with us, he's going to be a Chelsea player, [it’s] just making sure the pathway is right for him.”

Bruno Fernandes believes Manchester United have a chance to win the Premier League title, with the midfielder adding that he came to the club to claim such honours.

The playmaker has been a revelation since his arrival at Old Trafford, emerging as the beating heart and creative engine room of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Red Devils side.

The Portugal international has proven to be a vital matchwinner for United on multiple occasions this term already, helping them mount another top-four push on the domestic front.

Though he was unable to help his side avoid a Champions League exit earlier this week, Fernandes' latest exploits have now earned him another Premier League Player of the Month award, his third of 2020.

Yet, while the 26-year-old is flattered to have picked up the personal honour, he says he will not be satisfied until he wins silverware, an achievement he fully believes is within the team's grasp.

"It's difficult to have one of these, so I'm really proud to have my third one," Fernandes told the Premier League's official website in regards to his Player of the Month gong.

"[But] I will be happy when I win the Premier League. The point to come to England, to such a huge club, was to win the Premier League and I think we have the chance to do it." 

Having averaged a goal every 86.25 minutes last month, Fernandes beat out the other contenders on a six-man shortlist that also included England internationals Ben Chilwell, Jack Grealish and James Ward-Prowse. 

West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who has quickly become a key component of Jose Mourinho's Tottenham team, were also in the running.

Fernandes made key contributions with a brace at Goodison Park to help United triumph 3-1 against Everton, while his penalty against West Brom secured a first league win at Old Trafford in the 2020-21 campaign.

Last term, he finished as the Europa League's top scorer and was elected to the competition's team of the year - a feat he now has the opportunity to repeat after United finished third behind Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig in their Champions League group.

Liverpool could welcome Alisson Becker back for their Premier League trip to Fulham.

But Diogo Jota is a doubt for Sunday’s game having picked up a knock in Wednesday’s Champions League game with FC Midtjylland.

Alisson has missed the Reds’ last three games having picked up a hamstring issue during the draw with Brighton last month.

His absence has allowed Caoimhin Kelleher to shine in goal, but Jurgen Klopp confirmed that the Brazilian will resume full training at Kirkby on Friday, and that he could be ready to return to action at Craven Cottage.

He said: “Ali will train today, and if he trains and it is all fine, then he can play.”

Liverpool were able to rest a number of first-team players for their draw in Denmark in midweek, with the likes of Gini Wijnaldum and Joel Matip remaining unused, and others such as Andy Robertson, Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino playing only part of the match.

But they still suffered some issues, with Klopp confirming that Jota, along with left-back Kostas Tsimikas, would be assessed ahead of the weekend’s fixture.

Liverpool are already without James Milner, Xherdan Shaqiri and Thiago Alcantara, along with long-term absentees Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is in line to make his first squad appearance of the season after a knee injury.

Klopp said: “We had a game two days ago, and after the game we had some niggles, I would say. The diagnosis is not fully done.

“Kostas, we have to see. Diogo, we have to see. He got a knock as well. That’s it from the game, I think.

“Apart from that, Oxlade is in training for a week or so and now he is in full training. We will see. The situation probably demands that we use him as soon as possible, but I don’t know if the weekend is that moment.

“Nobody else is coming back, I’m afraid.”

On Oxlade-Chamberlain’s return, Klopp added: “Long [time] eh? I still remember the situation where it happened in training. A normal challenge, one gets up and the other does not.

“Tough time for him, but the sun has been shining for him for a month or two because he’s been doing all the necessary rehab, and he has been on the pitch with the ball. Now he’s with the team, great for him, great for us.

“We cannot and will not rush it, but when he’s been long enough in normal team training, then of course he immediately becomes an option.”

Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has admitted he is baffled by the club's struggles of late, adding that he cannot fathom their inconsistent form.

The Red Devils have endured a mixed season so far, with a credible top-four challenge in the Premier League and a quarter-final berth in the Carabao Cup the highlights of their campaign up to now.

United started strongly in Europe but have since slipped out of the Champions League after failing to take a point from their final two games, consigning them to another year in the Europa League.

Such inconsistency has heaped the pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with speculation continuing to question the Norwegian's future at Old Trafford.

Former France international Saha, who spent four years at United between 2004 and 2008, has acknowledged that he has been left bemused by the Red Devils' performances.

"United have a team that has the quality to be in the last rounds of the Champions League but they lack consistency," the two-time title winner told Genting Bet .

"They’re not lacking the fighting spirit, but the actual concentration. They need to know that they can't go down three-nil at half-time – it puts too much pressure on their shoulders.

