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Tanzania coach Etienne Ndayiragije has revealed he does not have problems when fans criticise him in a positive manner.

The Burundian tactician received some criticism last week when the Taifa Stars lost by a solitary goal to Burundi in a friendly played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium during the international break.

As Tanzania prepares to face Tunisia in an Africa Cup of Nations double-header, Ndayiragije has now revealed that positive criticism gives him a platform to learn what people want and thereby make constructive changes where necessary.

“I like people who openly express their feelings for you to work on them and I have a big room to receive opinions and criticisms,” Ndayiragije is quoted by Daily News. “I thank the supporters of Taifa Stars a lot because they always give us the energy to continue working hard for them.”

Asked on what goes on in his mind wherever the Taifa Stars plays against his home country, Ndayiragije revealed that he will always remain loyal to the country that employed him.

"When I am doing the work which I get paid for, my focus remains to the team I represent which is Taifa Stars regardless of which team I am facing,” Ndayiragije continued.

“Football is a fair play game as such, whether you win or lose, it is part of the competition without taking into consideration where one comes from," he narrated.”

Ndayiragije also revealed the support he gets from his family and friends whenever the two sides come face to face by stating: “Even in Burundi, there are many Burundians who support Taifa Stars just because I am coaching the country's national team like during the recent friendly match we played, some people from Burundi were supporting Stars.”

Against Burundi, the Swallows put up a brave fight in front of the home fans and were eventually rewarded with a late goal when burly striker Saidi Ntibazonkiza found space outside the 18-yard area and unleashed a fierce shot which goalkeeper David Mapigano could not keep out.

Tanzania are in Group J of the Afcon qualifiers which Tunisia are topping with six points, while both the Taifa Stars and Libya have three points each and Equatorial Guinea are sitting at the bottom without a point.

Jose Mourinho believes Arsene Wenger failed to mention him in his new autobiography because the ex-Arsenal boss did not beat him much during his career.

Wenger released his book "My Life in Red & White" this week but did not mention the current Tottenham manager, against whom he had an oftentimes turbulent rivalry.

In one particularly infamous moment, Mourinho called the Frenchman a "specialist in failure" in 2014 during his second spell in charge of Chelsea.

Mourinho did often get the better of Wenger, with the Portuguese boss winning nine of the duo's 19 encounters and Wenger only winning twice. 

On Friday, Mourinho was quizzed at a press conference why he believed he wasn't mentioned in Wenger's book, to which he replied: "Because he never beat me.

"You are not going to do a chapter about 12 or 14 matches and never win one so why should he speak about me in his book? A book is a thing to make you happy, to make you proud so I understand perfectly the situation."

While he was in charge of Manchester United in 2018, Mourinho expressed some regret at the number of bust-ups he had with Wenger.

"There were little things it would obviously be better without - some gestures, some words," Mourinho said.

"It's obviously better without. I feel better now without [insults]. When I arrived in England in 2004, they were champions, and famous champions - the 'Invincibles'.

"Then I arrive [at Chelsea], the next few years it was with them [battles for the title].

"It was an amazing team. So thank you very much for that. They pushed us to the limits. The two matches we played at Highbury, that amazing old stadium, were unforgettable. So thank you, thank you so much for that."

Mourinho's current side Tottenham are set to face West Ham on Sunday, a game in which Gareth Bale could be set to make his second debut for Spurs after returning from Real Madrid.

"He's working so well, just evolution in every data, in every aspect of his condition," Mourinho said of the Welshman. "He's there. Probably he plays Sunday, if he doesn't he will on Thursday [in the Europa League versus LASK]. He's there. He's very, very close."

Gor Mahia midfielder Lawrence Juma has officially left and joined Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Sofapaka.

The midfielder has been a long-term target for the 2009 KPL champions and they have now managed to secure his services for the next two seasons.

The former Nzoia Sugar star agreed on every aspect of the latest contract - after prolonged negotiations - that Batoto ba Mungu dangled in front of him.

“We are pleased to have completed the signing of Harambee Stars midfielder Lawrence Juma. Juma has put pen to paper to a two-year deal ahead of the new season,” Sofapaka confirmed on Friday .

“The midfielder joins us from Gor Mahia Football Club for the next two seasons.”

“I am pleased to be here, this a new chapter, a new environment and I am looking forward to a good time with the club. I can’t wait to get started.”

