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Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has downplayed the severity of Mahmoud Hassan ‘Trezeguet’ head injury during their 2-1 defeat to West Ham United.

During the Premier League encounter played at the London Stadium on November 30, the Egypt international went down under the challenge of Declan Rice while trying to connect to Douglas Luiz’s flick in the 71st minute.

That left Trezeguet with a deep cut with the medical team rushing to the field to attend to his bleeding head. Subsequently, he was replaced by Netherlands international Anwar El Ghazi.

Although the referee awarded a penalty to the Villans, Ollie Watkins missed from the penalty mark – failing to beat Lukasz Fabianski who dived the wrong way.

Meanwhile, Smith has revealed that the former Anderlecht and Kasimpasa star is not down with a serious injury and has commenced training with the rest of the squad.

“Trez won the penalty and unfortunately caught his head on Declan Rice’s boot and ended up with a head injury which has been glued,” the 49-year-old Englishman told Aston Villa TV.

“He’s been self-administering a bandage around his head while he trains but he’s still been doing a couple of headers so he’s fine.”

Aston Villa’s fixture against Newcastle United over the weekend was postponed because of a local Covid-19 outbreak as positive cases reached double figures.

The Magpies will wait for more test results before holding a meeting with the Premier League and Public Health England to determine when they can return to training.

In nine games played so far in the 2020-21 English top-flight campaign, Trezeguet contributed a great deal, helping his side secure five wins to sit 12th after accruing 15 points with two games in hand.

If the statement by his manager is anything to go by, he is expected to be fit for their next league outing against Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 12 at the Molineux Stadium.

10th placed Wolves would be hoping to return to winning ways in the wake of their recent 4-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Joachim Low will do what he feels is best for Germany's hopes of Euro 2020 success when it comes to making a decision on the futures of Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels.

All three players were banished into the international wilderness by Low in March 2019 as he looked to build towards the future after Germany flopped at the 2018 World Cup, exiting in the group stage for the first time since 1938.

Attacking midfielder Muller (100 caps), plus defenders Boateng (76 caps) and Hummels (70 caps), boast 246 international caps between them and were all in the team that won the World Cup in 2014, but are now each 30 years of age.

Low reiterated last month that he would stand by his choice not to recall any of the trio, saying "nothing has changed" his opinion despite Muller enjoying a resurgence for Bayern Munich since being cast aside.

However, Low's decision has been under intense scrutiny following last month's 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Spain - Germany's heaviest defeat since losing to Austria in a friendly in 1931 by the same scoreline.

The 60-year-old was last week publicly backed by the German Football Association (DFB) to stay on until at least next year's rescheduled Euro 2020 finals and, speaking at a news conference on Monday where he also hit out at press leaks, he backtracked on his previous comments.

"After 2018 we saw that it was a very unsuccessful year, we said we were making a change," he said. "It is important to give young players time and the opportunity to develop during a transition. 

"Like the 2010 tournament, something where the team developed. And because of the experience they have gained there, we are world champions in 2014. That was our requirement this time too. 

"A trainer is always the first to be held responsible for success. I've always said when I see before the nomination [of the squad] that this team needs this or that - then we will do that. At the moment I don't see any reason, even if we lost a game. 

"But next year we'll have to make a decision and I'll be the first to do that. It's not just sporting reasons that decide what does the best team look like, what is the energy of the team.

"But when I have the feeling, then I will do everything I can to achieve success. I have no idea what the situation will be like in March. I hope all players get through the winter well and stay healthy.

"We had a lot of injury problems. I hope that doesn't happen again. Let's think again about everything and turn every stone over. We then decide what is best for success."

Asked if he has already reached out to Bayern duo Muller and Boateng, or Borussia Dortmund centre-back Hummels, Low replied: "No, I have not."

Low has been criticised in Germany for failing to watch players up close in Bundesliga matches, but he has put his prolonged absence from grounds down to coronavirus-related protocols.

"We'd love to walk to every stadium if we could do that," he said. "It was the clear instruction to us, also from the doctors in the national team, not to go to the stadiums. On the one hand, we have international matches and we have to be in the bubble. 

"We don't want to endanger anyone and we don't want to be endangered either. It would be bad if we coaches were absent. It was clear that we were in the bubble with the national team. 

"That was also true until the end of the season, because from above - politicians also said to avoid contacts. It is a dangerous situation that, unfortunately, is not ebbing right now. We said we had a certain role model function. 

"Believe me, I know the Bundesliga like the back of my hand. We have a great team, trainers and scouts. We watch all games. We know the strengths and weaknesses of all of our players. 

"We look at the games, enter the data in our database and evaluate them. Then we also target the training in a targeted manner. But we will be role models until the end of the year and will not go to the stadiums."

