Looking for Soccer News?

Per Mertesacker concedes that Mesut Ozil’s “focus has changed”, with football no longer the priority it needs to be for a man who remains firmly frozen out at Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta initially found a place for the World Cup winner that he once played alongside when taking the reins at Emirates Stadium.

Ozil, however, tumbled down the pecking order as competitive football headed into lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The former Germany international did not see a single minute of action on the back of Project Restart and has remained out of favour in 2020-21.

The 32-year-old has been left out of Arsenal’s Europa League squad and could find himself omitted from the club’s Premier League plans once a 25-man group is settled on for domestic competition.

Plenty have aired their surprise at seeing the talented playmaker suffer such a humbling fall from grace, but form and attitude questions are nothing new for Ozil.

Mertesacker – a former team-mate of the enigmatic midfielder with club and country – has now sought to explain why a man that Arsenal once broke their transfer record to sign is edging his way towards free agency in 2021 with no obvious role to play.  

Former Gunners captain Mertesacker, who is now the club's academy manager, told the Klick and Rush podcast: "A lot has changed away from the pitch.

"He got married, has a family... perhaps his focus has changed.

"Nevertheless, he is still happy and happy to play football.

"He's the only player I've played with for three teams - Bremen, Arsenal and also Germany. So, I'm very sorry that he's currently in a situation where he's not really used."

Arteta also took to leaving Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos out of his Europa League plans, with summer moves being mooted for those on the fringes of his fold, but the Spaniard says the door is not being completely closed on anyone in north London.

He has said: "I spoke to them [Sokratis and Ozil] face to face before I released the squad and I explained the reason why the numbers that we had.

"It was really difficult to tell them that, but these are the restrictions and the rules.

"We have to respect that decision and try to train in the best possible way to help the team in that moment and see what happens in December."

Thomas Tuchel labelled Paul Pogba one of the best midfielders in the world ahead of Paris Saint-Germain's clash against Manchester United.

PSG host United in Paris on Tuesday to begin their Champions League campaign in Group H.

Ahead of the clash, Tuchel lauded Pogba, who has been linked with a move to the Ligue 1 champions previously.

"He is one of the best midfielders of the world. That's the key to stopping him," the PSG coach told a news conference.

"Bruno Fernandes who makes a lot of deep passes. One of the best teams in Europe in offensive transition. It's necessary to stop counter-attacks.

"We want to have the ball, we want to play with a lot of possession, we want to impose our style. We have to play with a good structure to play good pressing."

Pogba's former United team-mate, Ander Herrera, also praised the France international.

Herrera, who left the Premier League club for PSG last year, believes Pogba will be a Ballon d'Or contender if United start winning multiple trophies.

"I think he has it all. I've already said that there is no midfielder like him. He can do everything, one-on-one, box-to-box, he can do everything. He has all the qualities," he said.

"He now plays a little deeper than when I was there because Fernandes plays like a number 10. I think he has all the qualities to become one of the best players in the world.

"It's true that when you see the list of players who are candidates for the Ballon d'Or, you have to play in the team that wins everything. I think that if Man United wins titles, he will be in the list for the Ballon d'Or and the end-of-season trophies.

"But, I am a PSG player now, I wish the best for Paul and Man United because they are in my heart but [on Tuesday] I will fight in a different team, we will fight for our team, our place."

After losing their first two Ligue 1 matches 1-0 to Lens and Marseille, PSG has bounced back with five consecutive wins to sit second on the standings - two points behind leaders Lille.

The 2020-21 season of the UEFA Champions League is back. 

Europe's finest are all set to battle it out amongst each other to win the continent's most-coveted crown, with the matchday 1 set for kick-off. Defending champions Bayern Munich will be looking to continue their recent dominance. The Bavarians are up against Atletico Madrid on opening day. 

However, that is not the only tasty match-up awaiting us. Manchester United, making a comeback into the competition after a year, face a daunting journey to Paris to take on Thomas Tuchel's PSG. With memories from the dramatic Round of 16 second leg in Paris where United knocked out PSG still fresh, expect an intense battle. 

Meanwhile, Juventus are up against Dynamo Kyiv while Barcelona take on Ferencvaros. Chelsea have a tough matchday one task against Europa League champions Sevilla while Real Madrid are at home to Shakhtar Donetsk. 

Contents

Where to watch or stream the Champions League

The Sony Pictures Network (Sony and TEN channels) has the rights to show Champions League matches in India.

Matches will also be available to stream via SonyLIV app and website , allowing supporters to watch multiple games simultaneously and catch the replay of matches.
 

