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Manchester United must bounce back strongly after the international break, according to striker Marcus Rashford.

The England man was part of the side that crumbled to a 6-1 loss against Tottenham at home, and he says that they must show a different face in Saturday’s encounter with Newcastle.

United currently find themselves just a couple of spots above the relegation zone, having lost two of their three fixtures this season.

“This is the opportunity to bounce back. Newcastle is a big game anyway, but this is an even bigger game because of the last result,” he told Sky Sports. “When you lose a game you want another one as soon as possible, you want to get that winning feeling back among the squad. Not only do we want to win, we want to win in a way that we can be proud of.

“We want to work hard, not only for ourselves by for the guy on our left and right and do it as a team. We want to get three points together and then move onto the next game, that's the way it's got to be. It has to change, if it doesn't then it is not what Manchester United are about.

“That's not to say United haven't had setbacks when they were winning things, but if they did, they always came back and showed what they were made of and why they played for the club. It's important for us to do that now.”

Meanwhile, the forward, who has won praise for his commitment to charity over the course of the year, welcomes the additional competition that new signing Edinson Cavani will bring.

“Hopefully he comes in and scores goals, because he can definitely help us win games and points,” he said. “He can be a massive player for us this season. To win two or three trophies in a season you need a squad, it's not possible if you don't have people who can score goals one week and the next week, it's just not possible without three or four forwards in a team.

“Growing up, United always had four or five forwards who could score goals at any time. The closer we get to that, the more strength we'll have.”

Coach Tomas Trucha is expected to arrive on Saturday and link up with AFC Leopards ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.

Trucha – a former Orapa United and Township Rollers tactician – is expected to be appointed Ingwe’s head coach and the news could be confirmed in the next few days. AFC Leopards have been under Anthony Kimani since December 2019 when Casa Mbungo resigned.

The Rwandan tactician left when the financial problems became unbearable at the den forcing the Kenyan Premier League heavyweights to appoint Kimani on an acting capacity.

The former Harambee Stars defender is expected to venture into further studies sponsored by AFC Leopards as he acts as the club’s assistant coach.

“The man is expected in town today [Saturday],” a source close to the club told Goal.

Trucha, 49, is a Czech Republic citizen and his immediate target will be to guide the local heavyweights to success especially in the league where they have not been successful since 1998.

AFC Leopards’ Mashemeji rivals Gor Mahia have dominated the league scene where they have won the last four titles in consecutive fashion.

Apart from winning the title, AFC Leopards would also want to pick a Mashemeji Derby win as they are without one since 2016 and the new coach will be tasked to go for it under his rein.

The club has already extended contracts of Benjamin Ochan and Washington Munene while Lewis Bandi has been promoted to the senior team.

Although they are still silent on who the new players are, Harrison Mwendwa from Kariobangi Sharks, former Rayon Sports midfielder Fabrice Mugheni, and ex-KCCA FC offensive midfielder Muzamir Mutyaba are understood to have agreed on deals with Ingwe.

In a recent interview, chairman Dan Shikanda promised they are building a formidable team that will win them trophies and thus the fans have no reason to panic.

The Nairobi outfit will start the new season with a match against Western Stima on November 20. Contact sports in the country remain banned activities by the government but Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF) has released the schedules for the 2020/21 season.

Bidco United, Zoo FC, Nzoia Sugar and either Kisumu All-Stars or Vihiga United will be the other early opponents for Ingwe in the new season.

FKF president Nick Mwendwa said they are still in deep discussion with the state on how football will be allowed to resume with strict adherence to the coronavirus health protocols.

Pep Guardiola is confident Bernardo Silva will enjoy a strong season for Manchester City after a below-par 2019-20.

Silva scored for Portugal against Sweden in the Nations League on Wednesday, and received backing from Guardiola ahead of City's clash with Arsenal.

While the playmaker was directly involved in 13 goals last Premier League season – compared to 14 in 2018-19 – he created fewer chances.

Silva created 71 chances, including assists, in 2018-19 and that number dropped to 51 last season, when he played 824 fewer minutes.

