Looking for Soccer News?

David Okereke believes Club Brugge can make history in the Champions League by advancing into the knock-out stages of the competition.

The Belgian First Division A champions will take on Italian side Lazio in their last group game on Tuesday night.  

The Blue and Black are currently third in Group F with seven points from five games, three behind leaders Borussia Dortmund and two adrift of Lazio.

Club Brugge must secure victory over Simone Inzaghi’s side to they seal a place in the next stage of the European competition.

Okereke is optimistic his side can stun the Serie A club to ensure they realize their target of making history in the tournament.

“Whether we were already focused on Tuesday? We take one match at a time and always prepare ourselves for our next opponent,” Okereke told the club website.

“We want to win every match and are professionals. We have to do our job every time we play.

“We are full of energy right now since we won [against Zenit St. Petersburg]. We have nothing to lose in Rome and can write history. We will go for it on Tuesday."

Okereke teamed up with Club Brugge in the summer of 2019 after signing a four-year contract and has been consistent for his side.

In the current campaign, he has made 12 appearances across all competitions, including two in the Champions League.

The Nigeran forward has scored two goals this season, including his match-winner against Sint-Truiden last Saturday.

Okereke is delighted with how he adapted at the club since his arrival and promised to play anywhere he is needed. 

"I feel good and enjoy the matches. Soccer is no table tennis. It is a sport with eleven players,” he continued.

“Club Brugge are a good team. I also adapt myself as a player and play wherever the coach needs me."

Okereke will be expected to make his third appearance for Club Brugge in the Champions League against Lazio.

AmaZulu president Sandile Zungu could not deny or confirm that Benni McCarthy is headed to KwaZulu-Natal to replace Ayanda Dlamini as Usuthu head coach.

Dlamini stepped down on Monday, leaving AmaZulu placed 11th on the Premier Soccer League (PSL) standings following one win, three draws and two defeats.

McCarthy’s name has been prominently mentioned as a possible replacement for Dlamini ahead of other figures like Owen da Gama, Eric Tinkler, Gordon Igesund and Shaun Bartlett.

Following a slip of the tongue during a radio interview when Zungu said that the players are already excited about the new coach, but could not deny or admit if they have been discussing with McCarthy.

“Oh Benni in the 18-area. We haven’t finalised with the coach that we will be bringing to AmaZulu,” Zungu told Marawa Sport Worldwide on Metro FM and Radio 2000.

“It’s probably a few days, if not a week before we sign our deal. It will not be my sole decision, but we will decide as a committee. We are not bureaucratic at Usuthu but we involve people because sometimes many people’s views are better than one person’s view.

“To be very honest, a few hours after we announced Ayanda’s departure we received about 70 calls just about from everyone. We will be following processes with my support team to review who we need to go with.

“There is a couple of great names in the soccer fraternity who have extreme experience with the South African environment who have raised their hands. So we are spoilt for choice which is very flattering because it then means that there is something good about us.”

Since Zungu took over AmaZulu proprietorship from Patrick Sokhela in October and found Dlamini already on the permanent role as coach, the next tactician will be the first to be appointed by the new owners.

In a statement that insinuates Dlamini was not to their expectations, Zungu emphasised on bringing in a coach who matches their huge investments in new signings for this season.

“We have to do it right first time. It will be our first appointment of a head coach and we have to do it correctly,” said Zungu.

“Going by the quality of signings we have made, then there are expectations that we do the right thing when we sign the coach. I am absolutely sure that whoever we will bring to the team, the players will be happy with him but I am not sure who it is because we have not finalised anything.”

AmaZulu host Durban rivals Golden Arrows in their next league match on December 16.

Klopp has insisted Liverpool "would be lost" without the help of their "exceptional" kids amid an ongoing injury crisis ahead of a Champions League clash against Midtjylland.

Liverpool are already assured of being Group D winners before they travel to Denmark to face the team certain to finish bottom of the pool on Wednesday.

This is the third time the Reds have finished top of their Champions League group in the last four seasons, though victory here would mean they have won five matches in the same group stage for the first time.

Ahead of the game, Klopp revealed he was yet to finalise his starting line-up but was contemplating giving many of his younger players an opportunity to shine in Europe, amid a host of injuries in his first-team squad.

"It's the first time we haven't needed a result in the final game," the German head coach told reporters. "We have to consider the general situation but we are Liverpool and we want to win the game.

"Our squad is already very young, five or six players in the whole campaign so far. 

"Yes, they [the youngsters] will travel and then we make decisions. We have a session later. I have a few hours to make decisions. They will all play a part in my thinking.