The National Women’s Soccer League has announced that Kansas City will be awarded an expansion team for the 2021 season, with the Utah Royals shutting down operations and transfering all players to the new Kansas City franchise.

The move come just three years after the reverse move took place, with FC Kansas City shutting down operations in 2017 and transforming into the Utah franchise.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our league, and I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome Kansas City back to the NWSL,” NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird said in a statement.

“Kansas City is a soccer-rich community, and this fantastic ownership group is ready and able to commit the resources necessary for this club to be a massive success. I’d also like to thank the fans in Utah for their incredible support of the NWSL.”

The move comes after Royals owner Dell Loy Hansen found himself in trouble for comments made over players on MLS side Real Salt Lake, which he also owns, refusing to play a match this summer to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man, in Wisconsin.

Hansen has been forced to sell both teams. While MLS is looking to take over RSL while an ownership group is found, the NWSL has facilitated a transfer of ownership to a group led by wife and husband team Angie and Chris Long. 

“Chris and I could not be more ecstatic to welcome a team back to Kansas City, especially as the league has been transformed by innovative leadership and explosive growth. We are committed to getting this right – for our team and our town,” said Angie Long. 

“We can’t wait for the players and the country to see what we have long known: there’s something special about living in Kansas City and something even more special about playing here.”

The new Kansas City franchise, which has yet to announce a name, will become the second team to join NWSL in 2021, along with expansion side Racing Louisville. 

Last month, Louisville began to build their roster in an expansion draft during which they selected U.S. women's national team stars Tobin Heath and Christen Press.

Following the integration of Kansas City and Louisville in 2021, Angel City FC in Los Angeles will join the league in 2022.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis has signed a new contract that will keep him at Manchester City until 2024.

The Academy defender, who turns 19 next month, has made six senior appearances to date for his boyhood club including both Carabao Cup matches this season.

Harwood-Bellis is seen as one of the most promising players from a pool of talent emerging at the club and was part of the U-18s that won the FA Youth Cup in November.

“It is a great moment to spend another four years at this club," he said. "It is huge for me and my family being City fans.

"It is an amazing feeling and something I didn’t hesitate to get done. [My family] were ecstatic when I told them the news that I would be extending my contract and will be staying here for longer.

"It was a no-brainer if I asked them what they wanted to do, they would just say sign it now! It is amazing.”

Harwood-Bellis has been regular at first-team training and he and fellow Academy centre-back Eric Garcia won praise from Pep Guardiola for his performance in a Carabao Cup victory over Oxford last year.

Garcia, however, has turned a down a contract offer and is expected to join Barcelona in January or at the end of the season.

That would move Stockport-born Harwood-Bellis up the pecking order although he still has to compete with Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Nathan Ake for a starting spot.

“There is no specific goals. I just know where I want to go and I keep that inside," he added.

"When it comes, then you can push onto the next one, so my goals are to stay in the first team and stay in Pep’s mind and stay there.

"If I keep working hard, I know my chance will come and when I get that chance I will take it because that is what I want to do.

"If you set your mind to it, it is going to happen. I have just got to keep working hard and stay humble.”

Fellow Academy players Liam Delap, Tommy Doyle, Cole Palmer and Felix Nmecha have all played for the first team this season and Harwood-Bellis says they are all working hard to break into the first team.

“To have not just team-mates but my mates I went to school with and being in the changing room with them has made a massive difference," he said.

"You can go in and see the familiar faces of your mates that you are still in contact with.

"You can see how close we all are and when we come to play in the EDS we are altogether, all want to win and the attitude doesn’t change.

"By training with your mates and even in the free time you get playing pool, or eating together, you have got that bit in common and still have a good relationship with them.

“The academy has been such a help with the way they treat you and they make you the person you are so you are ready.

"The football they play, it doesn’t change from the academy right up to the first-team.

"When I went up to the first-team, I knew I was technically good enough, it is just now I have got to get up to the speed both physically and mentally of how quick they play. The academy has helped so much with how I have progressed and how I have got to the first-team.”

Andrea Okene is happy after scoring her first goal in the 2020-21 Spanish Reto Iberdrola for Levante despite losing 4-1 to Real Union de Tenerife at Pablos April stadium on Sunday.

Okene struck late to earn a consolation goal for her side as they were condemned by goals from Aldrith Quinteros, Rachel Gil Viera, Aroa Leon Gomez and Carla Gomez Torre to a fifth defeat.

The hosts had a perfect start to the encounter thanks to Quinteros' strike after just 16 minutes before Viera doubled the lead three minutes later and Gomez made it three in the 27th minute.

With three goals down, Estela Carbonell Nunez was sent off two minutes from half-time to compound the woes of Levante.

After the break, the hosts profited from the numerical advantage to extend their lead against Levante through Torre in the 70th minute.

Levante, however, pulled one back when Okene singlehandedly netted her first goal of the season deep inside injury time.