Guardiola said the 26-year-old was exhausted last season, having helped City win four domestic trophies and Portugal clinch the Nations League the campaign prior.

"He was injured in some moments and he didn't reach the levels of previous season, but it happens. I've an opinion that if there's one player I have absolutely no doubts about who he is as a football player, it's Bernardo," the City manager told reporters. 

"He played absolutely incredible all season when we won four domestic titles, incredible, then was the best player with Portugal at the UEFA Nations League Finals.

"He didn't have time to refresh, he was exhausted and his mind was exhausted and he struggled with this. It is not because he didn't want it, it was because we demand a lot of the players and sometimes it is not possible.

"In the NBA – the best league in basketball and we can say the Premier League is one of the best in football – they have three or four months break, they play a lot of games – 70 or 80 – but they have three or four months' break."

Guardiola added: "With Bernardo it was like this – he couldn't refresh mentally and started the season tired mentally.

"But I have a feeling he'll have a very good season this season because he's coming back in many things to what we've seen in the past."

Ahead of hosting Arsenal on Saturday, City are 14th in the table after earning just four points from their opening three games.

East Bengal will participate in the Indian Super League (ISL) and all competitions as SC East Bengal (Sporting Club East Bengal) as part of their rebranding exercise. A new logo of the club was also unveiled with 'SC East Bengal' imprinted on it. 

East Bengal entered into a Joint Venture (JV) partnership with Shree Cement Limited in September which paved way towards their participation in ISL. 

“The club’s new logo retains the primary assets like the emblem of a flaming torch and its colours which showcases a merger between the rich legacy of East Bengal, its contribution to Indian football along with Shree Cement’s support to keep the flag flying high,” stated Mr. Hari Mohan Bangur, Managing Director, Shree Cement. 

“It’s a start of the new and exciting partnership for all of us with East Bengal, and we’re happy to share the evolution of the club’s logo. Our crest and brand identity has been a bold one, and I am sure that this will only take the legacy of the club forward,” he added.

“We’re proud to be presenting the new logo which salutes our rich footballing legacy, while embracing a modern outlook,” said Mr. Prashant Bangur, Joint Managing Director, Shree Cement.

“The fans are the heart and soul of SC East Bengal, and we will work together as one family trying hard every day to keep the flag flying high,” he added.

In October, East Bengal club officials signed the final definitive documents and term sheet with their investors Shree Cement Limited which transferred the club’s sporting rights as well all its assets and properties (including intellectual) to the newly formed company -Shree Cement East Bengal Foundation. 

In the new entity, 76 per cent shares will be owned by the investors while East Bengal club will own the remaining stakes. 

They have roped in Liverpool legend and former England international Robbie Fowler as their head coach on a two-year deal. The new coach along with his coaching staff has reached Goa and is currently in quarantine, following the safety protocols laid down by the ISL.

Back in June 2020, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) released the 'Performance Assessment for States' with West Bengal topping the charts with Maharashtra and Kerala also impressing among the states that have FIFA-backed development project. 

The AIFF (All India Football Federation) has ranked the various state associations on their performance in the previous footballing calendar based on five operational verticals. They are coaches education, grassroots development, referees development, academy accreditation and state leagues & competitions (for clubs only).

The parameter score for each vertical is determined by multiplying its weight with the number of activities or events facilitated by the state. 

Parameter Weights - 1.0

a) Endorsements -  0.1

b) Course Organisation (AIFF D, E and Ref) - 0.2

c) Competition Organization (Youth) - 0.3

d) Competition Organization (Senior) - 0.4

State Score Calculation Parameter Score = Parameter Weight x Activity number

State Score = Sum of Parameter Scores 

For example, if a state has made five endorsements then its endorsement score will be 0.1 * 5 = 0.5 

Total state score will be calculated by summing up (a)+(b)+(c)+(d)

Making the most of a FIFA-backed project, the AIFF had appointed a State Development Officer (SDO) in 11 states which included the hotbeds of football like West Bengal, Goa and Kerala. The SDOs have been working closely with various state associations in organising various developmental programmes like age-group leagues, women's leagues, baby leagues, coach education workshops at the grassroots level.