"It's easy for me to be as objective as possible, but I'm so annoyed. This is a team with a lot of talent and I can’t understand.

"It’s a pity because the team has massive potential but how can you concede that many goals first all the time?

"Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is someone that I really appreciate and do think that he's got the quality for Manchester United. Maybe he’s not given the players themselves the help, or maybe he’s not challenging them enough? I don't know, but there is something missing. 

"There is definitely quality in the squad because they show that in the spirit to come back in games. They show that they can get good runs going but sometimes there’s too much dependency on one or two players, and that's not normal. 

"A team is built on foundations and something needs to be changed. You talk about the management, which is definitely the topic of the press but for me they have good options.

"There is a desire to improve this squad, and this club, because the position of Manchester United is not right. Whatever it is, whether the structure of the club or maybe in terms of transfers, in terms of the academy, I don't know. It's easy for me to say but I do think that Ole has proved that he can get some players in really top form. 

"I really like what he's done in midfield, especially with Fred and Scott McTominay - they have done really well and performed as we would expect the likes of [Paul] Pogba to do.

"The strikers have done okay but when they miss an opportunity, you get the impression that they think ‘it's okay because there’ll be another one’ which isn’t great. It’s not like they're not performing, but the backlines and the midfield need to step up in terms of consistency, the foundation is very important."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has warned that Manchester United will use the disappointment of Tuesday’s Champions League defeat as motivation going into the derby this weekend.

United host Manchester City at Old Trafford for the first derby of the season and go into the fixture off the back of the 3-2 loss to RB Leipzig which knocked them out of the Champions League.

But, Solskjaer is confident his team will not panic after the midweek result which consigned United to the Europa League after Christmas and again raised question marks over his credentials to be manager.

“Any player that plays football should be frustrated and disappointed when you have lost a game so that you want to bounce back and win the next one," said Solskjaer.

"I think we’ve shown that a few times this year that we’ve handled setbacks quite well.

“It’s important not to press the panic button every time. You know in football you can’t win every game, but there are games that you lose that will stick and hurt more than others that will have more consequences than others.

"Now, we’re facing the reality of not having the Champions League for the rest of the season so we need to make sure we move on, get back into the Champions League and how we do that is just by improving from last season.”

Solskjaer confirmed that Anthony Martial, who missed the midweek game with a knock, is fit to face City while Edinson Cavani will be assessed ahead of the game after missing the defeat in Leipzig with an injury.

United go into the game looking to make it five wins on the bounce in the league and Solskjaer believes his side have shown they are improving.

“I feel we're getting better and better, and looking more and more like a Manchester United team that I want with fast attackers, with dynamic,” Solskjaer explained.

“We’ve got good players and individual quality that can create magic out of nothing, that's always been the case at Man Utd.

"But we can see more of the penetration and the consistency that everyone says we don't have, we have won the last four in the league which is starting to become a good run and hopefully we can carry that on.”

Pep Guardiola has offered his backing to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ahead of the Manchester derby on Saturday after the Red Devils' exit from the Champions League.

United were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage on Tuesday after the defeat to RB Leipzig, with the Norwegian's position again being called into question as a result.

The Red Devils have made a better start in the Premier League than last season and currently sit a point and a place above Manchester City in the table, with Guardiola saying his opposite number doesn't need any advice from him.

"That’s why we get a high salary, to deal with these situations," Guardiola joked when asked about the rollercoaster life of being a football manager.

"The important thing is to know the value of Solskjaer, there is no doubt about this. I don’t have to give him support because he is strong enough, he knows how it works in this job.

"When we win we are a genius and when we lose you have to be sacked. It happens at United and all the clubs around the world, it is a reality."

City's progress to the last 16 was far smoother as they reached the knockout stages for an eighth consecutive year by topping Group C.

But after failing to get beyond the quarter-finals since he took over at City, Guardiola says success and failure in Europe can be defined by small margins.

"What is not going to change is the margin to be in the next round or to be out in the group stages, it's so minimal," he added.

"With a 1-1 against PSG, Martial has two clear chances and he misses, and Leipzig was 3-3 and they win 4-3 in the 94th minute and that’s why they have the chance to win the last game.

"Even in the last minute it could have been 3-3 and it would have been about the spirit and character of United. But this is the Champions League.

"We have to accept it. The margin at this level is so high so big teams can be out. That’s why always when we win one game in the group stage I congratulate the players because it is so difficult.

"The Premier League is the same. Every time we are able to do it is a big compliment. In the process every time we win we think about the next game. This is the way we have to live our profession."

