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Manchester City put their defeat to Southampton behind them with a comprehensive 5-0 home victory over Newcastle United on Wednesday.

The 1-0 loss at St Mary's Stadium was City's ninth of the Premier League season and left them a demoralising 23 points behind new champions Liverpool at the top.

That gap was closed back to 20 - while the distance to Chelsea in third was stretched to nine - as Pep Guardiola's side brushed aside Newcastle through goals from Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, David Silva, Raheem Sterling and a Federico Fernandez own goal.

Newcastle were happy to cede possession and keep their defensive block in place, but the game plan was undone just 10 minutes in when Jesus finished from Silva's cut-back after some slack marking.

The visitors were unable to cope with City's high press and, when they lost the ball again 35 yards out, De Bruyne ran onto Phil Foden's simple pass and squared for Mahrez to side-foot home.

That goal meant City became the first team to have five players hit 10 goals in a single Premier League season and there should have been another when Jonjo Shelvey gave up possession but Foden shot wide.

Foden somehow prodded wide with the goal gaping soon after the restart, but City had only to wait until the 58th minute for their third goal, Matt Ritchie kicking the ball in off Fernandez while trying to stop Jesus.

Silva made it 4-0 with a precise free-kick from 25 yards out, the disjointed Newcastle wall summing up the Magpies' scant overall resistance, and the Spaniard set up substitute Sterling for a simple fifth after intercepting a pass.

What does it mean? City consolidate second... and wonder why

City's latest goalscoring record took them to 86 in the league this season, 14 more than leaders Liverpool, but did little more than make finishing second almost certain.

The kind of attacking interplay and unshakeable dominance of the game against Newcastle only adds to the bemusement as to how they have lost nine times and let Jurgen Klopp's side have such a simple time of things in the title race.

It was a first league loss for Steve Bruce's side since February 22, keeping them six points outside of the top eight but comfortably 16 clear of the drop zone.

Silva still shining as City clock winds down

Silva reached 10 assists in all competitions and scored a sublime goal to cap a typically creative, stylish performance. Surprisingly, it was the first time he had scored and set up a goal in a league match since January 2016.

He has just two more home league games to come as a City player. It is a shame they will be held without the crowd ovation he deserves.

Krafth work strikes a sour note

Newcastle's 4-5-1 shape was never likely to work if the players were so quick to lose focus. The first-half goals both came from the position Emil Krafth should have been occupying, although he was given next to no protection out wide by DeAndre Yedlin and Valentino Lazaro.

What's next?

City head to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, the same day Newcastle face a Watford side still fighting for Premier League survival.

The Nigeria Women's Football League [NWFL] board has announced the complete cancellation of the 2019-20 Nigerian Women's Premier League [NWPL] due to the coronavirus disruptions.

The campaign, which was initially set to kick off on March 25 was postponed indefinitely four days earlier over the global health crisis. 

This cancellation means the women's leagues, including the top-flight, will not take place for the first time since the first championship was organised in 1990.

Having scrapped the season, it further resolved that the next term will start after the government's approval for football's return in the build-up for the new Caf Women's Champions League.

Wednesday's decisions were the outcome of a virtual conference meeting, which was attended by NWFL chairperson Aisha Falode and chairmen of the women's clubs on Tuesday. 

"The management committee of the Nigeria Women's Football League headed by Aisha Falode in conjunction with women club owners and managers have unanimously agreed to scrap the 2019/2020 season, in the three tiers of the women's league, for the sake of protecting the health of the players and officials in the various clubs, in line with the Covid-19 protocols," the NWFL announced in a statement made available to Goal.

"In the communique signed after the virtual meeting, it was also agreed that clubs should be encouraged to prepare for the 2020/2021 season contingent upon the time the protocol for resuming sporting activities is approved, as the league will resume after approval has been given to the Protocol for the resumption of sporting activities document submitted by the Minister of Sports to the Covid-19 Taskforce and the National Assembly and NFF lifts the ban on football activities.

"The meeting also agreed that clubs are to continue to observe the existing Protocol guidelines put in place by the NCDC and the Covid-19 Presidential Taskforce as the League Board will not compromise standards, therefore, 2020/2021 will continue by abiding by the existing registration and every cup to should ensure that all necessary registration requirement should be put in place, as all registration for 2019/2020 will be carried over to 2020/2021.

"According to the communique, clubs to use the period of the break to complete all registration processes including evidence of up to date payment of salaries to their players.

"In view of the approval of Caf to commence the Caf Women Champions League in 2021, it was agreed that the 2020/2021 Nigeria Women Premier League season will be structured as a full season (straight league) with a plan to organize another draw for this purpose. 

"The league leadership urged all clubs to display and give quality representation on the continent during the inaugural Caf Women Champions League. Clubs are advised to give a good account of themselves.

"Also at the virtual meeting, the Head of NWFL Management Committee, Aisha Falode, briefed the club chairmen and managers of Fifa Covid-19 Solidarity fund relief to the Confederation and National Associations with specific reference to USD 500,000.00 to each National Association for women's football development, noting that it is the prerogative of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to determine the breakdown.

"The meeting also urged club owners to unite themselves and put the past behind, for the sake of women's football growth in Nigeria. And most importantly, the meeting eventually resolved the issue of a faction between the club owners and it is now one family."