Juma becomes the club’s eighth signing after Michael Kibwage, Isaac Mitima, Michael Karamor, Michael Bodo, Kevin Omondi, Roy Okal, and Paul Kiongera were signed before him.

He has established himself as one of the key midfielders in the league, went ahead to earn a national call up to Harambee Stars, and coach Francis Kimanzi has maintained him for the few past international assignments since he debuted.

The 2008 National Super League (NSL) champions will be up against Gor Mahia on December 9 and it would be an opportunity for them to halt what has become a poor record against the champions.

In 2019, Sofapaka wasted a clear opportunity that would have propelled them to a second league trophy when they went down 2-0 in Kisumu. They were second and a win would have delayed Gor Mahia’s charge towards the title thereby increasing their chances of becoming champions once more.

Batoto ba Mungu president Elly Kalekwa had said he is building a formidable side that would assure their fans of more success .

“The squad we have managed to assemble is a quality one which will challenge for top honours in the 2020/21 Kenyan Premier League campaign,” Kalekwa told Goal in an earlier interview.

“This is a team that has a high chance of winning the league title and get a chance to play in the continental competitions. We have the resources we need to be successful and I am confident we will.”

The Nairobi-based club will start their campaign in the new season against KCB on November 21.

New Tooro United signing Kenneth Kiyegga believes Luis Nani is more talented than Cristiano Ronaldo despite being overshadowed by his Portuguese countryman at Manchester United.

Speaking about the two league winners who graced the Premier League giants under Sir Alex Ferguson, Kiyegga also revealed his earlier interaction with Uganda international Farouk Miya.

“I loved Nani’s trickery, and I believe that he is a more talented player than [Cristiano] Ronaldo but he just overshadowed him at Manchester United,” Kiyegga told Sports Nation.

“For [Farouk] Miya, I remember I got a chance to be in the same team with him back then.

“It was during the Arcades tournament playing for Ham Shopping and we were the young boys in the team

"Then, Miya was the star of the team and he was also a player at Vipers SC. He is a good player, can score from everywhere.”

Apart from his Premier League dream, Kiyegga revealed hopes of good career progression and getting a professional European club in future.

“I want to play in Europe one day. I am a believer and I want to work hard as I have always been doing each passing day,” the youngster added.

“When we [will] join UPL, I believe many people will be able to recognise my ability. I am still going and I hope to play for the Uganda U20 team.”

The youngster also revealed how former Vipers SC head coach Edward Golola spotted as a potential signing for Tooro United.

Kiyegga impressed the renowned Ugandan tactician during a local tournament featuring for Kawempe in Nansan and has narrated how he ended up signing for the Fufa Big League side.

“I impressed him [Golola] while playing against Tooro United so after the game, he sent a kid to call me for a talk and a few days later, I signed for Tooro United,” Kiyegga added.

“This will be a big opportunity for me to showcase my ability and I commend coach Golola for having trust in me. I am not going to disappoint him.

“I want to help the club return to the Uganda Premier League, that’s is my first target.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident Paul Pogba is going to be at Manchester United for the next two years after the midfielder flirted with a future move to Real Madrid.

Not for the first time, Pogba has spoken about his ‘dream’ to one day play for Real and it prompted further discussion about his future.

The Frenchman has one year left on his Old Trafford deal, with the club holding an option to extend for a further year, but the World Cup winner and his super-agent Mino Raiola have spoken in the past about his desire to move on.

But, following Pogba's recent comments while away on international duty, Solskjaer was insistent that the 27-year-old would see out his deal and seemed convinced he will not be going anywhere.

“Paul's our player, he's going to be here for another two years,” Solskjaer said. “I’m sure Paul is focused on doing his best for us and we want to see the best of Paul and I'm sure in the next couple of years we'll get the best out of him.”

Pogba is set to be available for United’s trip to Newcastle on Saturday evening for their first game since the 6-1 hammering at home to Tottenham before the international break.

Plenty of reports suggested there had been issues in the dressing room following that result but Bruno Fernandes came out this week to dismiss the claims and Solskjaer added to the sentiment from the Portugal international.

“We've been in touch with the ones that have been away and it's one of those things you have to get over as soon as you can and move on. We know any little chance from outside, you want to create a division,” Solskjaer explained.

“Bruno spoke really well the other day, we are united and have to stay together. We can't listen to everyone outside, we’ve got to get on with it.