Since the start of the season, Okene, who played from the start to the finish has now contributed a goal in six matches for Levante.

Following her maiden goal of the season, the Nigerian-born Spanish youth international took to social media to share her joy.

Despite being born in Valencia to a Spanish mother, Okoye is eligible to feature for Nigeria at U20 and senior level, through her father who is a Nigerian.

The 19-year-old, who has been at Levante since 2016, helped the club to the second division in 2018-19 season and represented Spain at U16 level.

Sunday's defeat left Levante at the foot of the Reto Iberdrola Southern Group B table with three points from six matches.

They will aim to end a three-match winless run in their next outing against seventh-placed Femarguin next Sunday.

Sofapaka head coach John Baraza has claimed their work has just begun after picking up a 3-1 win over Western Stima on Sunday in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League encounter in Wundanyi.

Goals from Ellie Asieche and Kepha Aswani were all Sofapaka needed. Batoto ba Mungu lost the opener after they went down to Bandari in Mombasa with a 1-0 scoreline.

“Yesterday [Sunday] was a must-win match for us, we had no option but to give a response and yes we did,” the former Harambee Stars winger told the club’s website.

“I am proud of the playing unit, they played to instructions, we created and utilised our chances. Work has just begun and we want to get positive results moving forward.”

Asieche, on his part, stated there was a great need to earn a win at home after the initial loss against the Dockers at the coast.

“We were coming into the match after a loss whilst facing Stima who got a point in the first game,” the midfielder, who was confirmed as the captain when George Maelo left, said.

“Equally we were playing for the first time at home, thus pressure was on us to give a good response.

“I am glad we as a team did play our part because a win was needed to kick-start our season. My teammates gave a good statement on Sunday and we want to carry on from that day’s win.”

The next game for the 2009 Kenyan Premier League champions will be a tie against AFC Leopards on December 12.

It will be the toughest side for Baraza and his charges for AFC Leopards remain unbeaten after two wins against Tusker and Bidco United.

Ingwe also look solid and dangerous in how they launch their attacks. Despite a coaching change, AFC Leopards went on to pick up a 2-0 win over the FKF Premier League debutants at Kasarani and that marked the first game this season for interim manager Anthony Kimani.

Tomas Trucha resigned claiming life threats and that forced Ingwe to fall back on their former defender until further notice.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been going head-to-head in football for over a decade and their magnificence at the very top of the game means both are firmly in the GOAT category.

Games between the rivals have been reduced after Ronaldo's departure from Real Madrid in 2018, but they can still come up against one another in the Champions League.

Indeed, chance saw Barcelona and Juventus drawn together in the 2020-21 edition of the tournament so many fans are excited by the prospect of another showdown.

But who is the Champions League GOAT - Messi or Ronaldo? Goal takes a look at some of the stats.

Who has won more Champions Leagues?

Ronaldo has won the Champions League five times, which is one more such trophy in the cabinet than Messi, who has won it on four occasions.

While all of Messi's Champions League triumphs have come with Barcelona - the club he has spent his entire professional career with - Ronaldo has done it with two different clubs.

The Portugal star got his hands on the trophy for the first time in 2007-08 as a Manchester United player, before becoming the key player for Real Madrid on their way to four Champions League titles.

Ronaldo's last Champions League triumph came in 2018, during the end of Real Madrid's era of dominance, while Messi has been waiting longer to lift the trophy, having last won it in 2015.

Interestingly, despite being two years younger than Ronaldo, Messi was the first of the pair to get a Champions League winner's medal.

The Argentine was part of the successful Barca squad of 2005-06, playing in six Champions League games that season, scoring once. However, he did not feature at all in the final against Arsenal.

Who has won more Champions League top scorer awards?

Between them, Ronaldo and Messi topped the Champions League goalscoring charts for 12 consecutive seasons before Robert Lewandowski broke the run with 15 goals in 2019-20.

Ronaldo has finished as the top scorer in the Champions League on seven different occasions. Messi, meanwhile, has been the competition's top scorer in six different seasons.

Messi's best Champions League years in terms of top scorer awards came between 2008 and 2012 - during the reign of Pep Guardiola - as he was the best goal-getter for four seasons in a row.

Ronaldo dominanted for six seasons in a row from 2012-13 to 2017-18, though he was forced to share the limelight with Neymar and Messi in 2014-15.

Ronaldo has managed the best personal season between the two of them, bagging a record 17 goals in 2013-14. Messi's personal best in a single Champions League season is 14 goals (achieved in 2011-12).

The 2019-20 Champions League season was particularly poor for both players, with Ronaldo scoring four goals in eight games, while Messi scored just three in eight games.

Who has scored more Champions League goals?

When it comes to the question of the overall top goalscorer in the Champions League, Ronaldo is well ahead of Messi.