"Without them we would be lost. Vitor Matos [Liverpool's elite development coach] and Pep Lijnders [Klopp's assistant] are really close with that group and they were well prepared. So that's why we could use them.

"We had some problems for injuries, that is clear. We've lost top-class players but when one door closes another opens up but you need the right kids to use. 

"And how the boys did it... Rhys [Williams] exceptional, Neco [Williams] played two good games in a row. Curtis [Jones] plays like he has for 10 years.

"Caoimhin [Kelleher] - it is a big chance for him - so thank God for these boys. 

"[Getting 15 points] is another reason [to go for the win]. We will try everything but we cannot forget the situation we are in, which means we play on Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday. 

"In the next 22 days we play six games. So, we try everything to be prepared. I want to see our way of playing, whoever plays. It's clear for the boys how intense we want to be for the opponent."

Liverpool have won their final Champions League group-stage game in each of the last three campaigns, scoring 10 goals and conceding none.

While he may make changes, Klopp has no plans to go easy on a Midtjylland side he believes are better than the standings suggest.

"Generally, I have a lot of respect for them," Klopp said of the Danes, who they defeated 2-0 at Anfield in October.

"We were lucky to beat them. They have had really good performances and that is how it is. You learn with experience, the hard way. They should be really proud so far of what they have done.

"The bad news [for them] is we go there with all we have. We have all the respect for them. Since Sunday I've thought a lot about them. We will be prepared.

"I am sure they will give us a proper fight. We have to be ready for that."

Although Klopp had no new injuries to report, he did reveal that none of the players already out of action were ready to return for Liverpool's latest European outing.

Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Thiago Alcantara, Joe Gomez and James Milner are among a host of regulars currently out of action.

Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer says he is not surprised that his former teammate Gregg Berhalter has taken charge of the U.S. men's national team as he added that he believes that the American coach has all the skills required to manage in the Bundesliga someday.

Schafer played next to Berhalter during his time at 1860 Munich, with the USMNT boss featuring for the club from 2006-09 before returning to the U.S. to play for the LA Galaxy.

Shortly after arriving, the then-33-year-old Berhalter was named the club's captain, having previously played for the likes of Crystal Palace and Energie Cottbus.

And, despite having only played one season alongside Berhalter during his playing career, Schafer says that the two developed a friendship during their time together.

When Schafer came to the U.S. to feature for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2017-18, the two former teammates reunited over a steak and have remained in contact in the years since due to their current jobs.

"We talked about the national team, we talked about his time at Columbus and he told me some impressive things," Schafer said. "No, I was not [surprised that he is the USMNT coach].

"He's a very, very good coach. And to be honest, I think, maybe, in a certain time, he's ready for a Bundesliga job. But first of all he has a massive step to do with the U.S. national team."

Schafer left 1860 Munich in 2007 to join Wolfsburg, where he went on to become a Bundesliga champion during his decade-long run with the club.

But he says Berhalter's leadership abilities were already apparent during his time as a player, as the American was a vital piece of 1860 Munich's backline.

Perhaps Berhalter's biggest asset, Schafer says, was his willingness to tell harsh truths, something that helped him grow as a player during that year together.

"He was already a leader at that time, which is not always very good for a young player because the leader is going to tell you, very honestly, the truth," he says. "Some positive feedback, some negative feedback, and he was very clear.

"He was a central defender on the left side and I was left fullback, so we had some conversations, discussions on the pitch, but it was always very good for me because you learn from experienced guys.

"When I made my step towards Wolfsburg, he was the first one who called me and said congratulations and we always were in touch with each other, even in my time in the U.S."

Berhalter has called in several players from Wolfsburg since taking charge of the U.S., including John Brooks, Uly Llanez and Bryang Kayo.

Brooks is a fixture for the club, with Schafer saying that he is Wolfsburg's "Berlin Wall", while Llanez is currently on loan with Heerenveen with the hopes of earning a first-team place down the line.

Kayo, meanwhile, is one of the brighter stars in the club's academy, which also features Americans Kobe Hernandez-Foster and Michael Edwards.

Having played in the U.S. himself, Schafer says he developed respect for the American player, which he has since brought to his position at Wolfsburg.

"I spent one-and-a-half years in the U.S., made some small internships, and it was a huge benefit for me. It was not only a gift for me, also for my family," he said.

"I learned more about the mentality from the U.S. players, and I was really impressed with the mentality. They were always ready to learn. They asked me a lot of things and they tried to do it in every training session.

"I was really impressed with the passion and the mentality from the American players, and for sure that's why we signed a few more American players in our club and we have had a really good experience with them."