The development means champions Rivers Angels will now have to defend their title in the 2020-21 season which doubles as the qualifiers for the inaugural Caf Women's Champions League.

Nigeria is now the latest country in Africa to cancel its women's leagues after Uganda, Morocco, South Africa, Algeria, Kenya, Liberia, Cameroon, Senegal and Burkina Faso due to Covid-19.

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has opened up on his attempts to "stimulate" his squad in north London, while insisting that he hates "silence" and "monologues".

Mourinho accused his players of a lack of desire in a 3-1 Premier League loss to Sheffield United and claimed the sight of his team being beaten through a basic will to win "destroys me a little bit on the inside".

Part of the problem in modern sides, according to the 57-year-old tactician, is that it is too easy for players to isolate themselves on social media or by using games consoles even when staying at team hotels.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss is determined to improve the communication between his Spurs stars, although he insists that will not involve lectures on his part.

"If I think overall, comparing examples of my time as an assistant coach, Barcelona, Porto, 25 years ago or so, the players they used to be together all the time," Mourinho told a press conference ahead of a meeting with relegation-threatened Bournemouth on Thursday.

"No Xbox, PlayStation, social media. Quite the beginning of mobile phones. But players used to spend all the time together. Even when you go to hotels, together all the time, [it is] much easier to develop intimacy, trust, build a certain dynamic in the group.

"In a hotel, every player has his own bedroom, they go there, they are not alone, they are on Zoom, FaceTime, they are on social media 'together' playing some Xbox or PlayStation, but they don't need to share the same space. Just a society thing - the interaction is different. But probably at a personality level, you don't get the same kind of communication that you had.

"We need to stimulate it all the time, not to be closed in their own shell. It's a team effort, team group, team sport - you don't play alone. A team has to be more than the sum of the individuals. You need to interact, communicate, share ideas. You need to discuss what happened in the game, need to motivate each other. I believe this; I believe there are some managers that don't do that.

"I am upset with silence. I hate the silence in a dressing room, in a meeting, I hate monologues, I don't like to be in front of the players, speaking for 20 minutes without interaction. Something I stimulate, my way of being, my way of leading. My team the other day showed me the other day they need to improve at that level."

Mourinho has also warned his players that showing the right attitude is "not negotiable" as he looks to create a stronger sense of unity within the squad.

Monday's 1-0 victory over Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium included a clash between Hugo Lloris and Heung-min Son shortly before half-time, in which team-mates had to keep the pair apart, although Mourinho insisted he was "very happy" to see such a level of passion.

The Spurs boss says he has made it clear that such displays of character are essential to "winning teams", with motivation and intensity levels often going hand in hand.

"I always say that in winning teams, and I told the players that I can speak about winning teams because I belong to some of them, that there are things that are not negotiable," Mourinho added.

"What is not negotiable is a certain attitude, soul, DNA, character. Then you can, in a better day or not, face an opponent who makes it easier or difficult for you.

"[There is] unpredictability in football games, sometimes you deserve to win and sometimes you don't, but some things are not negotiable. Character: being demanding with yourself, with each other. Sometimes [you must] be an external source of motivation for the guy who plays in the same team as you. That leads many times to disagreement, discussion, but I think it's a really, really important thing.

"So, I was very happy with the team attitude during the game. Of course, I would prefer the little discussion to happen inside the dressing room, not outside - people can interpret [it] a different way. But I think it was a new thing in the team, a thing players do more times internally, be demanding with each other and grow up together."

Arsenal have appealed Eddie Nketiah’s red card against Leicester City.

The Gunners striker was sent off for a challenge on James Justin just four minutes after replacing Alexandre Lacazette in the second half of Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with the Foxes.

Nketiah was initially only shown a yellow card by referee Christopher Kavanagh, but the match official upgraded the punishment to a red after reviewing the incident on the pitch side VAR monitor.

Gunners head coach Mikel Arteta was infuriated by the decision, especially as Jamie Vardy had escaped punishment for kicking Shokdran Mustafi in the head during a clash just before half-time.

“With the red card, he doesn't see the player and you have to know that he is a young kid,” said Arsenal’s head coach. "But if that is a red card then Leicester have to play with 10 men after 42 minutes. That has to be a red card as well.

“If we review incidents of that type, we review them all. It has to be something equal for everybody because it changes the game completely. If Eddie is a red card, then for sure the other one is a red card."

Nketiah stands to miss Sunday’s north London derby against Spurs through suspension, as well as the home game with Liverpool next Wednesday and the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley, but Arsenal have now launched a two-pronged appeal, both in terms of the red card and the three-game suspension.

The north London club are appealing on the grounds of wrongful decision, as well as excessive punishment. So if the first appeal gets thrown out, they are hoping to at least get Nketiah’s ban reduced.

The Football Association will make a decision by the end of the week.

Arteta revealed after Tuesday night’s draw that Nketiah had apologised to his team-mates in the changing room soon after the full-time whistle. Arsenal had been leading 1-0 at the time thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal, only for Jamie Vardy to equalise 10 minutes after the sending off.

Gunners left-back Kieran Tierney spoke after the game and felt the forward had been hard done by.