Champions League fixtures

Matchday 1

*UEFA Champions League matches may be streamed online on SonyLIV.

Return to top  

Related Links

Sergio Lobera is undoubtedly one of the most successful managers in the Indian Super League (ISL) history. 

Three play-offs, one final and one Indian Super League (ISL) shield (well almost!), FC Goa flourished under the manager. With Lobera at the helm, one can be at assured of an attacking brand of football that promises goals. 

In his first season, he was criticized for the defensive lapses but in the subsequent campaigns, Goa did comparatively better at the back which made the Gaurs more formidable. 

The 43-year-old will be in the Mumbai City FC dugout in the upcoming season and which adds more significance to the rivalry between Mumbai and Goa. Moreover, players like Hugo Boumous, Mandar Rao Dessai, Ahmed Jahouh and Mourtada Fall have all followed Lobera from Goa to Mumbai. 

Let us look at the stats of Lobera during his managerial spell in India. 

Liverpool should act on their interest in RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano in January to cover for Virgil van Dijk while he is out injured, Jamie Carragher says.

The Reds' centre-back will be out of action for months after he suffered serious knee ligament damage when he was tackled by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford just 11 minutes into the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Ex-Liverpool star Carragher believes the Premier League champions need to dip into the transfer market to compensate for the Netherlands captain's absence and feels Upamecano, who has also been linked to Manchester United, would be a smart January signing. 

"Liverpool's next big signing had to be a centre-back anyway and I am talking next summer," the former England defender said on Sky Sports.

"Dejan Lovren went and they didn't replace him so they only have three centre-backs and one of those, Joel Matip, is always injured. There are question marks now about Joe Gomez.

"So there is no doubt that Liverpool had to go big in the transfer market next summer. That was the next one. That has now got to be brought forward to January 1st, whoever the target was in the summer. Not the end of January. Not [wasting time that month] negotiating with a club."

He added: "There is a young man everyone was talking about at Leipzig, Dayot Upamecano, there is talk of him. Whether he has the profile of Van Dijk, I think he is only 6'1" or 6'2", so he is maybe not that aerial, but if he is the one they wanted then bring it forward.

"Pay extra money and do it on January 1st. That means getting through 11 league games without Virgil van Dijk.

"One thing to say about Virgil van Dijk is that in the last 23 games they have only kept five clean sheets, and Van Dijk played all of them, so it is not like everything was perfect. We saw the seven against Aston Villa and we saw the Leeds game.

"But I think they have to go big with a signing."

Samuel Eto'o has hit out at France Football after the publication named him as a right-winger in its Ballon d'Or Dream Team.

Eto'o carved out a legendary career for the likes of Inter, Barcelona, Chelsea and Mallorca while also establishing himself as Cameroon's all-time leading scorer and third-most capped player with 56 goals in 118 caps.

He won three La Liga and two Champions League titles while with Barcelona before then adding a Serie A winner's medal and yet another Champions League crown after joining Inter.

In total, Eto'o scored 371 goals across 764 career club appearances, being named to the UEFA Team of the Year in 2005 and 2006.

However, most of Eto'o's career achievements came while playing as a number nine, with the Cameroon star establishing himself as one of the best strikers in the sport's history

As a result, the 39-year-old former striker says that he felt disrespected by France Football's decision to classify him as a right-winger as part of its Ballon d'Or Dream team countdown.

"Thank you, but I played 1-2 seasons on the right (yet I have 25 years of career as a center forward)," Eto'o tweeted in response.

"The lack of respect. @francefootball WHATEVER!"

Eto'o was recognised among some of the best wingers of all time, with Lionel Messi the only current player named to the list.

Arjen Robben, Luis Figo and David Beckham are among the more modern names on the list, with icons like George Best, Kevin Keegan, Stanley Matthews, Jairzinho and Garrincha also included.

Eto'o announced his retirement in September 2019, having most recently played for Qatar SC.

Since leaving Everton in 2015, Eto'o went on to play for Sampdoria, Antalyaspor, Konyaspor and, ultimately, Qatar SC, scoring 10 goals in 23 appearances in his lone season in the Qatar Stars League.

Internationally, Eto'o won two African Cup of Nations crowns while also leading Cameroon to the Olympic Gold Medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had a greater impact on Italian football than Cristiano Ronaldo, according to former AC Milan and Juventus head coach Alberto Zaccheroni. 