Ulinzi Stars have finally been included in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) fixtures for the 2020-21 season after endorsing the StarTimes broadcast deal.

The soldiers were among the three ‘rebel’ clubs that were yet to endorse the deal since the season kicked off three weeks ago.

The other two Mathare United and Zoo FC have not been included in the latest fixtures released by the federation meaning they are yet to sign the endorsement.

In the new fixtures obtained by Goal, Ulinzi Stars will now start their season with a match against champions Gor Mahia at Kasarani Stadium on Saturday. The match will kick-off at 3 pm and will also be live on StarTimes TV.

The soldiers have also confirmed they are back in the league: “The dust has settled," Ulinzi Stars wrote on their social media pages. "We start off our season this weekend. Saturday, to be precise...we face off with the reigning champions, Gor Mahia at Kasarani starting 3 pm.”

Both Gor Mahia and Ulinzi Stars were among the teams which were reluctant to sign the deal but Gor Mahia later signed through their secretary-general Sam Ochola while Ulinzi Stars endorsed the same, hours after FKF had threatened to kick out the ‘rebel’ clubs from taking part in the league.

In an exclusive interview earlier on Tuesday, a source in FKF told Goal the FKF National Executive Committee was set to kick out the teams and that the decision had the blessing of World governing body Fifa.

“The three ‘rebel’ clubs are on the verge of being kicked out of the league by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of FKF,” the source, who did not want to be named, told Goal on Tuesday.

“They will be removed because the FKF has the obligation that every team affiliated to their league must sign the undertaking by StarTimes so that their matches are screened live on TV.

“It is already matchday two and they have refused to sign the endorsement, they have remained adamant despite perusing through the document, FKF has also written to them more than four times, and they are still saying they cannot sign, we cannot keep changing fixtures every week because of their stand, they will be kicked out.”

The source continued: “Something significant will happen this week because the TV rights belong to FKF and not the clubs, FKF have no choice but to crack the whip, we cannot wait for them any longer.

“We have talked to them for the last four weeks [on why they should sign the document], but they have refused, and now a decision has been made and the decision is to kick them out of the league.”

In the revised fixtures, Nairobi City Stars will take on Bandari at Kasarani on ‘Friday, while on Saturday, Western Stima will welcome Tusker in Kisumu, Gor Mahia host Ulinzi Stars, and Kariobangi Sharks battle Bidco United at Utalii Grounds.

On Sunday, KCB will take on Kakamega Homeboyz, Vihiga United battle Nzoia Sugar, AFC Leopards entertain Sofapaka while Posta Rangers will come up against Wazito FC.

The Tanzania national U20 men's team is currently in Saudi Arabia where they will camp in preparation for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Mauritania early next year.

The Ngorongoro Heroes are set to play two friendly matches while in the Middle East to shape the players and create chemistry between them ahead of the biennial competition.

"The national U20 team Ngorongoro Heroes safely landed in Saudi Arabia where they will play two international friendly games," the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) confirmed in a statement obtained by Goal.

"On Monday, the team had recovery training sessions to prepare the players for the forthcoming games."

The Ngorongoro were losing finalists in the U20 Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) Championship after going down 4-1 to Uganda's Hippos.

The Hippos got the goals from Richard Basangwa, Steven Sserwada, Ivan Bogere and Kenneth Semakule while the immediate former champions scored their only goal via Abdul Suleiman.

Uganda looked a dominant side all through the game and got the opener in the 12th minute from Basangwa’s strike. The Ngorongoro Heroes fought back and equalised at the half-hour mark from Suleiman’s effort before Sserwada scored the second for Uganda in the 44th minute.

The Hippos came from the half-time break more determined to bag the title and deservedly added the third goal in the 61st minute through Bogere. Semakule scored the final goal in the 72nd minute to seal Uganda’s victory against the hosts.

Both Uganda and Tanzania sailed to the final lap without losing a match, setting the stage for what was expected to be an epic final game in Arusha.

In the same competition, Kenya's Rising Stars ended the competition in fourth place after falling to South Sudan.

It was the second loss the Rising Stars registered in the tournament after Uganda had beaten them 3-1 in the first semi-final.

South Sudan went ahead in the second minute courtesy of Phillip Biajo’s goal but Stanley Okumbi’s side fought and equalised in the 10th minute when Nicholas Ochieng found the back of the net.

Nelson Elia scored five minutes prior to the half-time break to give South Sudan the lead yet again and Rising Stars’ concerted efforts in the second half were not able to help them level matters.