“I had a view [of the tackle], to me it looked totally accidental,” said Tierney. “Obviously I've not seen it in slow motion like the referee, I didn't get a chance but for me it's accidental and Eddie is not the kind of player who would do anything like that.”

Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood "can get the best out of each other", according to Dimitar Berbatov, who has backed the homegrown stars to shine for Manchester United.

Greenwood's rise to prominence has gathered considerable pace since the resumption of the Premier League on June 17.

The 18-year-old has hit three goals in his last two starts for United, taking his overall tally for the season to 15 in all competitions.

His latest efforts came during a 5-2 triumph over Bournemouth on Saturday, as he once again showed off his impressive finishing ability with both feet.

The teenage forward has been tipped to earn a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad on the back of his recent performances, and it has also been suggested that he deserves to start in the coveted number nine position for the Red Devils.

Anthony Martial currently occupies that role, with Rashford now deployed on the left after recovering from a back injury which saw him sidelined at the start of January.

Rashford has helped himself to 20 goals in 2019-20, but it has been reported that Greenwood could end up pushing him out of the team if he continues on his current trajectory.

Berbatov sees no reason why such a scenario should arise, with it his belief that all three of United's main attackers are capable of working together in unison for the foreseeable future.

The ex-United striker told Betfair: "Sometimes, when a young star comes through, it can worry other players who may lose their place, but I don't think this is the case here and for me, players like Marcus Rashford have nothing to worry about, all three attacking players can complement each other as we've seen. 

"The mix of youth and experience is good, this is all beneficial for everyone. No one should worry, they should feel joy, the competition makes you a better player, and it's very positive for the club.

"Rashford and Greenwood can get the best out of each other in the games to come, when you have a front three of them and Anthony Martial, it is so flexible, so quick, so adaptable. No one has a fixed position, they can swap positions and explore the entire final third independently. You can't try to stop this, you must let them improvise.

"It's important for Greenwood to stay relatively level-headed right now. He obviously knows he has quality and a good environment around him, so it's hard to be extremely humble, but it's certainly easier to be more guarded than others might be. 

"He can be as arrogant as he likes on the pitch, it will actually help him, but once the game is over you have to be respectful, and people will appreciate that and respect you more for it."

Jose Mourinho's fear of getting "in trouble" put the Tottenham boss on the defensive regarding the subject of Eric Dier's four-game ban.

Spurs midfielder Dier was hit with the sanction , along with a £40,000 fine, by the Football Association on Wednesday after his altercation with a fan following the penalty shoot-out FA Cup defeat to Norwich City in March.

The England international climbed into the stands having been angered by the actions of a supporter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Dier was handed a misconduct charge in April and, although he denied his actions had been threatening, an independent regulatory commission found otherwise.

Asked to give his response to the punishment and whether the club would appeal, Mourinho said: "If I answer, I'm going to be in trouble and I don't want to be.

"I don't think [there will be an appeal], honestly, because if you appeal you have other risks. At least let's start next season without a suspension.

"We all know how it works. You have access, if you want, to the record of appeals, successful appeals and unsuccessful appeals. I don't think so, I don't think we're going to appeal."

The suspension means Dier will be absent for all but one of Spurs' remaining five games, with Mourinho revealing a certain ambivalence towards the 26-year-old.

"I think he had a strange last season. A very strange current season," he said, admitting there was some debate over Dier's best position. "We made a decision together, I told him immediately since my arrival, let's go together in a certain direction, but I think you are not ready.

"So, let's go back to a certain level of being a midfielder, but also with an eye to transforming to a centre-back, where he feels more comfortable.

"Even when we were working on Zoom, we were working with him, totally focused on being a centre-back, so he develops a number of skills, becomes much more adapted to that position.

"Then we decided [against] Manchester United, first match [after the resumption], we'd go with him in that position. Using this period to fight for points and objectives in relation to the table but also looking forward to the next season.

"I think he played a very good match against Sheffield [United]. We all made a few mistakes but defensively the team was very consistent. He was very consistent playing against some of the best strikers.

"I think he's doing very, very well, we look forward to next season, where we have no doubts that he's there as a centre back and I think an important player for us."

If Leicester City eventually end in the Champions League spots, Kelechi Iheanacho will likely play a vital role in making it happen.

Those are words that were somewhat inconceivable at the start of the season, especially after Brendan Rodgers left him out totally against Sheffield United in August. At the time, the former Manchester City frontman hadn’t played a minute of action and was expected to be third choice in attack behind the ageless Jamie Vardy and newly signed Ayoze Perez.

Having failed to make a Premier League appearance until December, his influence in their current position in the table has been significant. The 23-year-old may not be as prolific as Vardy, who’s the league’s top scorer with 21 strikes, but he’s come up trumps for the 2016 league champions too.

A devastating 23-minute cameo against Everton saw the Foxes turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 success (he assisted Vardy and scored a late, late winner), while he was involved in two goals seven days later at Aston Villa.

Also, there was an important FA Cup winner against Brentford in January, while the important League Cup equalizer vs Villa at Villa Park was, unfortunately, rendered unimportant as Trezeguet found a late winner in second-half stoppage time.

However, Iheanacho’s influence since the resumption has been vital to the Foxes hanging on to their European spot.