"Bruno has lost two league games since he came to the club and he came in February. But, it's been two in quick succession, he's not used to losing league games for us but Bruno, welcome to Manchester United, this is what happens when you lose a couple.

"They’re going to try and create a division between us but that’s not going to happen, this is a group that wants to work hard together and stick together.”

Inter star Alexis Sanchez is facing a race against time to be fit for Saturday's derby against AC Milan, Goal can confirm.

The former Arsenal and Manchester United star picked up a muscular injury during the international break.

The Chile captain managed to complete his nation’s fixture against Colombia on Wednesday but sustained a problem that puts his presence for the big Serie A clash under question.

He will return to Appiano Gentile on Friday, where he will be given a number of tests before a definitive judgement on his problem is passed, but Inter are optimistic that it will not prove to be anything too significant.

If he was to miss out, it would be a major blow to the Nerazzurri as he has rapidly established himself as a key member of Antonio Conte’s squad.

He finished the 2019-20 season at a tremendous pace, scoring three goals and creating seven more in the club’s 12 post-lockdown fixtures despite starting only eight times, while he has begun the 2020-21 campaign in similarly impressive form.

The attacker may not have been on the scoresheet for Inter to date, but he created goals in the 4-3 win over Fiorentina and the 5-2 success over Benevento.

Sanchez, however, was back on the goal trail with Chile, who he captained in their opening two World Cup qualifying matches.

He scored his 43rd international goal in the 2-1 defeat away against Uruguay – a game in which Chile conceded the decisive strike deep into second-half stoppage-time – before he was on target again versus Colombia in what was his 133rd outing for La Roja.

For the 31-year-old, it represents a welcome return to form after a difficult 18-month period with Manchester United, where he scored only three goals in 32 Premier League outings for the Old Trafford side as he spent much of his time battling hamstring and knee problems.

He has previously turned out with Cobreloa, Udinese, Barcelona and Arsenal during his professional career, as well as loan spells at Colo-Colo and River Plate. Indeed, his move to Inter was initially undertaken on a temporary basis before being made permanent on August 6 for free.

La Liga returns continues this weekend with some exciting games on offer and both Barcelona and Real Madrid in action.

At the early stage of the season, Real Madrid sits at the top of the Spanish top-flight table, but just three points separate first and 10th as no team has had a 100 per cent start to the new campaign.

All this weekend's La Liga games can be watched on Fanatiz via their basic package.

How to watch Barcelona on US TV

Barcelona is playing catch-up in La Liga this season, having started two games later than most of the rest of the league, but has had an undefeated start to the 2020-21 campaign.

Ronald Koeman's team has two wins and one draw from the first three games and strengthened during the transfer window by adding USMNT defender Sergino Dest.

Dest became the first American to play for Barcelona in La Liga when he came off the bench against Sevilla and will be hoping to play from the start this weekend as Koeman's side take on Getafe.

Getafe vs Barcelona can be streamed in the US through Fanatiz and kicks off at 12pm PT and 3pm ET.

How to watch Real Madrid on US TV

Real Madrid has played just four games so far this season, but still sit at the top of the table after picking up three wins and 10 points from the opening fixtures.

Goals from Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema secured a 2-0 road win over Levante before the international break, moving Real Madrid above Real Betis in the table.

Zinedine Zidane's reigning Spanish champions will be looking to pick up another three points this weekend with a home tie against Cadiz, who has performed above expectations so far and sit in ninth in the La Liga table.

Real Madrid vs Cadiz can be streamed in the US on Fanatiz via their basic package. and kicks off at 9:30am PT and 12:30pm ET.

La Liga matches on US TV this weekend

Watch La Liga live on Fanatiz.

Zambia Sports Minister Emmanuel Mulenga has ordered that the technical bench of the national team should be paid early.

Mulenga made these assurances to Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic and his technical bench assistants during a performance report meeting in Lusaka. Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) general-secretary Adrian Kashala and FAZ technical director Lyson Zulu were part of the joint meeting.

“I have actually instructed the Director of Sports John Zulu to make sure that you are paid in good time. For October you need to be paid before the end of next week,” Mulenga said as he was quoted by FAZ Facebook page.

“We don’t want to be in arrears as the government in paying coaches. We want to make sure that by 30th or just before 30th, all coaches are paid.”