The 39-year-old has made a considerable impact since rejoining Milan in January, scoring 11 goals in 20 appearances in the second half of the 2019-20 campaign.

He has been in equally impressive form this season despite missing almost a month after contracting Covid-19, taking his tally to four goals in just two games with a double against Inter at the weekend. 

One of the best strikers of his generation, Ibrahimovic spent two years with Milan earlier in his distinguished career, a stint that included securing the Serie A title in 2011. 

Ronaldo, meanwhile, has been just as prolific since he joined Juve from Real Madrid in 2018, scoring 68 goals in 91 appearances across all competitions. 

Zaccheroni, though, is in no doubt which player has had more influence on Serie A. 

"I have coached great champions in my career, from [Oliver] Bierhoff to [George] Weah up to Adriano, but the only regret I have is that I never trained Ibrahimovic," he told Il Giornale.

"He is eternal and I still don't understand why he never won the Ballon d'Or.

"In Italy, he has shifted the balance more than Ronaldo. It is no coincidence that many young players have grown exponentially since his arrival.

"He doesn't just score. He transmits confidence to all his team-mates, carrying the team on his shoulders in difficult moments."

Ibrahimovic himself feels that his current form is unstoppable for opposition defenders and that his all-round game is being perfected with age.

"I feel more complete, I have more experience. When you are young you are still growing,” the veteran forward told Sky Italia after sinking Inter with a brace.

“You spend a moment where you are learning things, playing games, you have moments and situations that repeat themselves. 

“Now I feel complete. If I had the condition of 20-30 years, nobody would stop me. But anyway, they don't stop me even now.”

Milan currently sit on top of Serie A with a 100 per cent record though their first four games - two points ahead of surprise package Sassuolo.

Mohammed Aziz was the hero as RS Berkane defeated Hassania Agadir 2-1 to book their place in the Caf Confederation Cup final.

Having silenced Egyptian Premier League side Al Masry in the quarter-final, the Orange Boys defeated their cross-city rivals to stand a chance of competing for the title.

35-year-old defender Aziz, was influential, scoring a penalty in each half which rendered Imad Kimaoui’s first-half effort to a mere consolation.

Going into the clash staged at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, on-form Hassania had only lost once in 12 games played in this term’s Confederation Cup, however, they were unable to navigate their way past Tarik Sektioui’s men.

20 minutes into the keenly contested clash, Berkane were awarded a penalty after Iajour Mouhssine was brought down in the goal area by Soufiane Bouftini. Initially, referee Jean-Jacques Ngambo had waved off an appeal, but VAR replays reversed the Congolese arbiter’s decision as Bouftini was cautioned for his reckless challenge.

Captain Aziz stepped forward to slot the subsequent kick past goalkeeper Abderrahman El Houasli whose hand touched the ball.

Ghazelle de Sousse levelled matters nine minutes later through Kimaoui who fired into the net after Issoufou Dayo’s failed clearance from a freekick fell to his path.

In the 39th minute, Mouhssine headed the ball into an empty net, albeit, the goal was chalked off after a prolonged VAR review. Burkina Faso’s Dayo was adjudged to have been in an offside position when his initial header off Omar Namsaoui’s freekick was saved by El Houasli.

A minute after the hour mark, Sektioui’s team got the desired victory after Aziz completed his double from the penalty mark after Amine Sadiki was punished for handling the ball while trying to cut out a cross from the right.

HUSA tried to launch a comeback, nevertheless, they were very poor in the final third with their opponents putting up a solid defensive showing.

With this result, RS Berkane will square up against Pyramids or Guinea’s Horoya in the final billed for Rabat's Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on October 25. The Moroccans lost to Zamalek on penalties in 2019 final.

Jesse Marsch says that he had a discussion with Frank Lampard last season that left him with the impression that the Chelsea boss didn't rate Christian Pulisic because he was American.

Pulisic signed for Chelsea in January 2019, just a few months before Lampard was named as the club's replacement for manager Maurizio Sarri.

The winger got off to a slow start at Stamford Bridge but, by the end of the season, he was a vital piece of Lampard's attacking unit.

Pulisic was arguably Chelsea's biggest contributor after the restart before suffering an injury in the Blues' FA Cup final loss to Arsenal.

Marsch says that Lampard told him last season that he wasn't sure if Pulisic was tactically ready for the Premier League, with the RB Salzburg boss then pointing to Pulisic's development with Borussia Dortmund in response.

The American manager says that Lampard's initial perception is just another example of managers underrating American players' tactical ability, with most U.S. men's national team players being described as more hard-working than tactically,smart.