Wakiso Giants have confirmed they will miss the services of midfielder Joshua Lubwama when they take on Kyetume FC in a Ugandan Premier League (UPL) match on Tuesday.

The midfielder was hauled off at half-time during the team’s 2020-21 season opener against Police FC on Friday as a precaution after he felt some muscle pain.

Ahead of their first home match of the season against Kyetume at Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium, coach Douglas Bamweyana has revealed the player will not be available for the fixture and also stated he will make minimal changes to the squad that played the opening match.

“We pretty much have the same team from the previous game, we probably welcome Bukenya Lawrence on to the team and he comes in to replace the injured Joshua Lubwama,” Bamweyana said as quoted by the club’s official website.

On playing their first home game since March, Bamweyana said: “Generally, we are happy to play out first game at home against a very familiar opponent with whom we have not so bad record but we want to do better, win the game and get on the right track as soon as possible.”

The two teams will be meeting for the sixth time in the top-flight, with Wakiso managing one win and four draws.

In the corresponding fixture last season, the match ended in a 1-1 draw with Feni Ali scoring for the Slaughters while Gadafi Wahab levelled matters for Wakiso. 

After the Police game, Bamweyana praised the efforts made by his debutants despite securing a 0-0 draw. Edward Satulo, Joshua Lubwama, Rahmat Ssenfuka, and Ibrahim 'Ówen' Kasule are the players Bamweyana handed debuts.

“I was very pleased with all of them,” Bamweyana told the club’s website.

“[Satulo] was imperious at the back, Ssenfuka marshalled the midfield well and Owen when he came on, created quite a number of things and we were just unfortunate not to benefit from them.

“Lubwama did well only that he felt something like a hamstring and we had to withdraw him but he did a lot of good things, especially off the ball.

“The whole team did well and whatever we did or missed, it’s about the team and not individuals.”

Manchester United would have been Premier League champions in 2017-18 if Manchester City played by the rules, says Jose Mourinho’s former assistant Ricardo Formosinho, with the Blues found to have breached Financial Fair Play regulations.

Pep Guardiola claimed his first English top-flight crown during his second season at the Etihad Stadium.

His old adversary Mourinho had to settle for a runner-up spot, with a 19-point gap separating those at the summit from the rest of the chasing pack.

That is as close as United have to come to recapturing domestic dominance since Sir Alex Ferguson headed into retirement on the back of a 13th title triumph in 2013.

Formosinho believes the Red Devils would have emerged victorious under Mourinho’s guidance had they been competing on a level playing field, with City deemed to have bent the rules when it comes to splashing out on new recruits.

“We weren’t champions, it’s true, but we won the Europa League, the League Cup, the Super Cup and, in a fight with a Manchester City, who did not fulfil, as proved later, the Financial Fair Play, we were runners-up at a time when, having sporting truth, we would’ve been champions,” Formosinho told Record.

He added on current Tottenham boss Mourinho, who has enjoyed success wherever he has been in a distinguished coaching career: “People may ask why he’s the best. I answer that because he thinks faster and comes up with solutions faster.

“When talking about the growth of others at the tactical level, he goes far ahead strategically. He’s different for the better. I’d even say much better.”

United finished as runners-up in the Premier League under Mourinho with Romelu Lukaku leading their line in a No.9 berth.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who netted 28 times across all competitions in the previous season, was still around after committing to another short-term deal, but he had to work his way back from a serious knee injury.

The enigmatic Swede eventually departed Old Trafford in March 2018, as he headed to MLS to link up with the LA Galaxy, and Formosinho admits he was a big loss for United on and off the field.

He added: “In the last year we lost a great man and leader of the dressing room: Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"He was an irreplaceable reference. We really missed him.”

Jose Mourinho gave Arsenal a tactical lesson, according to Freddie Ljungberg, who says the nature of the defeat to Tottenham "hurts".

Arsenal suffered their sixth loss of the season in the North London Derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, and slipped to 15th in the Premier League standings as a result.

Son Heung-min's stunning long-range strike set Spurs on their way to victory in the 13th minute, with the South Korean allowed to run through on goal after picking up a pass from Harry Kane on the halfway line before curling the ball into the far corner of the net.

The Gunners dominated possession thereafter, but struggled to create any clear openings as Mourinho's side stuck to their shape vigilantly while looking for openings on the counterattack.

Tottenham eventually punished Arsenal on the break again just before the interval, with Kane finishing off a lightning-fast move after being teed up beautifully by Son in the penalty area.