The former City protege has scored arguably their two most important goals post-restart, halving the deficit at Everton and scoring the opening strike in a tight game vs Crystal Palace at the weekend. While he knew very little about the strike against Carlo Ancelotti’s men, the goal gave Rodgers’ side the much-needed push to try and find an equalizer, which never came.

Against the Eagles on Saturday, the Nigerian forward opened the scoring four minutes after half-time connecting to a perfect low cross from Youri Tielemans. After seeing the hosts struggle to make inroads into dangerous areas in a largely frustrating first-half, Iheanacho’s strike opened up the game and allowed Rodgers’ men to pick Roy Hodgson’s side apart.

Leicester created four big chances after the interval (including the ex-City man’s goal) to just one in the first 45 minutes which showed how freely they played after edging in front. Interestingly, Rodgers’ troops ceded possession to the London outfit, too, which allowed them to catch the visitors on the break, which ultimately led to Vardy’s second of the afternoon, his 101st Prem strike.

Having seen his team have the lion’s share of possession in preceding games with little success in creating opportunities, the Nigerian’s early second-half strike allowed the East Midlanders to approach the rest of the game differently.

Possession stats against Watford, Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton read 69, 66 and 66 percent respectively but they created a miserly two big chances in 270 minutes.

Against Palace, they fashioned a staggering five [big chances] over 90 minutes, with four coming when they sat deeper and broke at speed. This may have been impossible had their back-up forward not scored so early after half-time to settle the nerves as the Foxes appeared primed for yet another poor result.

It put a positive spin on their situation going into Tuesday night’s game against a resurgent Arsenal side at the Emirates Stadium, and the Northern Irish manager put faith in Iheanacho alongside the durable Vardy as he matched Mikel Arteta’s 3-4-3 formation.

Leicester’s fifth-highest scorer was the away side’s most promising attacker against the Gunners, proving to be a threat with his movement and predatory instinct. This was evident in the 12th-minute when a well-worked corner on the left eventually found its way to Iheanacho who held his run and was found by Marc Albrighton’s cut-back but was thwarted by Emiliano Martinez’s right boot.

He would have brought the Foxes level 10 minutes after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring in a move similar to the opener against Palace, with Vardy finding him at the far post with a precise cross. While the 2013 U-17 World Cup winner scored, a foul on Saed Kolasinac in the build-up meant the strike was chalked off.

In fairness, Iheanacho’s influence faded as the match wore on but he carried a greater threat than his strike partner until his withdrawal on the hour. Still, the Englishman couldn’t get into the game despite Rodgers’ changes and the Foxes didn’t look like finding the leveller they longed for.

Eddie Nketiah’s sending off in the 75th-minute, four minutes after coming on, made things interesting in the final minutes, and Vardy eventually found the equalizer with six minutes of normal time remaining.

As odd as it sounds, the Foxes carried little threat after the striker's withdrawal which left their top scorer isolated in the middle, a bugbear for Rodgers since the restart in June.

Despite having the majority of the ball in the final half-hour, they created little and missed another goalscoring threat. This underlines the West African’s importance in the team, despite not being the first-choice striker.

Interestingly, a dive into the side’s statistics present interesting facts: according to FBref, excluding penalties, Iheanacho averages 0.94 goals and assists per 90 minutes, the highest average in the side and significantly superior to Vardy’s 0.73 G+A per 90.

Also, he beats the Englishman’s non-penalty Expected Goals plus Expected Assists per 90 minutes (0.74 to 0.57), which highlights how effective he has been this season to score five times and set up three goals, despite averaging 49 minutes per game.

While Vardy may be the division’s top scorer, his struggles since the turn of the year, recent goals aside, mean Rodgers could harness the usefulness of Iheanacho in the final third as Leicester seek to keep the in-form chasing pack at bay and retain their top four place with four games to play.

Former Black Leopards forward Joseph Mhlongo has attracted interest from Highlands Park and Chippa United. 

The 29-year-old player is a free agent after he decided against renewing his last contract with Leopards which expired at the end of last month.

His agent, Ratshibvumo Mulovhedzi confirmed Highlands Park and Chippa are still interested in Mhlongo with the current season having been halted due to the coronavirus pandemic since mid-March 2020.

“These clubs have always been interested in his services just before the Covid-19 pandemic broke, and things slowed down. But I’m sure that they are still interested,” Mulovhedzi told Daily Sun.

“Most of these clubs offered him pre-contracts but we delayed to give Leopards first preference.

"But with the revised offer from Leopards, we realized Mhlongo is no longer young and he wanted to get something better and solid."

Mhlongo, who can operate as an attacking midfielder and striker, has also been linked with the Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in the past.

This was after he played an important role in helping Leopards secure promotion to the top-flight league from the National First Division (NFD) as they won the 2017/18 PSL Promotion/Relegation play-offs.

Mulovhedzi confirmed his client is targeting an enticing offer with the former Ubuntu Cape Town player set to turn 30 in September 2020.

“But we would like to thank Leopards and we respect them for their professionalism," the player-manager added.

"They have been with us all along and understood that Mhlongo had to grow. It was not a bad offer that they presented, but we felt we could get him more for his age.”

Mhlongo was mostly used as an impact player from the bench at Leopards having registered three assists and scored once in 38 matches in the PSL.