The Juventus star has scored a remarkable 132 goals in 173 games in the competition, meaning he boasts a goals-per-game ratio of 0.76. In addition to 132 goals in 173 Champions League games, Ronaldo scored one goal in four Champions League qualification games.

Ronaldo's knack for scoring goals in the continental tournament, as well as his 'big game' contributions on the way to the five titles, earned him the moniker 'Mr Champions League'.

Messi has scored 118 goals in 146 Champions League appearances and, while that is less than Ronaldo, the Barcelona star has a marginally better goals-per-game ratio (0.8)

He is 14 goals behind Ronaldo, but it is notable that he has played 27 fewer games than his perennial rival.

Assuming Ronaldo retires soon, Messi could well overtake him, should the Argentine continue to score at the rate he has been.

How many times have they played against each other in the Champions League?

While Ronaldo has more Champions League titles and holds the record for most Champions League goals, he has not had a good time when he has played directly against Messi.

Messi and Ronaldo have faced off in the Champions League on five occasions, with Messi coming out on top twice. Ronaldo has been on the winning side once (with Manchester United).

Ronaldo has never scored in the Champions League matches they have played against each other, but Messi has scored three, including a double in the Clasico Champions League semi-final in 2011.

Franck Kessie has revealed AC Milan’s target is to qualify for the Uefa Champions League this season after they defeated Sampdoria 2-1 in a Serie A match on Sunday.

The Ivory Coast midfielder opened the scoring for the Rossoneri on the stroke of half-time with his effort from the penalty spot.

Sunday’s goal was Kessie’s fourth league goal of the season after 10 games, equalling the goal record he managed in the entire 2019-20 Serie A season in 35 matches.

Samu Castillejo later sealed the victory for the visitors in the 77th minute as Albin Ekdal's effort failed to inspire Sampdoria's comeback.

The victory stretched AC Milan's dominance at the summit of the Serie A table to 26 points from 10 matches with a five-point lead above second-placed Inter Milan.

However, Kessie disclosed Milan's ambition is to return to the elite European tournament in which they last featured in the 2013-14 season.

“We have an amazing group, we knew the game would be tough but we fought until the end," the 23-year-old told Sky Italia via Milan Live.

“It’s not easy to play without two experienced players like them [Simon Kjaer and Zlatan Ibrahimovic], but we did what the coach told us to take the three points home.

“Our target is to qualify for the Champions League. We can’t lose our heads and continue like this, the dream is to get a Champions League placement.”

AC Milan were knockout of the Champions League in 2014 by Atletico Madrid following a 5-1 aggregate loss in the Round of 16.

They returned to the Uefa Europa League this season after they were banned last season for breaching Uefa Financial Fair Play Regulations.

Stefano Pioli's side have already advanced to the last-32 stage of the Europa League but they will aim to finish their Group H campaign on a high on when they travel to Czech Republic to battle Sparta Prague on Thursday.

Ronald Koeman will not be dragged into the Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo debate, but the Barcelona boss is looking forward to seeing two “incredible” talents lock horns again in the Champions League.

The Blaugrana are readying themselves for a heavyweight continental clash with Juventus on Tuesday.

Ronaldo will be returning to Camp Nou for that contest, with the former Real Madrid star having sat out a meeting with Barca in Turin after contracting Covid-19.

Messi found the target in that contest, as he converted a late penalty in a 2-0 win for the visitors, and the Argentine will be hoping for more of the same in midweek.

Koeman is expecting fireworks in Catalunya, as two all-time greats prepare to rekindle their long-running rivalry, but the Dutchman says there is little to choose between the pair when it comes to greatness.

“It’s fantastic that these two players have been so long at this top level in the world,” said the Barcelona boss at a pre-match press conference.

“They are the best players, in my opinion, in the last 10-15 years. Being successful all this time is incredible. It’s a great compliment to those players.

“They are different, but they have incredible stats about scoring goals, hat-tricks, about winning prizes.

“It’s not nice to say who is better because both are incredible, I admire both players because they gave us so many nice evenings with great goals, with great titles. Let’s hope we can enjoy them tomorrow night.”

Barca will need to have a plan for containing Ronaldo, with the 35-year-old Portuguese netting 13 goals through 15 appearances for club and country this season, but Koeman says he will not be paying special attention to one player in a star-studded Juve side.

He added: “For us it is not an extra motivation because of an individual player.

“We always thought of this as an important match with two big teams meeting. The two teams are going to fight for first position in the group.

“It’s always important the best players are there. I think Cristiano Ronaldo is still one of the best, he always scores and always fights.

“Because of his daily work he is still in the elite in our sport. It’s a great compliment to him. Not just any player can do that.

“We have to defend well against him and when we have the ball that danger goes away.”