Mikel Arteta's men were unable to find a way back into the game in the second period, with the home side ultimately left celebrating a famous 2-0 win which saw them return to the top of the league.

Ljungberg felt Mourinho set his team up perfectly to seal the victory, and he has been impressed with how the Portuguese has been able to bring the best out of the Spurs squad since his appointment in November 2019.

“I haven’t recovered yet,” the former Gunners winger and interim head coach told Sky Sports. “It was tough but Mourinho gave us a lesson in how to play a tactical game.

“It was interesting but it still hurts. I thought Spurs, I didn’t think they would be that far ahead or top of the league to be honest.

“But you look at Mourinho, he’s got them inspired, his players are all doing what he wants them to do which I think is the hardest thing when you play the kind of football he does.

“Hats off to him, they’re doing really, really well.”

Arsenal and Tottenham will both be back in Europa League action on Thursday, with respective fixtures against Dundalk and Antwerp on the cards.

The two sides will resume their latest Premier League campaigns three days later, with the Gunners set to play host to Burnley and Spurs scheduled to take in a trip to Crystal Palace.

Sergio Lobera's Mumbai City are on top of the table with nine points from four matches but the manager is not getting carried away. He knows that he has a job at hand when they take on Csaba Laszlo's Chennaiyin on Wednesday evening in the Indian Super League (ISL). 

"Our focus is not on the table. We are focussing on the next game. It will be a mistake to look at the table. We need to improve our style of play. We are already improving but there are a lot of things to do. Chennaiyin is a very good team. Hope to be a difficult game. They have a fantastic coach (Laszlo). We need to work very well. We played two days ago (2-0 win against Odisha FC). We need to be ready from the first minute. It will be a very competitive match," stated the coach. 

The manager stressed the importance of squad rotation as they are set to play their third game in eight days. 

"Squad rotation is very important. If you have a good squad, then you can use different players in matches. We have a full season ahead and happy with the fitness condition of my team. We need to work hard and believe in our style of play. Hopefully, our fans will be happy at the end of the season."

Mumbai City have conceded just one goal in four matches and currently have the best defensive record in the league. Lobera's team is keeping thing tight at the back but are also scoring at will, especially in the last two matches. Lobera asserted that balance is the key and keeping possession helps them to defend better. 

"The key in football is balance. We are an attacking team but we are defending as well. The best way to defend is to have the ball. When you have the ball, you can always score and are unlikely to concede. When you have time with the ball then the transition from defence to attack (for the opposition) becomes difficult. But we are working well in training. 

"But the concern is injuries. A short preseason leads to injuries. We are working in special circumstances and we do not have six-to-seven weeks prior to the season," explained the coach. 

Adam Le Fondre is in fine vein of form and feels he works well with fellow striker Bartholomew Ogbeche. The duo started together in the first match but since then Lobera has opted to rotate his options. However, it remains to be seen if the duo start together.

"We (He and Ogbeche) worked together in the pre-season together. It is not down to me who plays where and the team selection. We have got a strong squad and we can rotate and the results still come. We have got a good partnership on and off the pitch. 

"We are training in the right way. It is nice to get the wins and keep going in the right direction. The clean sheets are important and we keep building on that," commented the player. 

As a tough Indian Super League (ISL) encounter against joint-leaders Mumbai City beckons, Chennaiyin FC must play to their strengths, feels head coach Csaba Laszlo. 

Mumbai City, after losing their first game of the season, have steadily improved and have looked potent up front, exactly how Sergio Lobera likes his teams to play. After scraping to a 1-0 win over FC Goa, Lobera's side have blown away SC East Bengal and Odisha FC. 

However, Laszlo is not dazed by the prospect of playing one of the favourites to reach the play-offs. He felt that Chennaiyin needed to focus on their strengths, rather on the opponents. 

"We have to stay compact, help each other. If we can do this and play to our strengths, we can beat Mumbai. We have a lot of strengths, not just our opponents. We have to use our strengths," Laszlo said. 

"I don't think that always the best-rated team will win the game. You need a bit of luck but also a plan and structure. You can have desire and passion but you need structure. It is very important. For me, it is important to have structure and then have individual creativity. Definitely, we can win against any team." 

Mumbai City have not conceded from open play yet in their four matches so far, with the only goal scored against them being a penalty by NorthEast United's Kwesi Appiah. Chennaiyin, themselves, have not scored a goal in their last two games. 

But the head coach is confident that his attack can find their way through the Mumbai defence. 

"We will try to do that (breach a strong Mumbai defence). We are capable of scoring. Mumbai City is a strong team. But we are not weak. But we have shown we can play football. Last game we lost but this is a new game and I'm confident we can score goals."