"The perception in Europe, mostly, is that the American player is willing to run, willing to fight, has good mentality, but technically they're not very gifted and tactically they're not very aware and their experiences aren't very big," Marsch told Extratime Radio. "But we're seeing that change. We're seeing more and more of these players develop themselves.

"Even Frank Lampard, when I spoke to him in preseason a year ago now, I was talking to him about having Christian Pulisic and he was kind of like, 'Yeah, he's got a lot to learn so we'll see how he does'. I said to him, 'Listen, he was at Dortmund, and they had a high level of tactical thinking, of playing, and he was very successful'.

"He was considered one of the best young players in Germany and that's in a group of players with Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Joshua Kimmich, these kinds of players. He was in a group with those players, and it's not just because he was talented but it was because he understood the tactics and understood how to fit in the game and he was developing a real astute way of how to play.

"I could see right away that Frank Lampard's idea of Christian Pulisic was shaped a lot by the fact that he was American and not that his football education came a lot from what has happened in Germany. Since then, I think Lampard has learned that Pulisic is a lot better than he gave him credit for.

"Christian had to fight for that, which is the American quality, but he's a damn good player. Same with Gio Reyna, same with Tyler Adams, same with Weston McKennie.

"All of these players are now starting to show, born and raised in America, that they're not only big talents, but they're also more refined players that many think. Brenden Aaronson will show that when he's here and I think more examples will change the perception of what the American player is."

Marsch's RB Salzburg are set to kickstart their Champions League campaign on Wednesday as they take on Lokomotiv Moscow.

Pulisic, Lampard and Chelsea, meanwhile, are set to host Sevilla on Tuesday with the USMNT star serving as one of several Americans on display as the Champions League kicks off. 

Manchester United begin their Champions League group-stage campaign with an away clash against Paris Saint-Germain, who were defeated finalists in last year’s competition.

Eighteen months ago, these two sides appeared to be going in different directions, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer—in one of his early games in charge of United—masterminded a remarkable comeback against the French giants.

While United finished the 2019-20 strongly during Project Restart, there have been some unconvincing performances so far this term, and they’ll be desperate to assert themselves against the French heavyweights.

PSG, for their part, are on a five-game winning streak, and will hope to begin their Group H campaign with all three points.

With RB Leipzig and Istanbul Basaksehir still to come in the group, both of these two will realise the importance of a strong start.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester United: The form guide

PSG began the season with a disastrous 1-0 home defeat by long-term rivals Olympique de Marseille, in a match overshadowed by a mass brawl and three red cards for Thomas Tuchel’s side.

It’s fair to say that they’ve bounced back strongly since then, however, with five consecutive top flight victories.

Most worryingly for United, perhaps, they’ve scored 16 goals during that period, conceding just once—in a 6-1 rout of Angers.

United have already come unstuck this term, notably falling 3-1 to Crystal Palace in their opener, and later being on the wrong side of a 6-1 scoreline of their own—this time against Tottenham Hotspur.

After falling behind against Newcastle United on Saturday, however, there were concerns that they were set for another poor result, but quality shone through and they ran out 4-1 winners following a late rally.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester United: The team news

Edinson Cavani and Harry Maguire have not been named in the United squad, with the former missing out on the chance to play against his former club on his Red Devils debut.

Mason Greenwood is also understood to be absent, due to injury, while youngster Facundo Pellistri has been included in the travelling party.

Should the £9 million new boy feature, it would be his first appearance in a United shirt.

PSG will be without Leandro Paredes and Marco Verratti for the bout, with both absent due to injury.

However, Julian Draxler and Marquinhos are set to return for PSG, which represents a major boost for Tuchel’s side.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester United: Key facts & stats

The Round of 16 meeting between the two clubs in the 2018-19 season was the only previous showing between these two, and on that occasion, United had the last laugh.

Following a 2-0 victory for Paris in the first leg, Marcus Rashford’s 90th-minute penalty secured a 3-1 triumph for United at the Parc des Princes, sending Solskjaer’s side through to the quarter-finals.

Worryingly for United, PSG have a superb record at home in the Champions League, losing just seven of their 53 UCL games in the French capital.

United must improve their record against French sides in the UCL group stage, having failed to win any but one of their six group stage games played in the Hexagon. That fixture was a meeting with Bordeaux in March 2000.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester United: Prediction

United will be buoyed after the comeback victory over Newcastle United, as the Red Devils ultimately responded strongly after early jitters.