The Minister also assured the members of the coaching team that the government and the citizens have complete faith in their abilities.

“In doing that [early payments], we know that you are going to perform as expected by the Zambian people,” Mulenga added.

“As you are aware, we represent and speak on behalf of the Zambian people and the Zambian people do have trust in you.

“They do have trust in you even the time we delayed in signing your contract they [people] actually made a lot of noise that we need to sign this contract because we trust this coach.

“Since the Zambian people trust you, we as government trusts you and we know that you are going to perform.”

Chipolopolo will face the Zebras of Botswana twice in November as they search for a maiden win in Group H.

“The games we are going to have on 12 and 16 [November against Botswana] are do or die, there is no losing,” added the Minister.

“We have done our part as the government so it’s up to you and your boys to do your part and make our soccer fans proud because they want us as a country to return that glory we had.”

FAZ organised for friendly matches for Zambia where they tackled Malawi, Kenya, the 1996 African champions South Africa and Orlando Pirates.

Sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is “not the way to go” for Manchester United, says Louis Saha, with the Red Devils urged to show a little patience in a manager who has shown that he can deliver results.

The Norwegian tactician was handed the reins at Old Trafford after making an encouraging start to his tenure while in an interim role.

United opted to hand a familiar face from their past a three-year contract, but saw results take a turn for the worse immediately after that deal was done.

Questions were asked of Solskjaer’s ability to fill the demanding post, with plenty pointing to his lack of coaching experience at the highest level. Similar criticism is now being aimed at the United boss, with an inconsistent start made to the 2020-21 campaign.

Various alternatives are being offered up for the Red Devils, such as Mauricio Pochettino and Massimiliano Allegri, but Saha believes long-term success will only be achieved with stability in the dugout.

The former United striker has told TEAMtalk: “We are rushing to make a judgement on Ole and that is wrong after three games of the season.

“You remember when he got the job. Everyone was convinced he had to be given a chance after they beat PSG in the Champions League at the start of 2019. They were playing some great football.

“I played with Ole and maybe you will say I am biased when I defend him, but I think we should not forget the really visible improvements we have seen from United in the last year.

“Now things are going in a different way, but it is the start of the season and you have to understand why it is not perfect at this moment.

“You cannot forget everything that has happened in the last year and sack another manager just because they had a bad start to the season.

“This is not an easy job. It is tough to be manager of Manchester United and live up to the expectations that got with the job, but ditching a manager after three or four games of the season is not the way to go. Changing managers every year or after a bad couple of results doesn’t work.”

United suffered a humbling 6-1 defeat to Tottenham in their last Premier League outing, with pressure building on Solskjaer as a result, but an opportunity to make amends for that showing will present itself when returning to domestic action with a trip to Newcastle on Saturday.

Goal's readers are impressed by the German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer as he was voted as the "best GK in the world" beating out top opponents to cement his position in the Goal's Top eleven powered by FIFA 21 as we attempt to identify who you think are the best footballers around the world.

Neuer led the table with 38% of the votes (8700+) beating out Marc-André ter Stegen  who got 35% of the votes (+8000). They were followed by Real Madrid's shot stopper Thibaut Courtois who collected 2650 votes while Alisson Becker (+2300) came fourth and Jan Oblak (1528) fifth.

Stay tuned to this space as we ask for your help to identify the best righ-back this Monday.

Leroy Sane’s return from serious injury is looking “very good”, according to Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick.

The former Manchester City man joined the Bavarians in the summer after a long pursuit of the winger, with their decision to sign him a terrific show of faith given that he had missed much of the previous year with a serious knee injury.

Indeed, the Germany international managed only 13 minutes of the previous season before going off injured during City’s Community Shield victory against Liverpool. He returned briefly for an 11-minute cameo against Burnley in June, but that proved his last match for the club.

The 24-year-old was fit enough to start in Bayern’s spectacular 8-0 win over Schalke on the opening day of the Bundesliga season, grabbing a goal and an assist in the process, while he also featured in the following 4-1 loss to Hoffenheim. However, he missed the thrilling 4-3 victory over Hertha Berlin because of an injury related to his previous complaint.

Flick, though, says that the problem is not a serious one and that he expects to see the winger back on the field imminently.

“I can’t say when it will be exactly,” the coach said, speaking after a DFB-Pokal victory over FC Duren on Thursday. “It looks very good. He’s doing training sessions.”