Influential midfielder Anirudh Thapa suffered an injury early on in their previous game against Bengaluru FC but Laszlo did have positive news on his status. Though he might not be involved against Mumbai City, he is not expected to be out of action for long. 

"Yes, we are discussing with the medical team (Thapa). He's made good progress but we will decide only tomorrow. But it looks positive."

Mumbai City have a quite a few overseas players who have ISL experience, with the likes of Ahmed Jahouh, Mourtada Fall, Hugo Boumous and Bartholomew Ogbeche. The 56-year-old felt that having a settled team helps squads adapt quickly and perform well. 

"You have players who have come into ISL for the first time in many teams and the performances haven't been fantastic. Players who have played before know how the league is. The adapting period is very important. Personal attitude is also important.

"I think in my team, we have (Enes) Sipovic is new and has given good performances. Fatkhullo (Fatkhuloev) has played well. Isma (Goncalves) already scored. Jakub (Sylvestr) has been unlucky but I'm confident he will adapt quickly."

He further explained that Chennaiyin have already displayed good team spirit and togetherness, qualities that will help them be competitive in the league. 

"Every team is searching for their best XI and have better physical conditioning. No team had the best preparations. Teams who have been stable for a long time are working better.
 
But I am satisfied with the team spirit and togetherness and how we are developing. Not with the result. In these three games, we have showed that we are capable of being competitive."

Arsenal’s snubbing of Mesut Ozil has been questioned by Freddie Ljungberg, with the former Gunners player and coach claiming there are not “many better in the world” than a creative German midfielder.

Mikel Arteta has taken to freezing a World Cup winner out of his plans at Emirates Stadium.

Despite Ozil’s obvious qualities, and the lucrative contract he remains tied to, the decision has been taken to leave him out of Premier League and Europa League squads.

It may be that he is never seen in Arsenal colours again, with free agency due to be hit in the summer of 2021.

Many have suggested that Ozil’s absence from the Gunners fold is down to non-sporting factors, with it difficult to see why he would be overlooked completely if there was a chance that he could be required at some stage.

Ljungberg is among those left puzzled as they watch on from afar, with the Swede of the opinion that Arteta could do with a potential match-winner in the middle of the park.

He told Sky Sports of a long-running saga in north London: “When you have a player like that, and I don’t say he should play every single week, but when you have possession and you need to find that cute pass, I don’t think there are any better players than Mesut doing that.

“Of course you lose a bit defensively, but it’s a decision they’ve made. I don’t know why the decision’s been made and he’s outside the 25-man squad, so they can’t use him.

“But for those things, I don’t think there are many better in the world.”

Ljungberg, who took interim charge of Arsenal in the wake of Unai Emery’s dismissal in November 2019, is also looking for Arteta to settle on a system that allows the Gunners to establish much-needed consistency.

He added in the wake of a 2-0 derby defeat to arch-rivals Tottenham: “For me, in general terms, it’s just a little bit slow.

“If they could just go into general games, not just this game, with a bit of a higher passing tempo, go a bit quicker.

“You saw when they had success last season a few times, it went quite quick into [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang and he opened up his legs, he had space to run in, so maybe passing a bit quicker.

“Then of course it depends how you set up the team. Arsenal, they played with a five, then only with two midfielders and that showed they couldn’t have a creative midfielder in the team really because they were just working really hard in midfield.

“He’s now changed to a back four and they will have a 10, I think [Alexandre] Lacazette played that role [against Spurs], so I think he’s trying to mix it up to have a bit of that creativity in the middle of the park.

“But as you see the stats don’t really lie.”

Managers of the prestigious Nigeria Pitch Awards have disclosed that the seventh edition of the awards will be held on Tuesday, December 22 in Lagos.

The country’s longest-running football awards were billed for March, however, the lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic meant the event was postponed indefinitely.

However, a new date for the 2020 awards has now been confirmed.

“It has been our tradition since 2013 to schedule our award ceremonies to coincide with major Super Eagles match engagements,” said Shina Philips, president of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, in an announcement to the press.

“The seventh award ceremony was to honour deserving award winners for the year, 2019. Unfortunately, the circumstances engineered by attempts to halt the spread of Covid-19 forced a major postponement of the event.

“This year’s award ceremony will mark the first award ceremony which will be held in Lagos. As organisers and as a responsible corporate citizen, we are mindful of the need to observe all government laid down Covid-19 protocols in order to keep our guests safe.

“This is why physical attendance will be restricted as many nominees including members of the Super Eagles will follow the event online.”