It was a reminder of the quality United possess going forward, and if Solskjaer’s side can turn on this quality again, then PSG may well find themselves in trouble.

However, the French giants will be confident of going the distance in the UCL this term after their experience of reaching the final last time around, and the prospect of taking a major scalp will motivate the reigning Ligue 1 champions.

Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Manchester United

Liverpool have been dealt a hammer blow in their bid for success this season with the news that Virgil van Dijk will be sidelined for a number of months thanks to a serious knee ligament injury.

The Netherlands international, who was crucial to the Reds' Premier League title-winning campaign last season, came off worse in a collision with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in October's Merseyside derby.

He was forced off just 11 minutes into the game at Goodison Park after Pickford's tackle resulted in the defender's leg becoming hyper-extended, thus damaging the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee.

The incident understandably prompted an outpouring of anger among Liverpool fans, with club hero Graeme Souness branding the tackle "an assault", while there was also an outpouring of sympathy.

Reds captain Jordan Henderson declared that, "the comeback is always stronger than the setback" and Andy Robertson assured that the players would be with him "every step of the way".

However, there appears to be an acceptance of the harsh reality that the absence of Van Dijk is expected to be keenly felt in the coming months, with Jamie Carragher suggesting that it blows the title race open.

So, how long will Van Dijk be out of action for and which games will he miss? Goal brings you everything you need to know.

How long will Virgil van Dijk be out for?

The duration of Van Dijk's absence due to the ACL injury is unclear and will depend on several factors, but it is understood that he will be out for a number of months.

We know that the lay-off time associated with an ACL injury can be anywhere between six and 12 months, but a better picture will only emerge after the player undergoes surgery.

Initial sounds from Liverpool have remained positive and Van Dijk has taken a sober, yet philosophical, view on his predicament - something that medical staff believe will aid his recovery.

"I'm now fully focused on my recovery and will do everything I can to be back as quickly as possible," the defender wrote in a statement which was shared on social media.

"Despite the obvious disappointment, I'm a firm believer that within difficulty lies opportunity and with God's help I'm going to make sure I return better, fitter and stronger than ever before."

He added: "In football, as in life, I believe everything happens for a reason and it's important to try and keep level-headed whether going through the highs or the lows.

"With the support of my wife, kids, family and everyone at Liverpool, I'm ready for the challenge ahead."

However, given the delicate nature of the knee, sometimes a positive attitude makes little difference.

The Dutchman's Reds team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, for example, endured an unfortunate scenario when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury in 2018, missing just under 10 months - and 39 games.

Which games will Virgil van Dijk miss due to injury?

Van Dijk has not yet been definitively ruled out for the rest of the season, but even in a best-case scenario, he will certainly miss the bulk of the 2020-21 campaign.

Liverpool fans will be hopeful of a return in April or May, with important league games against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United in that period.

However, that is unlikely and even if Van Dijk recovers early - within a six months timeframe, say - it is unusual for a player to be rushed back from such a devastating injury.

He will definitely miss the entirety of Liverpool's Champions League group stage campaign and, if they progress, it is more than likely that he will miss most of the knockout stage.

In the remainder of 2020 alone, the centre-back will miss massive games against Manchester City and Tottenham, while he will also miss the January 2021 derby clash with Manchester United.

He is set to miss Man City's visit Anfield and the return Merseyside derby, both of which will be played in February.

Indeed, Netherlands fans will not be happy either, as there is a distinct possibility that Van Dijk could also be ruled out of the European Championship, should the injury be worse than feared.

Simba SC have suffered a huge blow after it emerged five key players will miss the Mainland Premier League match against Tanzania Prisons on Thursday.

The five players who will miss the clash at Mandela Stadium in Sumbawanga are midfielder Clatous Chama, defender Pascal Wawa, striker John Bocco, Ibrahim Ame, and Gerson Fraga.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi coach Sven Vandenbroeck has revealed the aforementioned players will not play in the fixture because of various reasons.

“We have a group of players who are not in the country and we also have players who are having family issues and will thus miss the league match,” Vandenbroeck is quoted by MwanaSpoti.

“Among the players include Chama and Wawa, who are back in their respective countries to renew travelling documents, then we have Bocco, who is getting back to fitness after injury while Ame and Fraga are out with injuries.”

In an earlier interview, Vandenbroeck revealed how Saturday’s friendly against Mlandege FC gave his charges the kind of test to expect when they take on Tanzania Prisons.

Simba defeated Mlandege 3-1 in a friendly staged at Azam Complex in Chamazi with new signing Chris Mugalu notching a double, and Ibrahim Ame notching one.