Barca head into their meeting with Juve sat top of Group G, with both sides already through to the last 16, but their domestic form has been worrying of late – with a 2-1 defeat suffered at the hands of Cadiz last time out – and they will be looking for a spark in European competition.

Manchester United “can’t play without Bruno Fernandes”, says Gary Neville, with the Red Devils legend admitting it is “bizarre” to see results being picked up by a side that leans so heavily on “four or five match-winners”.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team have been looking for moments of “individual brilliance” on a regular basis this season.

More of those were delivered in a 3-1 victory over West Ham, with Fernandes stepping off the bench at half-time as United battled their way back to earn a fifth successive comeback win on the road in the Premier League.

The Portuguese playmaker, along with Marcus Rashford, proved to be key for the Red Devils at the London Stadium, while Paul Pogba started a stirring second-half fightback with a stunning long-range strike.

Neville says he has been left baffled by United’s performances this season, and their fifth-placed standing in the table, with Solskjaer’s team becoming overly-reliant on certain players.

The former Red Devils defender told his podcast for Sky Sports: “What Manchester United have is four or five match-winners, game-changers, that play in moments.

"My concern is for the longer term because you need performances that knit together that look like an identity is building. I can't quite see what they are yet.

“They can't play without Bruno. I don't know what it is, he's a very good player but you'd think that [Donny] van de Beek and Pogba, [Scott] McTominay in midfield with [Mason] Greenwood, [Edinson] Cavani and [Anthony] Martial would be able to do so much better than that.

“The minute Bruno comes on - and Marcus Rashford as well who probably had a bigger impact - but Bruno's impact on the team is huge. You can't compare Bruno to Harry Kane but you know Kane has an influence on his team that's bigger than just his performances, which are excellent.

“Bruno is exactly the same with this Manchester United team and he's only been there a short amount of time. As soon as he came on, they seemed more arrogant, more connected, more cohesive. I don't know what it is when he doesn't play.

“I can't get excited. Manchester United, if you'd said to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the fans at the start of the season, they would be a couple of points off Liverpool, playing in a group with Paris Saint-Germain and Leipzig and need to go to Leipzig for a draw, in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup hasn't started yet, you'd say it's a pretty good start to the season, it's where I'd expect them to be. How they have got there is the bizarre bit.

“You watch them in matches and you think 'what's that?'. They go to Turkey and they're awful, then beat Leipzig 5-0 at home (the Leipzig win came first). It's up and down, not even from game to game, it's half to half.

“For 20 minutes [against West Ham] they were brilliant but for large portions, it was below par. They have to be consistent but I'm not sure they can because there are players that play individually, they don't knit together.

“With United, I'm still thinking 'what kind of team are they?'. All I can describe them as at the moment is a team that wins games in moments of individual brilliance.”

United will be back in Champions League action against RB Leipzig on Tuesday, as they take aim at the last 16 of that competition, before then playing host to arch-rivals Manchester City in an eagerly-anticipated derby date on Saturday.

Philippe Coutinho has admitted that his performances for Barcelona have fallen short of expectations, but has called for patience as the club continues to go through a "renewal process".

Signed from Liverpool in 2018 in a deal potentially worth €160 million (£142m), the Brazil international has not had the desired impact at Camp Nou.

Coutinho, who has scored 15 goals and provided nine assists in 60 La Liga appearances, spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich and won the treble under Hansi Flick.

He returned to Barca for 2020-21 and has been directly involved in four goals in eight league outings, but the Catalans' inconsistent form has not helped him to thrive.

Coutinho started Saturday's shock 2-1 loss at Cadiz but managed only one shot and one key pass before being substituted for Ousmane Dembele at half-time.

With Dembele having suffered another hamstring injury, Coutinho is likely to start on Tuesday against Juventus as Barca look to secure top spot in their Champions League group.

While he accepts Barca are negotiating their way through a transition period and that his own form has not been as hoped, Coutinho says he has become mentally and physically more robust.

"I know my form hasn't been what everyone expected," the 28-year-old said ahead of Juve's arrival at Camp Nou. "Barca have the attention of everyone and what I can say is that I've worked a lot more mentally to be well, and nowadays, I consider myself stronger in that sense.

"We're in a renewal process. We've changed coach, the players... all this forms part of the renewal process. You have to be patient and do everything to make it that things work as soon as possible.

"Whenever you lose an important game, the atmosphere is one of frustration. But I see everyone wanting to change this moment we're going through. Mentally, I'm stronger than before and the team looks eager to change this.

"I started to work in a different way. It was necessary to have more strength. And mentally, it's the same. There are things that are making me stronger and, physically and mentally, I'm doing a better job."

Barca face Juventus knowing they will finish top of the group if they avoid losing by three goals or more, or by a two-goal margin other than 2-0.