Initially, Delhi was part of the 11 states selected for the FIFA project but were then replaced by Karnataka. 

Coaches Education

Grassroots

Referees Development

Academy Accreditation

State Leagues (Senior to U-13)

Performance Score Ranking 2019/20 of FDP (FIFA Developmental Project) States

The AIFF also evaluated 12 states who were outside the ambit of the FIFA project on the same five operational verticals. Their rankings are as follows:

Coaches Education

Grassroots

Referees Development

Academy Accreditation 

 State Competitions 

Performance Scores Ranking 

Overall Performance Score Ranking 2019/20

Orlando Pirates are set to battle with Cape Town City in their MTN8 quarter-final match at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

The Buccaneers will see this lucrative competition as a chance to win their maiden major trophy since 2014 when they clinched the Nedbank Cup.

Coach Josef Zinnbauer will be keen to ensure that his side starts the new 2020/21 campaign with a victory over City and keep the momentum going having won their last three competitive games. 

However, City are Pirates' hoodoo team and the Citizens are keen to add to their trophy cabinet having won three titles since the club's inception in 2016 including the 2018 MTN8.

Coach Jan Olde Riekerink will be confident of pulling off another win over Pirates having masterminded a 1-0 victory over the Soweto giants in a PSL clash two months ago.

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

The game will be shown live on SuperSport TV. 

Squads & Team News

Pirates left-back Innocent Maela will be missing as the Bafana Bafana international is expected to serve his one-match suspension against the Citizens.

Zinnbauer is most likely to bring in Paseka Mako to start at left-back, while South Africa under-23 international Bongani Sam is also an option for the German tactician.

Frank Mhango netted in his last two league matches of the 2019/20 campaign which saw him scoop the PSL Golden Boot award and the Malawian hitman could be key to a Bucs win over City.

Meanwhile, City have not reported any injuries in their camp and they do not have players on this weekend's MTN8 suspension list.

This has boosted Riekerink's team selection and the Dutch coach is expected to unleash the club's new signing Aubrey Ngoma, who will be hungry for action after struggling for game time at Mamelodi Sundowns.

Bradley Ralani is the player to watch out for in the Citizens team having registered the league's joint-most assists (nine) last season and the winger will be keen to inspire his side to a win over Pirates.

Match Preview

Pirates will be banking on their good home record as they have lost just two of their last 17 home matches across all competitions - winning nine. 

The Soweto giants are currently undefeated in their last three competitive matches having recorded three successive wins. 

While City are bad travellers having won just two of their last 17 away matches across all competitions - losing nine.

However, the Citizens have won three of their last four competitive matches, while the other game ended in a defeat. 

In head-to-head stats, Pirates have met City nine times across all competitions.

The Citizens have the upper hand having recorded three wins compared to the Buccaneers' one, while five games ended in a draw.

They have met in one cup match and it was City, who won 1-0 in the 2018 Nedbank Cup Round of 16 clash.

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Electoral Board has issued tough rules that must be adhered to during the national elections set for Safari Hotel in Nairobi on Saturday.

In a statement signed by the Board’s chairperson Kentice Tikolo, the rules will help ensure the safety of election officials, candidates, delegates, and all support staff involved in the process.

“Ahead of the national elections to be held today [Saturday], the FKF Electoral Board has set out protocols to ensure the safety of election officials, candidates, delegates, and all support staff involved in the process,” Tikolo said in a statement obtained by Goal.

According to the Board, the working area will be duly sanitised, testing and record of temperatures will be done, delegates, election officials, and support staff will be required to wear a recommended face mask, hand washing and sanitising stations will be set up, the social distancing shall be enforced all the time.

Other protocols include only one person will be served at a time, handshakes, high-fives, any other body contacts shall be discouraged, the board shall endeavour to avail enough voting materials to avoid sharing and there will be a minimum of 1.5metres between the accredited polling agents.