The outcome of the match has left coach Vandenbroeck praising his rivals for giving them "the kind of game he wanted" ahead of their league match against Tanzania Prisons at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Sumbawanga.

“It was the kind of the friendly I was looking forward to, they played really well, they pressed us hard, controlled the ball and even tried to deny us space to play, it was a good build-up for my players,” Vandenbroeck is quoted by the club’s official website.

“When you play such a strong friendly, it gives you direction, it tells you where to move to, and now we know our weaknesses and we will make sure that we are ready for Thursday's match.”

Wekundu wa Msimbazi were using the game to continue sharpening up and testing players who have not had a chance to show what they are capable of doing in the Tanzania Mainland League.

On how prepared they are to face Tanzania Prisons, Vandenbroeck said: “I can say we are ready, we had a good preparation with the Mlandege friendly, I know it will not be an easy game, we will have to fight to get maximum points.

“Tanzania Prisons are a very good side, they have always given us hard times when we play against them at Mandela Stadium, but this time around, we want to do our job and get maximum points, we will do it.”

Simba have started their title defence on a high note winning four matches from the five played with one match ending in a 1-1 draw against Mtibwa Sugar.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has taken a "depleted" squad to Paris for Manchester United’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain as captain Harry Maguire and Mason Greenwood have been ruled out due t injury.

The last time United won at Parc des Princes 19 months ago, they had to do so in the midst of an injury crisis with 10 players missing. The situation isn’t as bad this time around but Solskjaer will be without his captain for the opening group stage game as Maguire was left back in Manchester.

Greenwood, Eric Bailly, Jesse Lingard and new signing Edinson Cavani also didn’t make the flight to Paris on Monday afternoon, with the latter only joining his teammates for training for the first time on Sunday due to a two week Covid-19 isolation requirement.

“We've lost a couple so that's Bailly didn't travel or Lingard didn't travel, we're a little bit depleted but have more than enough players,” Solskjaer said. "We hope the players won't be away for too long.

"Edinson needs a few more days training before the weekend. Hopefully Harry, Eric and Mason as well but not sure about that. We hope Harry will be fit for the weekend, we're not sure but we hope so."

There has been mystery surrounding the absence of Greenwood, who also missed the clash against Newcastle at the weekend. Solskjaer said after the 4-1 win that it was a fitness issue and shot down reports the teenager has been omitted due to a disciplinary problem.

“I can't declare medical stuff, can I? We hope it's just a niggle and we don't want to take any chances with him and hopefully at the weekend it'll be fine again," Solskjaer said.

In the absence of Maguire, Solskjaer confirmed that Fernandes, who only joined the club in January, would be captaining the side.

“I was not expecting this, for me it's an honour,” Fernandes said. “I will be captain for my teammates and be captain of Manchester United is an important achievement for me but I think everyone is the captain, everyone needs to help and be a leader in their own way, leadership is different in every player.

"Tomorrow will not be about me but the team but leading is every day in the training ground, every game and everyone is doing their job to lead the team in the way they think is best.”

Paulo Dybala was "angry" at being left on the bench for Juventus' draw at Crotone but is again available for the Bianconeri's Champions League opener against Dynamo Kiev, says head coach Andrea Pirlo.

Argentina forward Dybala has yet to feature in Serie A this season, although he was named in the XI for the side to face Napoli in a match that never took place when their opponents were unable to fulfil the fixture due to travel issues caused by coronavirus restrictions.

Dybala has been contending with a muscular injury and Pirlo had planned to give him some game time in the 1-1 draw against Crotone only for a sending off for Federico Chiesa on his debut to complicate his plans.

Reports said Dybala had an angry confrontation with Juve's chief football officer Fabio Paratici in the tunnel and Pirlo explained his side of events.

"I talked to him [Dybala] yesterday as I do to everyone else. He was a bit angry for not having played in Crotone but we have to remember that he hasn't played for three months," Pirlo told reporters. 

"He spent 10 days in his room in Argentina taking medicines because he couldn't train. 

"I took him to Crotone to let him do a few minutes but unfortunately there were 10 of us left and I couldn't add him. He is available and we will see what to do."

On Tuesday, rookie coach Pirlo will pit his wits against 75-year-old old Mircea Lucescu, who is set to become the oldest to lead a team in the Champions League.

Lucescu gave a 16-year-old Pirlo his debut at Brescia and later signed him for Inter.

Pirlo spoke fondly of his former boss and revealed he is still in contact with him.