Despite the positive prognosis, Sane is expected to miss Saturday’s league clash with Arminia Bielefeld and the opening fixture of Bayern’s European Cup defence against Atletico Madrid. 

“First of all, a very thorough diagnosis is required to see whether the problem in the knee joint that sustained the cruciate ligament rupture really is just the capsule,” Dr Michael Lehnert, a former doctor for the ladies’ team at VfL Wolfsburg, told Goal and Spox. 

Speaking at the time when the injury was announced, it was his estimation that it would be roughly four weeks before Sane is back to training with the ball and it may be six before he is able to play. 

Reports however suggest that he could be back training with the team next week, with his return forecast as early as the trip to Cologne on October 31.

Arsene Wenger has revealed that he once cut off transfer talks with Danny Welbeck during his time at Arsenal in order to meet the Pope.

Back in the summer of 2014, with a recruitment deadline fast approaching, Manchester United opened themselves up for discussions regarding the England international forward.

The Red Devils were willing to part with Welbeck as he faced fierce competition for places at Old Trafford.

Tottenham were first to make a move, but were soon joined in a late scramble for a much sought-after signature by their arch-rivals from across north London.

Wenger was leading that chase on behalf of Arsenal, but the Gunners boss was otherwise engaged when it came to trying to get a deal over the line.

Explaining a remarkable saga to The Athletic, the iconic French coach said: “Danny Welbeck - when I went to the Match For Peace, I arrived at the airport and was told he’s come down to sign for Tottenham. I managed to intercept him.

“In fact, it was a funny story because I was negotiating the whole day. We had Ivan [Gazidis] and Dick Law to negotiate and they called me up. I had the agent on the phone and I told him, ‘Look, I have to hang up because I’m in front of the Pope!’

“He said to me: ‘What?!’

“I said, ‘Yes’. Because we were queuing up to take a photo with the Pope in a private audience. I was at the back of the queue because I had to talk and negotiate and at some stage I arrived in front of the Pope. So, I had to say, ‘Look, that’s not possible anymore because I have to meet the Pope now’.”

Arsenal eventually won the race for Welbeck and he would go on to spend five years at Emirates Stadium.

Wenger did, however, snub other options during the same summer, with the opportunity to re-sign Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona passed up as the former Gunners captain ended up making his way to Chelsea.

“It was general guidance for me to make the players realise that if you leave here, you don’t come back,” Wenger said of a Spain international that he nurtured into a first-team star but was forced to offload in 2011.

“It was a way to retain the players who wanted to see if the grass was greener elsewhere.

Fred admits Manchester United were “really bad” in their 6-1 defeat to Tottenham, but believes a positive response will be offered after having the international break to stew on a humbling setback.

The Red Devils saw an inconsistent start to the 2020-21 campaign hit a new low when they played host to former boss Jose Mourinho.

Anthony Martial’s dismissal did little to aid United’s cause against Spurs at Old Trafford, but they still offered little resistance when slipping to a demoralising reversal.

Serious questions are once again being asked of those on and off the field in Manchester, with the likes of Harry Maguire and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer falling under the microscope.

United will, however, get the chance to start putting things right when they take in a trip to Newcastle on Saturday.

Fred is optimistic that the confidence established towards the end of 2019-20 can be recaptured, with the Red Devils determined to make their showing against Spurs a minor bump in the road.

The Brazil international midfielder told the club’s official website when reflecting on the recent past and looking to the immediate future: “Nobody wants to lose a game, especially at home and by that scoreline. We've thought a lot about it and talked a lot in the dressing room.

“It was really bad for us, but we have to come back stronger, better, more focused and I'm sure that Saturday we start all over again. It will be a great game against Newcastle and we need to do our best to get the win.

“The international break has been really good for us because we've had time to rest and think about what we've done. Time to train too, as we didn't have a pre-season, so we needed to take this time we had during the international break and put it to good use - to train, to perfect a few things.

“Of course now, it's important for us players to look ahead.

“What happened in the last few games is in the past. We have to think ahead, about the games coming up, for us to go on a great run. We need to aim to get points, do our best so we don't have to play catch up further down the line. We need to do our best now in these upcoming games, look ahead and get the wins.”

United are about to hit a hectic and testing run of fixtures, with a trip to Newcastle set to be followed by Champions League outings against Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig and Istanbul Basaksehir and Premier League meetings with Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton.