N’Golo Kante has paid tribute to Chelsea’s “beautiful squad”, with the World Cup winner saying summer recruits already feel like established parts of the fold.

Frank Lampard, after two windows of little activity on the recruitment front, invested heavily in fresh faces as Roman Abramovich dusted off the cheque book in west London.

Chelsea bolstered their ranks all over the field, with every department seeing reinforcements added.

There is now more depth and competition for places at Stamford Bridge, which is helping to raise collective standards.

Kante, who finds himself back in a favoured holding midfield role this term, is among those to have welcomed the flurry of transfer activity.

He believes that Chelsea now boast the options required to compete for more major honours, with new additions such as Edouard Mendy, Thiago Silva, Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner slotting seamlessly into the fold.

“For sure we have a beautiful squad,” the France international told the Blues’ official website.

“Everyone is involved. As players we know what is required to be part of the starting 11 and on the bench, because many players have shown that even with less time they play very well. It’s for the manager to decide but as soon as we are on the pitch, we try to give the best for the club.

“We had some new players coming in this season and so far they are doing very well. They feel good and we feel good with them. Now they are part of the team we don’t see them as new players because everyone is in a good mood and has the desire to do well for the club.”

Kante added on Chelsea’s quest for silverware: “This season there are a lot of teams at the top of the table with not many points difference.

“It means this season is open for everyone so it’s good for us to keep up in this part of the table. We are in a good position but this season is still young.”

Chelsea sit third in the table as things stand, two points back on Liverpool and Tottenham.

They have gone unbeaten through 13 games in all competitions, and had 13 different players get their name on the score sheet.

Kante, who has never been prolific, is yet to add his name to that list, but the humble 29-year-old is happy for others to steal the spotlight.

He said: “This season I didn’t have many chances to score, but as long as the team keeps scoring and keeps winning and taking points, it’s okay for me not to score.

“It’s a good sign for us that the goals can come from many different players. But the most important is the result and we are happy to do well. If the goals come from one player or another it’s not the most important.”

Chelsea edged past Leeds 3-1 in their last outing and have continental and domestic outings against Krasnodar and Everton to take in this week.

Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial have been ruled out of Manchester United’s Champions League clash with RB Leipzig with niggles.

Both players came off in the second half of United’s comeback win against West Ham in the league at the weekend and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed they would not be making the trip to Germany for the crucial final group stage game.

“David (de Gea) is back and travelling, Luke (Shaw) is travelling, Edinson (Cavani) and Anthony (Martial) only minor niggles but they won’t be making the trip,” Solskjaer said.

“Of course, get to the last game of the group stage and you’re in the next round if you win or get a draw so it’s an important game, of course it is.”

United travel to Germany for Tuesday night’s game needing just one point to send them through into the knockout rounds. They beat Julian Nagelsmann’s side 5-0 in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford in October but, despite that convincing victory, Solskjaer knows it will be a tough test.

“It’s a game we will remember fondly because we did many things right,” Solskjaer explained.

“We need to do lots of things right again, we should also correct a few wrongs, we know Leipzig well enough to know they’re unpredictable in their shape and system but, we know the players and the style they play in so we know it’s going to be a tough game and we need to be at our best to get a good result.”

But, despite being in a position where just a point is needed, Solskjaer joked that it could be a dramatic evening.

His side have come behind to get a result in their first five Premier League away games of the season and said it is ‘typical’ of the club to make things difficult for themselves.

“The character of the group is getting better and better and we’re looking forward to the game, it’s something that we want, games like this,” the United manager said.

“It’s tradition for Manchester United, we never make it easy for ourselves, we look at the games, especially the Istanbul away game when we could have got three points, that’s just the way we do things.

"We make it hard for ourselves. It’s been like that ever since I played, and that’s a long time ago.”

The Al Rayyan Stadium is set to welcome approximately 20,000 fans under strict health and safety protocols for the Amir Cup final on December 18. 

The fans will be required to adhere to strict social distancing rules, including wearing a face mask, showing their Ehteraz app (risk detector app for the use of citizens and residents living in Qatar) on arrival and sitting only in a designated seat.

The Al Rayyan venue is set to become the fourth FIFA World Cup™ stadium to open in Qatar after Khalifa International, Al Janoub and Education City. The inauguration will take place on 18 December (on Qatar National Day) exactly two years before the country hosts the FIFA World Cup final. The match will kick-off at 7 PM.

Any fan who attends the match must return either a positive COVID-19 antibodies test or a negative COVID-19 test to be allowed access into the stadium.

Priority access to tickets was granted to fans of both Al Sadd and Al Arabi – the two clubs who will contest the final. In addition, frontline healthcare workers who helped Qatar battle the COVID-19 pandemic have also been given priority access to purchase tickets.