A total of four presidential aspirants will seek to unseat incumbent Nick Mwendwa including Herbert Mwachiro, Omondi Aduda, Boniface Osano, and former AFC Leopards chairman Dan Mule.

On paper, Mwendwa is the clear favourite to sweep the board, as he has the support of many delegates and also recently won the hearts of several clubs in the top-flight after he secured betting firm BetKings as the title sponsors for the league and Pay-TV Channel StarTimes as the broadcast partners.

Meanwhile, Mwachiro has welcomed the decision by the court to allow the exercise to go on as planned on Saturday.

In a statement obtained by Goal, Mwachiro said: “I welcome the decision by the Sports Disputes Tribunal to allow FKF elections to proceed as initially planned on Saturday, October 17.

“We are ready for the elections, we are confident our message of Soka Mashinani has reached the delegates, and once we have the mandate we will move with great speed, together with you, to rescue Kenyan football.

“Even as the elections proceed, let us not lose sight of the pertinent issues that have been consistently raised by the Sports Registrar in relation to full compliance of the Sports Act, 2013.

"The FKF Electoral Board has been presented with an opportunity to demonstrate they can deliver a free and fair election. I anticipate the Electoral Board will seize the moment and fearlessly protect the electoral process from any and all interference.

“Football in the country needs to be governed properly, in accordance - not only with the Fifa Statutes but also the existing laws of the land. I call upon all football stakeholders to keep pushing for proper governance of the beautiful game in the country, something that will be of benefit to present and future generations.”

Elsewhere, in the race for the National Executive Council (NEC) seats, Gordon Chege remains unopposed going into the exercise, while in Nairobi the battle will be between Michael Ouma, Tom Alila, and Isaac Macharia.

In Nyanza, Joseph Andere will square it off with Western Stima chairman Laban Jobita. Timothy Muriithi Nabea is also unopposed from the Eastern region while Ahmed Dabar will face off Mohamed Abdi Farah in North Eastern.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have officially unveiled Burundian coach Cedric Kaze to take charge at the Jangwani giants.

The Burundian tactician arrived in Tanzania on Thursday night from Canada and was unveiled on Friday, to replace Serbian Zlatko Krmpotic, in a packed press conference where the club confirmed he had signed a two-year contract that will keep him until 2022.

“We are delighted to have our new coach Kaze sign a two-year contract, he will be at this great club until 2022,” the club said in a statement on their social media pages.

Kaze had a busy day after the unveiling as he also visited the team’s residential camp situated at Avic Town, Kigamboni, in Dar es Salaam, where he interacted with the entire squad ahead of his first training session on Saturday.

In an earlier interview, Kaze revealed his delight at getting the job to handle one of the ‘biggest brands’ in East Africa and even the whole of Africa and promised to achieve bigger things with the Jangwani giants.

“I am very happy to be here,” Kaze told reporters on arriving at the Julius Nyerere International Airport. “I am also very proud to be the coach of Yanga, one of the biggest teams in Tanzania, East Africa, and even across Africa.

“I have received a lot of congratulatory messages from several quarters for accepting to take up the job and I promise them I will not disappoint, I now know that Yanga is a big brand, and urge all those associated with the club to pull together and support the team as we achieve more success in the coming years.”

Yanga media officer Hassan Bumbuli explained why the club had settled to hire Kaze, and immediately they parted ways with Krmpotic, who had won four matches from the five played, with one ending in a draw.

“Like people have been saying in social media, it is now official that Cedric [Kaze] is the new man to coach Yanga, because we have reached an agreement for him to take over and we are happy to have him here," Bumbuli said earlier.

“I have talked to the coach on several occasions before he came to the country and he told me a lot of things, he told me several things on the players, and so it means he was already following the team even while in Canada.

“He knows Yanga very well, not only this season but even the past season because he knows a lot about the team, he knows and also understands the philosophies of Yanga and he also told me the main target when he takes charge is to return passing football to Yanga.