Captaining your country is one of the highest honours a footballer can receive, and doing it for the first time is a true milestone in any player’s career.

In some cases, a player wearing the armband for the first time can be a historic event in its own right.

Paul Ince became England’s first black captain in 1993 when he led the Three Lions against the United States.

Playing in the United States Cup, England lost 2-0 in the absence of regular captains David Platt and Tony Adams, but it would prove to be their only defeat in Ince’s seven games as skipper.

Ince was playing for Manchester United at the time, and had only made his senior international debut the year before.

At the time, he was uncomfortable with the spotlight – but Ince said he came to appreciate the significance of the occasion.

“For me it was the pinnacle of my career when Graham Taylor made me captain, but I can remember feeling uncomfortable with the questions,” Ince told the Daily Mail.

“I just wanted to be the England captain; I didn’t want to be remembered as the first black England captain because I didn’t look at it in that way.

“Then, after the game, I began to look at it in a different way because I had a lot of parents from the ghetto sending me letters telling me it had inspired their children to get jobs or to start playing football.

“I don’t know whether they were black, white or Asian or whatever, but it didn’t matter. That meant a lot, to think that somehow I had inspired people I had never even met.”

Mary Phillip became the first black player to captain England Women in 2003, while she was playing for Fulham.

Defender Phillip, who also represented Arsenal, Chelsea and Millwall, won 65 senior caps in an international career spanning 13 years.

"It was an amazing honour to be awarded that armband and lead England out on several occasions,” Phillip later told Sky Sports.

"I was the first female to have children and play, not just at club level, but also reaching international level.

"You don't realise the significance of it, because you are just going out and doing your thing."

Liverpool are unlikely to run away with the Premier League title in 2020-21, admits Jason McAteer, with Manchester City expected to come back into the picture while Manchester United may have a new manager in place by January.

A first English top-flight crown in 30 years was captured by those at Anfield last season, with Jurgen Klopp overseeing a record-setting triumph.

Many expected the Reds to be as dominant again in defence of that crown, but leaks at the back have opened up and a stunning 7-2 defeat at Aston Villa last time out proves that anything is possible.

Everton and Aston Villa are the only sides at this early stage of the campaign to still boast a 100 per cent record, with the expected pack of title challengers still scratching around for consistency.

McAteer believes that will leave the title race wide open, with it possible that renewed confidence and the odd change of personnel here and there could see former champions come back into contention.

Former Liverpool midfielder McAteer told FreeSuperTips: “It’s still difficult to say whether Liverpool will run away again with the Premier League.

“As we’ve seen in the first four rounds of Premier League matches, teams seem to be struggling to win at home, with only 14 home wins out of 38 matches, which suggests that away teams have nothing to fear and play more expansive football when there are no fans in the stadium. 41 goals were scored in the last round of fixtures which is great to watch but makes things very unpredictable.

“It’s still early days but don’t count Manchester City and Manchester United out just yet.

“Pep Guardiola always loves a challenge and Manchester United might have a new manager before the next transfer window which might shake things up – a lot can happen in the next two months.”

Next up for Liverpool, who have still taken nine points from four games so far, is a derby date with Merseyside neighbours Everton.

McAteer believes the Reds could be considered underdogs at Goodison Park, given how impressive Carlo Ancelotti’s Toffees have been so far, but anything is possible in contests that often see form go out of the window.

“For the first time in quite a few years, this is Everton’s best opportunity to cause an upset against Liverpool,” said a man who graced many such occasions in his playing days.

“On current form, Everton will go into the game as favourites, after an outstanding start to the season, with them winning all four games and scoring 11 goals. 

“Carlo Ancelotti’s recruitment this summer was outstanding, bringing in midfield strength in the form of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan, as well as having the creativity of James Rodriguez in attack which is bringing the best out of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who deservedly won the player of the month award for scoring 11 goals including two hat-tricks in all competitions.

“Although Liverpool were beaten convincingly in their last Premier League game against Aston Villa, I do expect changes to the personnel and performance, so I don’t see Everton having it all their own way.” 

Former Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has said that there is no taboo about talking about gay footballers at the top level of the game.

The 34-year-old, who spent 13 years at Juve before finishing his career with a single season at Zenit St Petersburg, has been known for his strong stance on social issues.