"Lucescu was my first coach, he put me in the first team at the age of 15 and I made my debut at 16," he added. 

"I have a wonderful memory of him as a coach and as a person, sometimes we still talk. I will forever be thankful to him. It will be a good challenge between us."

Asked how he was feeling ahead of his Champions League debut as a coach, Pirlo replied: "I am calm and serene. I'm looking forward to my first match as a coach in the Champions League. 

"In this competition it is essential to start with a win, and we know what we have to do."

Gor Mahia head coach Oliveira ‘Robertinho’ Goncalves has revealed his love for attacking football ahead of his maiden Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League season.

The former Rayon Sports tactician said big teams like Raja Casablanca of Morocco and Tunisian giants Esperance de Tunis never sit back but keep attacking and that is why they are successful.

“I like an attacking kind of football. Look at Raja Casablanca and Esperance they never play behind. Why? What is the secret in football?” the Brazilian quipped in a team talk during a training session.

“It is simple, to score goals and get the victory. Possession football is important but again it is good when done in the attacking half.

“That is my style of football and I give support to everyone, to create, dribble, and express their talent. The talent is there that is why you signed for Gor Mahia, a big club.”

The coach, who has over 25 years of experience as a tactician, stated what he expects from his charges as they aim to defend the league title for a record fifth time.

“During the week I want to follow a specific training programme and if you need any help, I am here for you,” he insisted.

“Do not forget that on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, I work for you but on Saturday or Sunday, please work for the club. 

“As a coach, I respect every single player because that is what I expect too from them. If I respect you, respect me.

“Why am I respecting you even before I came to see you, it is because I played football a long time ago. I understand your life, everything, what you need and what you want.”

Gor Mahia will open the new season against one of their big rivals, Tusker FC, on November 20.

The second match for Robertinho's side will be against the 2010 league champions Ulinzi Stars on November 28.

For their third match, Gor Mahia will entertain the 2008 Kenyan Premier League winners Mathare United on December 4.

The Green Army will then host another former league champions Sofapaka in what will be their second home match on December 9.

On December 13, the record league champions will travel to face debutants Bidco United in a game that will be expected to start at 16:15.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted that Edinson Cavani "didn't feel ready" to play in Manchester United's Champions League opener against his former club Paris Saint-Germain.

United are set to take on last season's runners-up at the Parc de Princes on Tuesday, with the Red Devils riding high following a 4-1 win over Newcastle this past weekend.

Former PSG star Cavani made the move to Old Trafford this summer, having left the club following seven seasons in Ligue 1.

However, Cavani did not take part in PSG's return to play after Ligue 1 was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic as he missed out on the club's run to the Champions League finale.

As a result, the Uruguayan star has not played since March as he's now looking to push towards match fitness after recently completing his move to Manchester United.

Cavani has only had a few days of training with his new team-mates due to a mandatory quarantine period upon arriving in the country and he has not yet appeared for his new team.

With that in mind, Solskjaer says that Cavani will postpone his debut a bit as he will continue to train instead of making his first United appearance against his longtime club.

"We wanted him to be there too, but he went without playing for a long time," Solskjaer told RMC Sport.

"We thought it was better for him to continue training. To better prepare. Edi knows what he wants and what he needs. He didn't feel ready enough."

Cavani will be one of several United stars to miss out, as Harry Maguire, Mason Greenwood, Jesse Lingard and Eric Bailly will not feature.

Maguire's absence leaves Bruno Fernandes as captain, and the Portuguese midfielder says he understands why Cavani is not quite ready to jump into the team.

"It’s normal that he isn’t here, with only two days of training he needs to feel better," he said. "He's settled down well. We did only one training session together. He likes to train hard.

"He has qualities to be a leader for us, the way he trains. He's going to be important to us."
 

Wilfried Zaha has reflected on growing up, revealing that becoming a professional footballer was all he craved for.

Born in Abidjan but raised in south London, the 27-year-old said his mindset was to achieve success in the beautiful game, while looking back at the sacrifices he had to make as well as his father’s role to ensure his dream was actualised.

The former England youth international rose to prominence after his promotion to the Crystal Palace’s first-team before joining Manchester United in 2013, after which he returned to Selhurst Park after failing to command regular action at Old Trafford.

"Football was my number one goal. Then just growing up where I was, there weren’t that many opportunities and it made me even more fixated on accomplishing my dream. It pushed me even more,” Zaha told Sky Sports, per the Crystal Palace website.