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi will battle Manchester United star and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen for the King of the Pitch accolade while Asisat Oshoala is in line for the Queen of the Pitch diadem alongside Paris FC’s Chiamaka Nnadozie and Onome Ebi.

Goal’s Samuel Ahmadu has also been nominated for the Football Journalist of the Year prize where he would be hoping to claim the honour for the second time on the bounce.

Known for its objectivity, the annual award ceremony is staged to reward key players in the country’s football sector and is sanctioned by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

During the 2018 edition staged in Port Harcourt, NFF boss Amaju Pinnick praised the work of the awards’ organisers while guaranteeing the football body’s backing.

“We are very proud of you even if we don’t tell you; we are indeed very proud of you. Organising an award is not an easy job,” said Pinnick.

“We will not only associate with you, we will also do one or two things for you.

“The awards have been running for the past few years and they [organizers] have been very consistent.”

Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah says he would be a good fit for the Premier League, which he believes is the league in the world.

The Germany international was linked with a move to Leicester City during the summer transfer window, with Arsenal also reported to be showing an interest in him earlier in the year.

Tah, 24, believes the English top-flight is the best league of all and is confident he would suit many clubs.

"The Premier League appeals to me, it has always been like that. I always had the feeling that my style of play would suit England well," he said in an interview with  Goal and SPOX .

"The physicality of the league and the need to think quickly are qualities that suit my game. Opinions differ as to which league is the best in the world - for me it's the Premier League."

The former Hamburg defender has played just five times in the Bundesliga this season, though he has been a regular in Peter Bosz's side throughout the Europa League group stages.

Tah made his debut in the Bundesliga for Hamburg at the age of 17 and was hailed as one of his country's most promising players.

He has two-and-a-half years left on his contract with Leverkusen, but he hopes to make a step up to the highest level of the game before too long.

"It may sound strange because I haven't played that often lately, but I'm convinced that I can reach the top level in football," said Tah, who was recently the subject of a documentary in which DAZN followed him for a year.

"I've made a step forward, both on a sporting level and personally, but I don't know where I'll end up in the end.

"I have to be convinced that a transfer will help me. It depends on whether the club has their own philosophy or makes their philosophy dependent on the coach.

"Then the question arises as to which system the coach uses and what he expects from his players, especially in my position.

"Of course, how the team is set up is also very important. How big is the competition in my position, which guys would I play with? So there are some factors to consider."

Three ‘rebel’ clubs are now facing expulsion from the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League after they refused to endorse the broadcast deal involving the federation and StarTimes.

A top source within the federation has exclusively told Goal the three clubs – Mathare United. Ulinzi Stars and Zoo FC – will be kicked out of the league by the federation’s National Executive Committee (NEC) sometime this week, after they refused to endorse the partnership.

The source has further told Goal the FKF has also reached out to the world governing body Fifa over the stalemate which has now stretched for four weeks, and Fifa has no problem with the decision to kick out the clubs because “they don’t own TV rights”.

“The three ‘rebel’ clubs are on the verge of being kicked out of the league by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of FKF,” the source, who did not want to be named, told Goal on Tuesday.

“They will be removed because the FKF has the obligation that every team affiliated to their league must sign the undertaking by StarTimes so that their matches are screened live on TV.

“It is already matchday two and they have refused to sign the endorsement, they have remained adamant despite perusing through the document, FKF has also written to them more than four times, and they are still saying they cannot sign, we cannot keep changing fixtures every week because of their stand, they will be kicked out.”

The source continued: “Something significant will happen this week because the TV rights belong to FKF and not the clubs, FKF have no choice but to crack the whip, we cannot wait for them any longer.

“We have talked to them for the last four weeks [on why they should sign the document], but they have refused, and now a decision has been made and the decision is to kick them out of the league.”

The source further said the FKF is ready to handle the team’s next course of action even if they move to court.

“We are ready for any action they will take, we can meet in court if they move to court, we don’t have time to waste,” the source continued.

Meanwhile, Goal also understands clubs that have already signed the deal have ganged up on the ‘rebel’ clubs, stating they cannot play against them if they don’t sign the deal.

“We cannot play against a team which has not signed the deal because we will not receive anything in return,” a chairman of a club in the league, and who did not want to be named, told Goal.

“It is either the three clubs sign the StarTimes deal so we can play against them or else they are removed from the fixtures, we suffered a lot last season without money and now that the FKF has managed to secure sponsorship, it is better we follow the laws.”

The 15 clubs in the top-flight have already received a Sh2million grant from sponsors BetKing and StarTimes, as per the signed contracts.