Indeed, the former Italy international spoke about homosexuality in an interview with Corriere della Sera and claimed that while there are no high-profile gay players at the top level, the topic is an active one for discussion in dressing rooms.

Asked about the social issues in such a setting, he said: “The problems are the same as in the world, racism, gender differences, discrimination. 

“Is homosexuality taboo? No team-mate of mine ever told me he was gay, but it's not true that you don't talk about it in the locker room. There is silence, no doubt. Both due to the reaction of public opinion and inside the locker room. If someone came out, they know those stupid jokes about the bar of soap. Well, it’s better to avoid them. Coming out is difficult.”

Meanwhile, he was left impressed by Juventus new boy Weston McKennie, who spoke about the issue of racism in the USA.

“I was very impressed by the words written by the American McKennie. He is very young, has just arrived, but he immediately made his voice heard,” Marchisio said.

The former Schalke man was speaking in an Adidas #ReadyforChange video when he said: “I want to be known as a great human being, as a great person. At the beginning of the season we played and the fans after the game were making monkey noises at me. It's devastating. I went back home to Dallas and I’m afraid to drive at night just because I don’t know what is going to happen if I get pulled over.

“I am representing a country that possibly doesn’t even accept me just for the colour of my skin. It is definitely a bit heartbreaking. When I wore the armband, I felt it was a duty and a responsibility. I just felt the need to bring awareness overseas.

“I don’t want to be known as just a great soccer player. I want to be known as a great human being, as a great person and that is what I’m starting to try to do, to create my legacy.”

Eni Aluko, Wilfried Zaha, Tyrone Mings and have all reached the pinnacle of their respective footballing careers, but all three are also showing that there is much more to them than just their chosen profession. 

The trio are just a few of a host of the game’s top players to have branched out, with their entrepreneurial spirit seeing them express their drive and creativity felt off the field, too. 

So, we partnered with Budweiser, the Official Beer of the Premier League, to find out more via a new video series – introducing, Side Hustles. 

These are their stories. 

Eni Aluko: Hyphenated

“I’ve had amazing opportunities to travel throughout my football career. Travel has become a passion of mine,” says Nigerian-born Aluko, who earned over 100 caps for England. 

A decorated international for her country, former Chelsea and Juventus star Aluko says she would often be asked, ‘But where are you really from?’ 

“I realised that so many of my friends and people I’m close to have hyphenated backgrounds, and I came up with the idea for a travel-lifestyle brand called Hyphenated People.” 

And so she launched her Side Hustle to embrace the hyphen in her British-Nigerian identity, and to represent the community of England’s hyphenated people. 

“I was lucky enough to reach the pinnacle of my sport but now I’m doing this Side Hustle with a new brand,” she says. “I’m really excited to start the journey and get to the top of the mountain with this, too.” 

Watch the video above to find out more.

Wilfried Zaha: Long Live Studios

“I feel like footballers are seen to just be footballers… that’s not me at all,” says Zaha, who in 2015 teamed up with designer Kenny Annan-Jonathan to launch Long Live Studios, a clothing brand that combines ‘simplicity and effortless style with street wear sensibilities.’

“I used to go around getting different designers to make me different things,” says Zaha. “And I just thought one day, ‘Why don’t I just make my own clothes?’”

In Annan-Jonathan, Zaha found the perfect partner to bring his idea to life. “Working with Wilfried is amazing,” says Annan-Jonathan. “He really has a passion for this.”

That passion fuels the brand’s ethos and long-term aspiration, which is to inspire. “The meaning behind it is that anyone can come from nothing, have a dream, and fulfil it,” insists Zaha.

Watch the video above to find out more.

Tyrone Mings: KTM Design – Released October 23rd

“After being released I had to step away from the professional game and go back to school for a couple of years, which was probably quite a humbling experience,” says Mings. “It was tough, I never thought I’d back into it.”

England international and Aston Villa defender Mings did get back into it thanks to his talent, drive and determination. But football is a tough business and those at the top need some relief from the unrelenting pressure to succeed at the very top of the game.

“I think having interests away from football is what keeps me mentally stable,” he insists.

Mings found that when he linked up with former school chum Katie Thomas and founded KTM Design, an interior design company ‘that creates spaces that enrich and inspire’. 

Marcelo Bielsa is one of the most recognisable football coaches in the world and his philosophy on the game has influenced a long line of household names.