The 2017/18 season was his best campaign during his three-year spell with Lidoda Duvha as he hit the back of the net five times in 22 matches for the team in the NFD.

He was then heavily linked with the two biggest football clubs in the country, Chiefs and Pirates ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, but Leopards managed to retain his services.

Dimitar Berbatov has revealed that he was pleased to see Tottenham players involved in a half-time, on-field spat during their Premier League clash with Everton.

Hugo Lloris raced over to remonstrate with team-mate Heung-Min Son during Monday's meeting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, despite the hosts holding a 1-0 advantage at the time.

The Spurs skipper explained afterwards that he confronted the South Korea international over his lack of pressing of the opposition, adding that there was no issue between the pair and that all had been resolved.

Indeed, Jose Mourinho admitted it was "beautiful" to see the two players showing passion for the cause, with Berbatov claiming that he wants to see more incidents like that from the north Londoners.

He told Betfair: "To be honest I was happy with the Spurs result against Everton, sometimes you just need grit to progress. When I was at United and we became champions, we won most games 1-0 consistently, it's the most important result in football. Three points equal three points, no matter how you get them. 

"Son and Lloris' bust up was nothing, the desire to be a winner is always high and we should see this more often from Spurs players, it shows you care, you want to win, and you have the fire to do it.

"If players aren't doing their job, they need to let each other know, even if they fight a little bit. In a way, Mourinho is right, and it was a beautiful thing to see. The only issue is that we, the fans, also saw it, and maybe it would have been better in the dressing room, but overall it's good to see the fire there.

"There were many fiery players when I was playing, everyone wanted to win. If the ref was a coach, you could bust up with them, with other players, there were fights often broken up.

"It was like this a lot at United, when [Nemanja] Vidic was kicking someone and didn’t care, you would argue and fight, but afterwards you know it's OK. We all wanted to win, and we knew that of each other.

"If I did something wrong, Giggsy would tell me, and I would say to myself 'come on now'. Patrice [Evra] was in a bust up a few times, Vidic also, it was mostly defenders as they're the tough ones. 

"I don't remember the last time Spurs did that, they have been very controlled with no anger. It was a pleasant surprise, I was like 'f*cking finally', he is captain and that is his job to let them know to be better.

"Again, maybe wait for the dressing room, but in that moment it can be an uncontrollable impulse. it was passionate, it was necessary, and when it comes from your captain you take it on the chin and do better next time."

Dimitar Berbatov has mentioned Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Mason Greenwood as the players who could potentially emulate Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the future.

The duo, who have shared 11 Ballon d'Or awards between them and are widely considered two of the greatest players to have ever played the game, are both now in their 30s and may not be far off the end of their respective careers.

Paris Saint-Germain duo Mbappe and Neymar have long been touted as having the potential to be world football's two biggest stars when Ronaldo and Messi decide to call it quits, with both having arrived at the French club for enormous transfer fees.

And Berbatov also mentioned Greenwood, who has burst onto the scene at Manchester United and been one of the club's best players since the Premier League restart, as being another who could one day reach the very highest level.

When asked about his former team-mate at Old Trafford, Berbatov told Betfair: "On Friday, it will be two years since my former team-mate, Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Juventus.

"No one can say Cristiano hasn't been amazing in Italy, especially considering his age. He's 35 now, oh my God, most players have dropped a level by now, what he's still doing is unbelievable.

"He takes care of himself very well, probably better than he ever has, because at that age you need to work harder to stay in good shape. Messi and Ronaldo, we need to treasure them, because when it's over, it's over. They have been more than special.

"It will be one of the saddest days in world football when Ronaldo finishes playing, even those who dislike him will appreciate him. The day will come, but hopefully not for some time yet. When he's finished, other players will come, even Pele and Maradona were eventually replaced - life is a circle.

"We have Neymar, Mbappe, Greenwood, and other young players that can hopefully reach the highs of Ronaldo and Messi, as unbelievable as that may seem."

On Ronaldo's impact on the global game, with the 35-year-old having earned a reputation as one of the greatest ever for his performances for United, Real Madrid and now Juventus, Berbatov added: "Real Madrid haven't been the same since he left.

"He was a huge part of the team. He scored so many goals it's scary, he won so many trophies, and when he left, there was a big hole from his absence. Madrid will move forward, and they already have done, but he's definitely still being missed over there.

"If, and when Messi leaves Barcelona, how do you fill that gap? They have to move forward, but in a different way.

"My favourite moment with Ronaldo was when I set him up for the easiest goal of his life, against West Ham. I was going to finish it myself, but I was feeling generous that day. 

"We always saw how professional he was, we all wanted to work as hard as him, but that's why he achieved so much. All players can learn from each other, even if not by asking, just by observing.

"He was so good at an early age, he never needed advice. He always stayed after training to work hard which we all saw. We were lucky to be part of a team with him, [Ryan] Giggs, [Paul] Scholes, [Wayne] Rooney, [Gary] Neville, so many more, all the players could learn from each other."

Melis Medo has revealed he supports the decision by Wazito FC owner Ricardo Badoer to sack 11 players for allegedly “lacking love for the game.”

Goal exclusively reported on Tuesday Wazito had released 11 players, among them, long-serving custodian Steven Njunge, midfielder Teddy Osok, forwards Victor Ndinya, Pistone Mutamba, Derrick Otanga, and goalkeeper Kevin Omondi.