Speaking during a press conference on Monday, Khalid Al Kuwari, Director of Marketing and Communications, Qatar Football Association, said, “We are looking forward to a great atmosphere at Al Rayyan Venue on 18 December. Our priority is to ensure everyone’s safety, in line with the measures implemented by the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management. We have adopted a new ticketing process, which includes testing everyone for COVID-19 before they are allowed to enter the stadium. A good number of people have already claimed their tickets and we are looking forward to a great occasion on Qatar National Day.”

Earlier this year, it was announced the Al Rayyan stadium would host seven matches during Qatar 2022 up to and including the Round-of-16 stage.

Gareth Bale will not be enjoying bench duty at Totteham, says Jamie Redknapp, but he says the Welshman does not do the “hard yards” required to make Jose Mourinho's starting XI.

Spurs threw open their doors to a familiar face over the summer when it became apparent that an eventful stint at Real Madrid was ending.

Bale had been frozen out in Spain, and regular rounds of transfer talk eventually delivered a season-long loan back to north London.

The 31-year-old was always going to need time in which to rediscover his best form, while hopes of him emulating efforts from his previous stint at Tottenham look optimistic.

Bale has been filling a support role so far, with Mourinho keeping him among the substitutes for the 2-0 derby win over Arsenal, and Redknapp says a man who was once the most expensive player on the planet may have to rein his ego in and make peace with the fact that he is not starting material.

The former Spurs midfielder told Sky Sports: “I'm almost undermining an incredible player, one of the best players I've ever seen live, Gareth Bale. The things he's done for Real Madrid and for Tottenham. There was a spell when he was unplayable.

"Right now, Jose thinks he's not the player he needs in this team.

“This team has to work to a man, and Gareth might just upset that balance and not quite do those hard yards if you like.

“That feels a bit unfair on him because he's probably watching now thinking 'how am I going to get in this team? If I am going to get in, the only way I can do it, is by working hard and showing in training that when I come on, I make an impact.'

“Make no mistake, Gareth Bale will have a role and he will score a couple of wonderful goals here before the end of the season, but I can't imagine he's too happy about sitting on the bench.

“I can't imagine a player of his stature can be enjoying not being involved and not even coming on. We've all got egos as players.”

Bale has played just 116 minutes of Premier League football so far in four appearances, with the vast majority of his game time coming in the Europa League.

Miralem Pjanic has expressed his frustration over a lack of regular minutes at Barcelona.

Pjanic has had to make do with a bit-part role in Ronald Koeman's set-up since joining Barca from Juventus in the summer transfer window.

The Bosnian moved to Camp Nou in an exchange deal involving Arthur, having spent the previous four years of his career at the Allianz Stadium.

He established himself as one of the most consistent midfielders in Serie A during his time in Italy, but has not yet been given the chance to build on that reputation in Catalunya.

Pjanic has only started one La Liga game for Barca to date, despite the fact Koeman's men are struggling for form on the domestic front with only four wins recorded through their opening 10 fixtures this season.

The 30-year-old feels he's proved he can bring a lot to the team during his five Champions League appearances, and cannot understand why Koeman continues to overlook him in the Spanish top flight. 

"Should I play more? Yes, and that's what I want. Honestly, I don't even understand the reason for this situation. It's clear that I want to play a lot more," Pjanic told Gazzetta Dello Sport .

"I know I can give a lot, and when the coach called on me, I always did well, I played good games.

"I don't know what more than that I could do. I'm training, I'm ready."

Pressed on whether he will continue to be patient for his opportunity to shine at Camp Nou, the ex-Juve star responded: "I'm not satisfied and I can't be, in my career I've never accepted the idea of ​​not playing and I don't even do it now.

"We'll see, I'm ready, I train well and wait, I can't do it [indefinitely]. It's a very delicate situation that doesn't suit me."

Pjanic will come up against his former club when Barca welcome Juve to Camp Nou for their final Champions League group-stage fixture on Tuesday, and he is looking forward to seeing some familiar faces.

The experienced playmaker looks back on his time in Turin fondly, but insists he doesn't regret his decision to take up a "new challenge" in Spain.

"I am satisfied with the club and with my team-mates. My nine years in Italy were very beautiful, and honestly I miss them," Pjanic added.

"I had a great time at Roma and Juve, I enjoyed important seasons. Now I have this new challenge in the biggest club in the world and I have to get back into the game.

"It's something new I wanted to try."

Ronald Koeman has once again criticised the scheduling of Barcelona's La Liga fixtures after losing Ousmane Dembele to injury.

Dembele suffered an "elongation" in the hamstring of his right leg in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Cadiz and is facing another spell on the sidelines.

The France international joins a growing list of injured players at Barca, with Gerard Pique, Ansu Fati, Sergi Roberto and Samuel Umtiti also ruled out.

Koeman is unsure how long the injury-plagued Dembele will be out but suggested this latest setback would have been avoided if his side were given a different kick-off slot.