The Argentina native's playing career was shortlived, but his coaching odyssey has brought him to the helm of Newell's Old Boys, Argentina, Athletic Club, Marseille and Leeds United among others.

He is famed for his low-key lifestyle, eschewing grandiosity and he enjoys living among the community in which the club he works for is based.

However, his reputation and ability ensures that he is well remunerated for his services. Goal takes a look at Bielsa's net worth and how much he earns.

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What is Marcelo Bielsa's net worth?

Bielsa's net worth is not widely known but we can be sure that he has earned millions during the course of his career, having agreed reportedly lucrative contracts at a number of high-profile clubs. 

The Argentine did not enjoy a long and successful playing career, so the bulk of his earning has come through his work as a coach, which has taken him from South America to North America and Europe.

Bielsa was a professional footballer in the 1970s, plying his trade solely in Argentina, and has coached since the early 1980s, meaning he has over four decades of work in that realm under his belt.

He does not appear to lead a flashy lifestyle, seemingly preferring a more austere way of living, but he has certainly shown generosity in the form of sizeable charitable donations over the years.

What is Marcelo Bielsa's salary?

Bielsa agreed an extension to his contract with Leeds in 2020, which secured his future at Elland Road for another season.

While the details of Bielsa's salary are not publicised, the Daily Star reports that he was earning £6 million ($8m) a year, which works out at £3m ($4m) after tax.

Such a salary would put the Argentine at a higher level of earning than England boss Gareth Southgate and slightly lower level than Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who is on a reported £10m ($12m) a year.

It is significantly less than that earned by Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, though, with the Catalan and Portuguese each being paid a reported £15m ($19m) a year.

While we do not know what Bielsa's net worth is, such a salary suggests that it is certainly in the millions.

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What charity work does Marcelo Bielsa do?

Bielsa is known for his generosity and in 2018, it was reported that he donated around £2m ($2.5m) to his former club Newell's in order to fund the development of a players' centre.

According to Ole, the architect of the centre, which comprises a hotel, a games room, offices and an auditorium, was Bielsa's sister Maria Eugenia.

In 2020, Bielsa was supportive of the donation of a bronze statue depicting him sitting on his famous bucket to a raffle among Leeds fans. The proceeds of the raffle would go to a mental health charity.

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What is Marcelo Bielsa's nickname?

Bielsa's nickname is 'El Loco', which is Spanish for 'The Madman' or 'The Crazy One'. In some translations, it also means 'The Fool'.

The moniker was bestowed on him because of his eccentric personality, which has led to a number of unusual or 'crazy' scenarios during the course of his career.

One such example is when he visited the home of the teenage Mauricio Pochettino at 1am in order to inspect his legs and persuade his parents to let him come to Rosario - 150km away - to play for Newell's.

Another legend tells of Bielsa allegedly threatening to pull the pin on a grenade as a way to disperse a group of disgruntled fans, who had reportedly descended on his home after a bad result.

His unpredictability is a big part of the perception of him as El Loco, as Lazio can attest, having seen the Argentine walk out of the job after just two days.

Indeed, there have been plenty of examples of his unusual personality during his time in England too.

The infamous 'Spygate' controversy in 2019, when Bielsa took heat for sending a 'spy' to observe the training of rivals Derby County, prompted him to stage a 70-minute presentation in order to illustrate how he already knew everything about the Rams, so the 'spy' made no material difference. He took full responsibility nonetheless and paid the £200,000 fine out of his own pocket.

Prior to that, the Argentine made headlines across the world when he ordered his team to allow Aston Villa to walk the ball into the net after complaints from the opposition bench that his team had scored a goal with undue advantage after a Villa player was down injured. FIFA awarded Bielsa and Leeds its Fair Play award in 2019 in response.

Minor perceived eccentricities include showing up to 'black tie' dinners wearing a tracksuit and insisting on a no-fuss lifestyle, which sees him walk through the community to his work, while also working in local coffee shops.

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Why does Marcelo Bielsa sit on a bucket?

The reasons for Bielsa's preference for sitting on a bucket instead of his seat in the dugout are not clear and he has dismissed inquiries about it, suggesting it is merely a comfort thing.

"You want me to tell you more than what it is? It's just a bucket," he told reporters when asked about the bucket. “I have nothing to add. It's a comfortable bucket.”

Read more about Bielsa's bucket in Goal's explainer

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