While the foreign quartet of Paul Acquah from Ghana, DR Congo's Piscas Kirenge, Augustine Otu of Liberia, and Togolese Issifou Bourahana were not spared either.

In an extraordinary tweet, the club's owner Badoer has explained why he axed the players, accusing the departed 11 of "eating his money".

“Today the Wazito FC cleaning continues," he wrote on his @Donrico77 handle. "Kicking out no good f*cking hyena players that were recruited without my approval.

“All they did was to eat my money and lose games. I wish them the best on the f*cking streets where they belong.

“They lacked self-respect and love for the game."

Medo, who once coached Wazito before he was unceremoniously fired, has now defended the club’s boss for taking the decision and further said he should have done it seven months.

“Not all players deserve to go but I actually support Ricco’s decision,” Medo told Goal on Wednesday. “I said the same thing seven months ago these players were not ready to play for the team and nobody believed me.

“I also want to believe the boss when he said they were all signed without his approval.

“Actually, [Badoer] should have done these changes seven months ago, only one man keeps harming that team but he is no longer there.”

Asked whether the latest decision will spur Wazito to the title next season, Medo explained: “Not really but I am sure they will do the right thing this time around, Badoer wants commitment and fighting spirit from his players with good play, and that is what he is asking from the team.

“I agree with him 100 percent and I know they will do a great job this time, I am sure Ricco, Dennis [Gicheru[ and Fred [Ambani] will do magic together this time around.”

Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula has called for Badoer’s deportation for his "f*cking hyena players" comments.

Shimanyula said the Wazito boss should be deported for his lack of respect for Kenya and its players.

“Where is he from in the first place?” Shimanyula asked in an interview with Goal on Wednesday.

 “He should desist from belittling the Kenyan players. He should be deported as soon as possible. These are the kind of people who hate a country they are residing in and end up abusing Kenyans.

“How can he openly hate Kenya and the players? Even if he has got money that is his own money. Men have got money but they never brag about the same and abuse Kenyans.

“Let him be deported quickly. Let him take his money, the little money he brags of with, to his home country. He has done a grave mistake of calling Kenyans hyenas.”

Medo has also handled Sofapaka and Nakumatt FC in the Kenyan top-flight.

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer feels David de Gea has been the world's best goalkeeper for the last decade.

De Gea is poised to overtake United great Peter Schmeichel as the overseas player with the most appearances for the club, having initially joined from Atletico Madrid in 2011.

A number of high-profile mistakes, including a calamitous error in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham, have led to questions over the Spain international's future as No 1, especially with Dean Henderson thriving on loan at Sheffield United, but after Schmeichel insisted De Gea is the right goalkeeper for United over the long-term, Solskjaer was in agreement.

"David has had some fantastic seasons here now and next year is his 10th," Solskjaer said ahead of United's away Premier League game against Aston Villa on Thursday. "He has proven [former goalkeeping coach] Eric Steele right, that we believed in him. 

"He had a little bit of a tough ride early on, with the physicality of football in England, but, for me, he has been the best goalkeeper in the world over the last nine or 10 years.

"Just to work with him closely, you see he's still keen to learn, he's still working hard. Richard [Hartis] coming in with Craig [Mawson] as the coaches, I think they've reignited a little bit of a spark in David and he's working really hard in training."

The back problem sustained by centre-back Victor Lindelof against Bournemouth was described by Solskjaer as "not bad" and he may be able to play a part against Villa.

If not, Eric Bailly is likely to step in, with Solskjaer not feeling pressure to rotate his squad as he ponders whether to name an unchanged starting XI for the fourth straight top-flight game.

"There are not many that haven't played in the last two weeks," he said of his players not in that team. "They all know they are fit and available, that they are valued. It's not an issue. 

"There are so many things to play for. Trophies - the FA Cup, the Europa League - but also the top four in the league. The group is very tight knit and they all know they've got a part to play."

Nigerian football legend Victor Ikpeba has advised coach Gernot Rohr to invite Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka to the Super Eagles.

The 18-year-old, who has been with the Gunners since he was seven years old, has been turning heads since making his first-team debut in 2018 under Unai Emery, impressing with his dribbling skills, trickery and eye for a killer pass.

Saka continued with his awe-inspiring form in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City – his 23rd appearance in the English top-flight this term.

He supplied the assist for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal by making a beautiful cross to the Gabon international, who fired past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel for his 20th goal of the season.

In awe of his showing against the Foxes, the 1997 Africa Player of the Year wants the German tactician to hand the youngster a Super Eagles chance.

“Watching the Arsenal versus Leicester City game and I think Gernot Rohr should invite Bukayo Saka to the Super Eagles camp once the paperwork have been concluded,” Ikpeba tweeted.

Despite representing England at U16, U17, U18 and U19 levels, the Ealing-born teenager remains eligible to represent Nigeria at senior level.

Speaking to BBC Sport in December 2019, the winger said he was weighing up his international options and will not rush his conclusion.

"I am always thinking about it but I haven't made a decision yet," he said.

"No-one has been in touch but when I make a decision you will find out."

Meanwhile, Rohr earlier in 2020 said players must first show interest in playing for the three-time African champions before an invitation can be extended to them.