Guardiola has defender Eric Garcia missing through injury for the trip to Old Trafford but reiterated that Sergio Aguero will not be fit enough to start as he continues his come back from injury.

There will be no fans at the stadium for the first time in a Manchester derby with the city still in the toughest Covid-19 restrictions. The City boss added on the topic: "Of course it's much better playing with fans but the virus is still here.

"When, step-by-step, we open the stadiums as has already happened in some areas of England - in Manchester not yet - the Premier League, government and scientists decide we can make the next step, we will do it and when everything is settled, the fans will be back.

"The supporters are so loyal and with social media today everyone has opinions. The club has to take the decisions they have to take."

Ola Aina's stunning strike in Fulham's 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion has been named the Premier League Goal of the Month for November.

The Super Eagles defender sealed the Cottagers' first league win of the season in style on November 2, by firing in a rocket from outside the 18-yard box.

It was Aina’s maiden goal in the Premier League having previously played for Chelsea where he won two top-flight titles.

The 24-year-old saw off competition from Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez, Southampton duo Danny Ings and James Ward-Prowse, Brighton and Hove Albion's Solly March, Leicester City's Jamie Vardy and Leeds United's Raphinha.

Aina's recognition makes him the first Fulham player to win the Goal of the Month award since Andre Schurrle's triumph in January 2019.

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes was also honoured as the Player of the Month after returning four goals and an assist in four matches while Jose Mourinho was named Manager of the Month for guiding Tottenham Hotspur to a run of three wins and a draw from four matches last month.

Aina returned to England in the summer to provide defensive options for Scott Parker after Fulham gained promotion to the Premier League.

They have the option to sign him on a permanent deal when his loan from Serie A club Torino expires at the end of the season.

So far this season, Aina has made eight Premier League appearances for the Cottagers who sit 17th in the league table with seven points from 11 matches.

He will be expected to put in a solid defensive shift when Fulham host Liverpool for their next Premier League fixture at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Parker’s side have only won two matches this term with eight losses recorded.

Nairobi City Stars picked their second win the Football Kenya Federation Premier League after seeing off Bandari 2-0 at Kasarani on Friday.

Experienced striker Anthony Kimani and Davis Agesa were the scorers for the  Simba wa Nairobi who did not look more lethal but ironically went home as victors in their third league game of the 2020-21campaign.

City Stars would have scored the opener in the 20th minute but Timothy Ouma sent his shot just wide after he had been spotted by Oliver Maloba. Another chance came in the 28th minute but Bandari goalkeeper Justin Ndikumana did well to stop an attack that was engineered by Agesa as the visitors looked more solid at the back unlike in the opening minutes.

Bandari won two corners just before half time as they attacked City Stars relentlessly but they were not clinical enough to get an opener from either corner and as well as the late pressure on the hosts.

Jimmy Bageya, who has previously scored three goals for City Stars against the Shield Cup champions, was introduced as the second half began. His introduction gave them more power at the front and consequently, Kimani, scored the opener at the hour mark.

Eight minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead when Agesa drove a low cross only for the ball to be pushed into the net by a Bandari player who attempted to make the last clearance.

Kimani was rested in the 74th minute after he made history by scoring against his former side and handed City Stars a sixth win against the coast team.

The experienced forward was on target when the teams last met in the Premier League in 2016. That match ended in a 2-2 draw at Nyayo Stadium and the two goals for Bandari were scored by Kimani as he became the club’s top scorer against Simba wa Nairobi, the club he currently captains.

Nairobi City Stars XI : Steven Njunge, Herit Atariza, Kennedy Onyango, Salim Abdalla, Aziz Okaka, Sven Yidah, Peter Opiyo, Salim Abdalla, Anthony Kimani, Oliver Maloba, Timothy Ouma, Davis Agesa.

Subs : Elvis Ochoro, Edwin Buliba, Elvis Ojiambo, Vincent Okoth, Rodgers Okumu, Calvin Masawa, Ezekiel Odera, Jimmy Bageya.

Bandari XI : Justin Ndikumana, Atariza Meja, Mohamed Siraj, Bernard Odhiambo, Brian Otieno, Collins Agade, Abdalla Hassan, Wilberforce Lugogo, Yema Mwana, David King’atua, William Wadri.

Subs : Michael Wanyika, Swaleh Chacha, Dan Guya, Darius Msagha, Danson Namasakha, Hamid Mohamed, Shaban Kenga, Alphonse Washe, Benjamin Mosha, Johana Mwita, Ndemi Keegan.