Moise Kean has opened the door to a permanent Paris Saint-Germain transfer after a bright start to life in France.

Much was expected of Kean when he completed a €28 million (£25m/$34m) move to Everton from Juventus in the summer of 2019.

The Italian frontman established himself as one of the most exciting young players in Europe during his three-year stint at the Allianz Stadium, and Toffees supporters were initially hopeful that he could be the man to fire the club back towards the upper echelons of the Premier League.

However, the 20-year-old struggled to adapt to the demands of English football, and did not score his first goal for the club until January.

Kean ultimately finished the season with just four goals to his name from 37 appearances, leaving Carlo Ancelotti with a difficult decision to make over his future.

The Everton head coach eventually opted to send the former Juve starlet out on loan to PSG, whose acquisition of the struggling forward in October raised more than a few eyebrows.

Kean was seen as an unnecessary signing due to the fact Thomas Tuchel already boasted a fearsome forward line made up of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Mauro Icardi and Angel Di Maria, but he has managed to silence his doubters at the start of the 2020-21 campaign .

The loanee has seen plenty of minutes with Icardi out injured, and has made the most of his opportunities to shine by scoring seven goals in his first 12 outings for the French champions.

No purchase option was included in the deal between Everton and PSG, but it has already been suggested that Tuchel will look to sign Kean outright when his temporary contract expires.

The Italy international has now hinted he would welcome the chance to extend his stay at Parc des Princes after rediscovering his best form over the past few months.

Asked to address the possibility of staying in Paris beyond the current season, Kean told a press conference ahead of PSG's Champions League clash with Istanbul Basaksehir on Tuesday: "I am very happy with my performance with PSG. It's a very good thing to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world. 

"I am focused on bringing good results. For the future, we'll see, you never know."

Kean also admitted that he is soaking up as much experience as he can from playing alongside Neymar and Mbappe - two players he looks up to as masters of their craft.

"I have the opportunity to learn a lot from them," he said. "They are two of the greatest players in the world. I am very happy to play with them. I learn a lot from these leaders."

The talented young striker added on the prospect of competing with Icardi when he returns to action: "He's injured, but for me, he's one of the biggest strikers in the world. 

"I'm looking to give my best for the team, but his return will be good competition. I will still try to give myself 100 per cent."

Sadio Mane has “lost a little bit of belief in front of goal” after going six Premier League games without finding the target, says John Aldridge, with a lack of end product “playing on his mind”.

A previously prolific presence for the Reds has found the target just once through his last 11 appearances in all competitions.

That solitary effort came in a 5-0 Champions League mauling of Atalanta, with his last league goal coming in a Merseyside derby date with Everton on October 17.

An impressive return of 86 strikes for Liverpool through 186 outings suggests that the Senegalese star will come good again at some point, but Aldridge admits a spark is missing at present.

The former Reds striker told the Liverpool Echo after seeing a talismanic figure draw another blank in a 4-0 victory over Wolves: “I felt a little bit for Sadio Mane who deserved a goal for another tremendous performance and it was a pity the last one was taken off him and given as an own goal.

“He's playing really well but hasn't scored in the league since the derby at Goodison and it may just be playing on his mind a touch.

“He seems to have lost a little bit of belief in front of goal and I know what that's like but he's just got to keep getting into the positions and the goals will flow again soon, I'm sure of it.”

While Mane missed out on filling his boots against Wolves, Liverpool were delighted to welcome 2,000 supporters back into Anfield.

Aldridge hopes attendance figures will continue to rise over the coming months, with coronavirus-enforced restrictions starting to ease.

He added: “It was brilliant and quite emotional to see supporters back in Anfield for the first time since the pandemic struck and there's no doubt at all it helped the players.

“As Jurgen Klopp said, Liverpool fans always raise the bar and whether people like it or not, that's the truth. Our people are special and showed it again on Sunday night.

“As a player, you're always going to respond to that and it really was wonderful to see and hear.

“There's a big carrot for fans now because, if people stick to what they've been told to do, bit-by-bit hopefully we can get more of them back in the ground sooner rather than later.

“That's the incentive for people to act sensibly in the build-up to Christmas and over the holidays and if they do, hopefully we will see the numbers of fans allowed into the ground rise which is what we all want.

“We really don't want to see it get knocked back again because you could see against Wolves what it meant to the team and the manager to have 2,000 in so, if everyone plays their part, hopefully it can be 15,000 soon and more after that.

“But the only way that can happen is if people do what they have to do to beat this virus so let's everyone bear that in mind.”