Saka will remain at the Emirates Stadium for the foreseeable future after committing to the Gunners earlier this month.

He scored his first Premier League goal in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on July 4.

Thus, he became the second-youngest English player to score a Premier League goal for the Gunners after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who achieved the feat against Blackburn Rovers in 2012. 

Mikel Arteta’s men travel to the London Stadium on Sunday for their derby against Tottenham Hotspur as they continue their pursuit for a place in Europe next season.

Like most other major football competitions, the 2019-20 Champions League and Europa League tournaments were drastically impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Action is, however, set to resume in August, with UEFA altering the normal structure of each competition in order to fit games into a tight window before the beginning of the 2020-21 season.

The European governing body is gearing up for the knockout round draws in July, but when will they take place and which teams are involved?

Goal brings you everything you need to know about the upcoming Champions League and Europa League draws.

Contents

When are the Champions League & Europa League quarter-final & semi-final draws?

The 2019-20 Champions League and Europa League quarter-final and semi-final draws will be held on Friday July 10.

Proceedings for the Champions League draw will commence at 11am BST (6am ET). The corresponding Europa League draws will take place an hour later at 12 noon BST (7am ET).

Which teams are involved in the Champions League draws?

When the draw is made on July 10, only four teams are confirmed for the quarter-finals. They are: Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain.

The remaining four teams will be the winners of the following ties: Chelsea vs Bayern Munich, Barcelona vs Napoli, Real Madrid vs Manchester City and Juventus vs Lyon.

Which teams are involved in the Europa League draws?

The teams carefully watching the Europa League draw are those involved in the eight last-16 ties. The winners will take their place in the quarter-finals.

Where will the draws take place?

The Champions League and Europa League draws will take place at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland - the customary venue for such events.

How can I watch the draws?

UEFA will stream the draws live on its official website uefa.com - meaning you will be able to follow the proceedings via your computer or tablet device.

You will also be able to follow all the news as it happens, as well as reaction to the draw on Goal's live blog, which will run during the draws on Friday morning into the afternoon.

When & where are the games taking place?

The remaining Champions League last-16 matches will be played on August 7/8, while the Europa League last-16 games will be played on August 5/6.

Due to the public health concerns and delays brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, the Champions League and Europa League will be concluded in mini-tournament format.

So, from the quarter-final stage on in each competition, every game will be a straight knockout tie and games will take place in a single host country.

When will the Champions League mini-tournament take place?

The dates for the Champions League 2019-20 mini knockout tournament are:

Where will the Champions League mini-tournament take place?

The 2019-20 Champions League mini-tournament will be played in Lisbon, Portugal.

Two stadiums will host the remaining quarter-final and semi-final matches: Sporting's Estadio Jose Alvalade and Benfica's Estadio da Luz.

The final will be played at Estadio da Luz.

When will the Europa League mini-tournament take place?

The dates for the Europa League 2019-20 mini knockout tournament are:

Where will the Europa League mini-tournament take place?

The 2019-20 Europa League mini-tournament will be played in venues across four cities in Germany: Gelsenkirchen, Duisburg, Dusseldorf and Cologne.

The stadiums in question are Koln's RheinEnergieStadion, Duisburg's MSV-Arena, Fortuna Dusseldorg's Merkur Spiel-Arena and Schalke's Arena AufSchalke.

Koln's RheinEnergieStadion has been confirmed as the venue for the 2020 Europa League final.

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Wazito FC have parted ways with Stephen Patrick from Ireland who was hired as the video analyst.

Patrick is the second coach to leave the Kenyan side after head coach Stewart Hall agreed to terminate his contract with the 2018/19 National Super League (NSL) champions.

The Irish analyst was hired in January as Wazito aimed at setting a new standard in the KPL even though the results on the pitch were not impressive.

“Yes, it is true [Stephen] Patrick has left the club. He and Wazito agreed to end their contract mutually,” a close source to the club told Goal on Wednesday.

“I cannot tell whether his contract was long enough to see him return to Wazito for the 2020/21 season but what I know is that he has indeed left.”

The Irish coach arrived at the same time as Augustine Otu, who had been signed from Petroleum Refining Company FC of Liberia after impressive trials with the Nairobi-based side.

Patrick’s arrival coincided with Wazito’s ability to air their matches on their sister Online Television station the Madgoat TV.

His exit comes two days after Hall left the club he had joined in November to take charge after Melis Medo was unceremoniously sacked.

Wazito became the first club to announce the exit of their head coach and the sacking of 11 players before the next campaign begins.

After struggling in the top tier, Wazito were lucky to remain there as they were 13th on the log when the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) ended the league in May due to the coronavirus restrictions.

As Hall departed, citing the need to spend time with the family in the UK, he was satisfied he and his technical team which Patrick was part of, did a good job since they were hired by the club.

“Together with my technical team, we worked really hard, the players did their part and together we managed to get some good results,” the former AFC Leopards coach stated earlier this week.

“Just before the league was stopped by the Covid-19 pandemic, we were unbeaten in almost ten matches and this shows the strides we had made as a team.

“As I depart, I want to thank the club management, the players, the other members of the technical bench, and everyone associated with the club, it was an honour to work with you. I wish the club all the best for the future, I believe I have put in a good foundation to steer the team forward.”