"When your mindset is always that goal, I don’t think you can fail because I lived, breathed, ate football. There was nothing else. I feel like there’s no way you can fail if that’s all you think about constantly and that’s all you practice. There’s no way.

"When I speak to people, give advice to younger footballers, it’s just like: 'When that’s all you think about - when you go to sleep it’s football, wake up and it’s football - there’s no way you can fail. That’s your number one goal.'

"Are you willing to sacrifice these parties and so many different things? I missed so many parties and I used to think: ‘Oh my God, that’s the party of the year.’”

“As you grow up you realise there’s a party every other day, but these opportunities for you to reach your goal don’t come every day,” he continued.

"I never had a day where I thought I don’t fancy it. No matter what. It’s football - the love I have for football is unbelievable so there was never a time where I’d look outside, even if it’s raining, whatever, it don’t make a difference. I just had to get there and do what I have to do."

Zaha who has scored four goals in five games so far this season, also talked avidly about his father and his contributions to his football dreams.

He added: "The main person who followed me around every single day was my dad.

"He took me to training through snow, through rain. My dad loved football as well but he knew how much I loved football so, even if he had to take me to training in a banger - the cars we used to go to training in is crazy.

"We used to break down, push the cars. My dad’s like 70 - so he was doing it when he was old. But it was: ‘I know how much he loves it, so I’ll do whatever.’"

Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui believes Chelsea are good enough to win the Champions League this season.

The Blues got as far as the round of 16 last term before they were knocked out by eventual winners Bayern Munich, with the German giants thrashing them 7-1 on aggregate.

Frank Lampard's team have taken just eight points from their first five Premier League games this season, having surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Southampton on Saturday.

The Chelsea boss put his side's defensive struggles down to their pre-season campaign being cut short as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

But Lopetegui says his own outfit, who face Chelsea in their opening Champions League game on Tuesday, have just as much reason to complain about a lack of time to prepare for the new season. 

"I can't comment on what he said but if anyone has had an atypical pre-season then it is us. We have been saying this since everything started amid this complex situation," he said at a press conference before the meeting at Stamford Bridge.

"I don’t think you can look at these things too much and I think you just need to focus on adapting as best as possible with solutions.

"I think everybody has had a disrupted pre-season. Some had 12 days off. I think we need to adapt to the new reality as quickly as possible.

"Something that can help us is the excitement we feel when we get to compete in a competition like the Champions League, which is extremely demanding and exciting.

"We are against one of the teams that can win the competition in Chelsea. We need to perform well tomorrow, that’s the only thing we can do."

He continued: "Yes, it is going to be a tough ask, every match is difficult, especially when you are talking about the Champions League and playing against a team such as Chelsea.

"But our intention is to win, like we do in every stadium and every match. We have to perform well, I don’t think the start of the season counts for much at the moment.

"They are a great side, with fantastic players and have performed very well this season. Lately they have been playing sensationally and they are going to force us to produce our best performance both defensively and offensively. We need to perform very well tomorrow.

"Chelsea like to dominate the ball, as we do, so I think it is a match between teams who have two different types of players, but who have the same idea – which is to dominate games. That’s what we need to be prepared for."

The Federation of International Football Association (Fifa) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have celebrated with Francisca Ordega on her 27th birthday.

The striker was born in Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria and launched her professional football career with Nigeria Women's Premier League side Bayelsa Queens in 2008.

After leaving the Yenegoa outfit, Ordega joined Rivers Angels in 2011 before she sealed her first move abroad to Russian side Rossiyanka a year later, and continued her career at Swedish club Pitea in 2013.

In 2015, she joined Washington Spirit, where she had loan moves to Australia's Sydney and Spain's Atletico Madrid during her four-year campaign with the US' National Women's Soccer League team.

Ordega left Spirit in 2019 for Chinese Women's Super League side Shanghai Shengli, inspiring them to a runners-up position last season.

She represented Nigeria at the U17 Women's World Cup in 2010, U20 side in 2012 and featured for the senior team thrice at the Women's World Cup and won the Africa Women's Cup of Nations four times.

The major highlight of her career was in 2015 when she impressed at the Women's World Cup in Canada, where she inspired Nigeria's incredible comeback in a 3-3 draw with Sweden in Winnipeg.   

The striker made her debut for the Super Falcons in 2010 and has now played 26 times for the West Africans, scoring seven times and emerged an Africa Women's Player of the Year finalist in 2018.

Fifa and the NFF have shared heartfelt messages to the Super Falcons winger as she reaches a new age.