“Kaze wants Yanga to possess and pass the ball more, he wants to play the style Johan Cruff introduced to Barcelona during his time, the ‘tiki-taka’ style, and we want to welcome him on board.”

Kaze is an experienced African coach who holds a Caf A License. He started his coaching career as an assistant to Armas Niyamugambo at Prince Louis Rwagasore FC.

He was confirmed as the head coach for the 2005/06 season and his team finished second to Vital’O. He left and joined Atletico FC for the 2006/07 season and he helped the club remain among the top four sides in four seasons in charge.

Kaze was named Burundi’s Coach of the Season twice; in 2008/09 and in the 2011/12 season, although his side finished second.

He lifted the Ligue A title in the 2010/11 campaign.

Kaze has six days to prepare the team for their next league match against Tanzania Prisons at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on October 22.

Saint-Etienne head coach Claude Puel has slammed Arsenal for their treatment of William Saliba after the defender was left off the team's Europa League squad.

Arsenal signed the teenage centre-back from Saint-Etienne for £27 million ($35m) last year, before loaning him back to the Ligue 1 side for the 2019-20 season.

Upon his return to Arsenal ahead of this season Saliba's prospects for playing time were in doubt, and the Gunners attempted to find a loan solution for the 19-year-old.

Another loan back to Saint-Etienne was proposed but the move fell through at the last minute, much to the Ligue 1 side's frustration.

The Gunners were also in talks with Championship clubs, including Brentford, over a loan for Saliba, but that potential move also fell through.

That has left Saliba, who is still waiting for his Gunners debut, in limbo as he faces an uncertain future with the north London club. 

Puel has been left upset at Arsenal's treatment of Saliba, fearing that the club's short-term strategy may do real damage to the teenager's long-term development.

"It was short-term [thinking], even for a young player," Puel told L'Equipe. "A superb player like William, to whom I wish the best, has not even made it to Arsenal’s Europa League squad. Where is the logic, if not financial?

"He had a great desire to join us. The club are a bit like family and friends [to him]. His adaptation would have been instant.

"This would have happened if all the conditions had met. It had to remain consistent with our finances and his contract, particularly for the management."

Earlier this month, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta explained that injuries and a coronavirus-shortened season meant Saliba's 2019-20 campaign wasn't what he or the Gunners had hoped.

“He had a year last year where Arsenal loaned him to Saint-Etienne and that was a transition year for him," Arteta said.

“For many reasons, that wasn't the transition year that he needed because he had a lot of injuries, some personal issues and also with Covid and the French league getting cancelled, he didn't have that year.

“He needs that year of transition and we are trying to make the right decisions for him to give him the best transitional year to have the player we want in our future.”

William Troost-Ekong has expressed his delight after he made his debut for Watford in their 1-0 victory over Derby County in Friday’s Championship game.

The Super Eagles centre-back teamed up with the Hornets in September from Serie A club Udinese on a five-year deal.

Troost-Ekong had to wait after the international break to make his first appearance for the Hornets and featured for the Super Eagles against Algeria in a friendly.

The 27-year-old was permitted to leave the Nigeria national team camp before their goalless draw against Tunisia on Tuesday inorder to preparare for the Hornets’ game against the Rams.

Troost-Ekong was handed a starting role in the encounter and gave a good account of himself before he was replaced in the 77th minute.

Joao Pedro scored the only goal of the game after he was set up by Ben Wilmot with 14 minutes left to play.

The centre-back made 45 touches, four clearances, won one aerial contest and had an 89% successful pass rate to help his side keep a clean sheet in the encounter.

The Super Eagles vice-captain has now taken to the social media to share his feelings on his first appearance for Watford.

“[I am] happy to make my Watfordf debut tonight with three points and a clean sheet! Well done to the boys! On to the next one on Wednesday,” Troost-Ekong posted on Instagram.

Watford manager Vladimir Ivic has also allayed injury fears of Troost-Ekong and hopes he will be fit enough to feature in their next Championship game against Blackburn Rovers on October 21.