"It's a shame to lose another player to injury," he said at a press  conference ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Juventus."He noticed something in the second half when he came on. He thought it was nothing but it's a step back considering his history. It's one more reason why I complain about the match schedules.

"I don't know who sets the match schedules, but if you play in Europe on Tuesday, thinking about the Spanish teams, you don't get back from the prior until four in the morning.

"We have played five matches away from home at nine in the night. If you play Wednesday that gives you a day extra to recover, but not when you play on Tuesday."

Barca are through to the last 16 of the Champions League and will seal top spot in Group G if they avoid a three-goal loss, or any two-goal margin of defeat other than 2-0, against Juve.

A victory for the Catalan giants would make it just the eighth instance of a side winning all six group matches - Barca having previously achieved the feat once before in 2002-03 - but they have struggled domestically, a return of 14 points from 10 LaLiga games their lowest tally since 1987-88, and Koeman takes full responsibility for the poor return.

"It is always down to the coach," he said. "He makes the decisions and with his staff decides the team.

"We have to analyse the defeats. It is difficult losing to Cadiz compared to Atletico [Madrid]. You have to look at how they marked us, how we attacked.

"If I am annoyed after a game I will let the players know. I told them yesterday before training that we cannot accept the way we played in certain games.

"What we discuss stays in the dressing room, but there are things we need to improve on. There is not much time to train but we can still seek maximum performance.

"In general, we are a team that creates five or six clear chances every game. We have to find a balance to take advantage of this, while making fewer mistakes."

Tuesday's visit of Juventus could be the sixth occasion that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have met in the Champions League, and their first such meeting since May 2011.

Billy Gilmour is ready to battle for his spot at Chelsea after returning from a knee injury that he sustained in July, but Frank Lampard hasn't ruled out a January loan move for the youngster.

The 19-year-old signed for the Blues three and a half years ago in a £600,000 ($800,000) move from Rangers and he has since worked his way up into Lampard's first team. However, a knee injury sustained against Crystal Palace last season halted his progress after a headline-grabbing breakthrough in senior football.

The Blues have since spent £220 million ($275m) on new signings and climbed into league title contention since his recent return. Still, the Scotland Under-21 international is not hiding away from increased competition.

“I am a Chelsea player right now. I don’t know what the future holds, but I am proud to be here and playing games and will have to wait to see what happens,” Gilmour told reporters ahead of his side's Champions League clash with Krasnodar.

"The gaffer has been really good with me. He has been speaking to me while I have been injured. I need to work hard here and get my opportunity and when I do, hopefully, I take it and play well. It has been a long time out with my first major injury.

"I was disappointed to get it, but now I am back and feeling strong and I can’t wait to be going again. There has been a lot of new signings, good players, good additions to the squad and you can see the competition for places in the team is a good thing and that’s why we are playing so well.

"You can see they are good players that have come in, in the attacking sense we have been doing really well with the goals we’ve been scoring, but I need to focus on coming back into the team and playing again.

"Chelsea are a massive team and everyone knows the standards. That is why we are doing so well in the league."

Chelsea have qualified for the last-16 of the Champions League and confirmed their top spot with a game to spare after beating Sevilla 4-0 last time out.

In the final matchday of the group, Krasnodar will visit Stamford Bridge with little to play for, and it will allow Lampard to give Gilmour his first start since his knee issue.

Having already given him his Champions League debut from the bench,  Lampard spoke in detail about his plans for Gilmour in the next month and the winter transfer window.

"I think Billy will start tomorrow," Lampard said at Cobham Training Centre. "With Billy, I don’t want to have that thought or conversation until the window opens and it is not open now. I value him a lot in this squad.

"You say we have options in midfield, that quickly changes as we have seen with the winger situation. Hakim gets injured at the weekend [versus Leeds] and Callum gets injured in training and the numbers are not so great. I will make that decision going forward."

Gilmour's impressive start to his senior professional career has only added to the value that the Scottish Football Association (SFA) place on their young talent.

Having been with the Under-21s since he was just 15 years old, there are now loud calls for him to make his senior debut under manager Steve Clarke.

Clarke's side qualified for Euro 2020, which will now take place in the summer of 2021, and Gilmour is keen to be in the discussion to make the squad ahead of group matches against England, Croatia and Czech Republic.

“I am a Chelsea player and I need to work hard here then hopefully the opportunity does come," he continued. "It would be amazing, but I need to play here, work hard and play well."

He went onto describe his feeling of watching Scotland qualify through penalties in a European Championship Play-Off match with Serbia: "We were with the Scotland U21s team, in the hotel and all the players and staff were in the dining room watching on the big TV.

"When they scored to equalise, it was tense, but after that and through we were buzzing. We were all jumping around and celebrating. It was a good feeling.”