“He [Troost-Ekong] felt something with his hamstring, but we changed him at the right moment and it’s not something dangerous with him, we hope he is okay,” Ivic told the club website. 

Troost-Ekong spent two years with Udinese and featured in more than 65 games across all competitions to help the club maintain their Serie A status.

The defender will hope to continue his consistent performances, this time with Watford in the 2020-21 season.

Thomas Tuchel insisted Neymar would be ready to face Manchester United after the Paris Saint-Germain star was rested against Nimes.

Neymar was left out as PSG cruised to a 4-0 win in Nimes with Kylian Mbappe scoring a brace on Friday.

The Ligue 1 clash came just three days after Neymar scored a hat-trick against Peru in World Cup qualifying in Lima to move past Ronaldo and into second for the most goals for Brazil .

Tuchel said he decided to rest the forward, but he expects Neymar back when PSG open their Champions League campaign at home to Manchester United on Tuesday.

"Ney doesn't have any issue. We talked together, like I did with Kylian," the PSG coach said.

"We had an honest discussion and I decided to let him rest today. He will be with us tomorrow. He will train and get ready for the game against Manchester United.

"He will be on the pitch, for sure."

PSG have been without Neymar in four of seven league games this season, winning three. They have averaged two goals per game without him, but that rises to 2.7 when he plays in the league this season.

Last season, PSG had a 75 per cent win percentage without Neymar in 12 Ligue 1 games, while it was 86.7 per cent when he featured. However, they scored more without him (2.9 goals per game against 2.7).

Mbappe stepped up in Neymar's absence against Nimes, scoring twice as Alessandro Florenzi and Pablo Sarabia also netted after defender Loick Landre was sent off for a crude challenge in the 12th minute.

Tuchel was full of praise for the France international, who is up to four goals and three assists in four Ligue 1 games this season.

"It won't be possible to do all the season what we did today. I talked with him [Mbappe] yesterday and we made this decision with responsibilities," he said.

"He said he was feeling well and he really wanted to play. He is a player who can make the difference. That's what he did today. And it was great."

South Africa women's team head coach Desiree Ellis has named 27 players, with goalkeeper Andile Dlamini headlining her provisional squad for next month's Cosafa Women's Cup on home ground.

The Mamelodi Sundowns shot-stopper was in fine form, inspiring her club side to a maiden Safa National Women's League (SNWL) triumph and was named 2019-20 SAFJA's Women's Player of the Year runner-up.

Besides Dlamini, six others from the inaugural SNWL champions are in the squad, which include Kaylin Swart, Mamello Makhabane, Bongeka Gamede, Sibulele Holweni and Tiisetso Makhubela.

Four goalkeepers, seven defenders, 10 midfielders and six strikers made the list for the tournament to be held for the third successive year in Nelson Mandela Bay from November 3-14. 

Commenting on her list, Ellis, who led the team to three successive triumphs, admitted she was keen to offer a chance to fresh home-based talents that could excel in future competitions. 

“In the past, the Cosafa Women's Cup has really helped us to prepare for games and for tournaments and the selection camp is just that to select a squad for the Cosafa Cup," Ellis told Safa.net.

“We last got together in March, so we will get an opportunity to look at players and give others an opportunity as well. 

"The camp will also allow us to analyse which players raise their hands for the final selection."

Ellis will be hoping to guide Banyana Banyana to a record seventh regional success and a fourth title in a row at the showpiece event.

The team os expected to resume camp on Tuesday, October 20 in Johannesburg, where the squad will be trimmed before their departure to Port Elizabeth, venue of the tournament a week later.

FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Andile Dlamini - Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaylin Swat - Unattached, Jessica Williams - Spurs WFC, Kaydee Windvogel -  University of Western Cape

Defenders: Bongeka Gamede - University of Western Cape, Tiisetso Makhudela - TUT - Pretoria, Karabo Makhurubetshi - Mamelodi Sundowns, Xiluva Tshabalala - Ma-Indies FC, Lebogang Mabatle - Mamelodi Sundowns, Koketso Tlailane - TUT-Pretoria, Ongeziwe Ndlangisa - Sunflowers

Midfielders: Mamello Makhabane - JVW FC, Karabo Dhlamini - Mamelodi Sundowns, Nomvula Kgoale - TUT-Pretoria, Robyn Moodaly - JVW FC, Nomhlanhla Mthandi - Mamelodi Sundowns, 
Neliswa Luthuli - Sunflower, Sibulele Holweni - University of Western  Cape, Oratile Mokwena - Mamelodi Sundowns, Gabriela Salgado - JVW FC, Kgaelebane Mohlakoane - Bloenfontein Celtic

Strikers: Hilda Magala - TUT-Pretoria, Nthite Pride - TUT Pretoria, Nomsa Mathonsi - University of Free State, Mosili Mokhoali - Golden Ladies, Chantelle Esau - Mamelodi Sundowns, Ntombifikile Ndlovu - Sunflower

Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman has said Sergino Dest could make his first start for the club in Saturday's match against Getafe.

Dest joined Barcelona from Ajax earlier this month in a deal worth €21 million (£19m/$25m). 

The U.S. national team full-back made his debut for Barca off the bench on October 4, coming on as a 75th-minute substitute for Jordi Alba in a 1–1 draw against Sevilla.

After becoming the first American to feature in an official match for the Catalan club with that appearance, the 20-year-old is now in line to make his first start with Alba yet to recover from a hamstring injury.

"First of all it was good to have him here for the training sessions," Koeman said at a press conference on Friday. "We had the time to talk to him about the system of the team but that system is not really different to what he played with Ajax.

"We know he can play on the right side as a right full-back, he can play in the left full-back position. We know Alba is not fit for tomorrow, it's a possibility that he will start tomorrow."

With many Barcelona players away for international duty recently, Dest stayed with the club due to the USMNT not having any games scheduled. Koeman said that continuity could play to Dest's advantage as he looks to adapt to his new side.

"It's good for his adaptation that he was here and not playing for the national team," the Dutch manager continued. "That makes it easier for the boy to adapt to all the kind of stuff we have in Barcelona because everything is bigger here than it was in Amsterdam for him.

"It's good to have him because he's one of the players who will be the future for this club."

Though the full-back only recently joined Barcelona, Dest and Koeman have known each other for some time. During his time as Netherlands head coach, Koeman unsuccessfully attempted to convince Dest to commit his international future to the Dutch. 

Though he rejected Koeman's advances last year, Dest insisted earlier this week that there are no hard feelings between the pair.

Former Manchester City full-back Pablo Zabaleta has retired from football.

The 35-year-old has been without a club since being released by West Ham at the end of June and has decided to call time on a career that began in the 2002-03 season with San Lorenzo.

"After 18 years as a professional footballer I took the decision to retire from playing football," Zabaleta said in a social media post.

"These have been wonderful years that gave me the opportunity to enjoy unique and unforgettable moments.

"Forever I will thank all the people that shared the journey with me; clubs, team-mates, coaches and in particular my family and all my friends.

"With a lot of emotions I leave behind one of the best stages of my life. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!"

Zabaleta made 594 appearances at club level, starting with San Lorenzo in Argentina before moving to La Liga with Espanyol in 2005.

He joined City in 2008 shortly before the takeover by the Abu Dhabi investment group and went on to become one of the club's most important players in a nine-year spell, popularly known as a 'warrior' figure.

Zabaleta won two Premier League titles, two EFL Cups and the FA Cup and was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in 2012-13.

He signed for West Ham in 2017 and made a further 73 appearances in England's top flight, making 10 league appearances in 2019-20 in his final season, which included six starts.

In 303 Premier League games in total, he recorded 953 tackles, the most of any player in the competition since his debut 12 years ago.

A winner of Olympic gold in 2008, Zabaleta won 58 senior caps for Argentina and was part of the side that finished runners-up at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Zabalata would also play in the Copa America for Argentina in 2011 and 2015.