Among the players who have been released at Wazito include Steven Njunge, midfielder Teddy Osok, Victor Ndinya, Pistone Mutamba, Derrick Otanga, Kevin Omondi, Paul Acquah, Piscas Kirenge, Augustine Otu, and Issifou Bourahana.

Arsenal may decide to offload Mesut Ozil to protect their "next generation" of talent, according to Martin Keown.

After being shut out of Unai Emery's plans in the first half of the 2019-20 campaign, Ozil was restored to the starting line-up when Mikel Arteta inherited the managerial reins in December.

The German midfielder showed flashes of his best form as Arsenal made an unbeaten start to 2020, but the coronavirus outbreak disrupted his progress.

The Premier League was placed on hiatus for three months, and fixtures have been played behind closed doors since the season resumed on June 17.

Ozil has not seen a single minute of action since the restart, with Arteta publicly suggesting that 31-year-old's fitness levels have fallen below the required standard.

Given his reported £350,000 in weekly wages, and the fact he has sat out the Gunners' last seven matches, questions are again being asked over his future at the Emirates Stadium.

Ozil only has one year left to run on his current contract, and Keown expects Arsenal to cut their losses on a divisive figure this summer, so that the club's younger players are not tempted to follow the same example he has set during his time in north London.

Asked if the German still has a future at the Emirates, the former Gunners defender told Stadium Astro: "No, I don’t think he does and I think really this summer now they may see the player being paid off, because I think now it’s about protecting the next generation.

"I think it’s a real shame, because he had a magnificent talent, but if you’re not prepared to work hard out of possession for the team, then you don’t get to play in the new Arsenal at the moment and that’s what Arteta is all about. 

"Work ethic comes first and then everything else is a bonus, you play from there. Clearly he’s not seeing enough on the training pitch."

Keown went on to express his belief that Ozil has been guilty of coasting at Arsenal in recent years while raking in more money than any other player currently on the club's books.

He added: "People go into comfort zones whether they like it or not, they can’t often see it. But, you know, that must have played a part. He’s a millionaire every month, after tax. 

"My attitude to that is every player should get the best contract they can, and if he’s performing he deserves that, but when he doesn’t, it’s very expensive for Arsenal Football Club.

"It maybe sends the complete wrong message to some of those youngsters, he’s had opportunities he hasn’t taken."

Bidvest Wits midfielder Cole Alexander says no team has approached him so far but he “would consider going back” to his former club SuperSport United, if an opportunity comes arises.

After Wits’ Premier Soccer League (PSL) status was sold to GladAfrica Championship side Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila, Alexander stated that he is not willing to relocate to Limpopo.

This places the 30-year-old on the transfer market together with other Wits players who are not ready to play for Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila next season.

However, Limpopo is not unfamiliar territory for Alexander who has previously spent two seasons at Polokwane City.

As he prefers to remain in Gauteng, the former Ajax Cape Town midfielder says he is open to returning to SuperSport United, a club he says he has “big respect for.”

“Look, SuperSport haven't engaged with me yet and I haven't spoken to Stan Mathews,” Alexander told Sowetan Live.

“Yeah, I have been with SuperSport in the past and I have always said that they are a good club, I enjoyed my time there. I have big respect for the club and I would consider going back if the opportunity comes my way.

“I’m still contracted to Wits and I'm left with one year. So no team has approached me or anything. As players, we want to work and this Covid-19 affected everyone in the country. We are just waiting to return and to play, that's all.”

During his previous stint at SuperSport, Alexander played under Stuart Baxter and then Eric Tinkler, with current Matsatsantsa coach Kaitano Tembo being an assistant coach then.

This makes Tembo aware of the midfielder’s qualities and might consider him for his squad next season. Alexander has spent the last two-and-half seasons at Wits, whom he joined from SuperSport.

This term, the former Chippa United man has so far made 27 appearances for Wits across all competitions, scoring just one goal and making an assist.

Kieran Tierney says Arsenal players have total belief in Mikel Arteta and insists there is much more to come under the Spaniard.

The Gunners are showing clear signs of improvement under Arteta, who replaced previous head coach Unai Emery in December and has lost just three of his 16 Premier League games in charge so far.

Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Leicester City ended a run of four successive victories for Arsenal, but once again there was plenty to be encouraged about in the way they played - especially in the first half when they dominated the Foxes.

And Tierney says the improving form is down to one man.

"The boss," he said. "The boss has been brilliant.

"I think we had a period to work closely and obviously coming back we had a few weeks to work without games.

"We did that, we worked hard every day and continued into the games - the first few results we got weren’t ideal but we are building something here and it isn’t going to happen overnight. 

"I think everybody can see we are progressing well, we have still got a long way to go but we are doing all we can, listening to everything he says and we all believe."

Tuesday night’s draw leaves Arsenal seventh in the Premier League ahead of Sunday’s trip to Tottenham.

It will be Tierney’s first taste of the north London derby as he missed the 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season due to injury.

And the Scotland international says he and his team-mates must shrug off the disappointment of dropping points against Leicester as they continue to battle for a Europa League spot.

"It is a massive game for the club and a massive game for the fans," he said.

"We will pick ourselves up, there are positives to take from tonight - we are disappointed about the result and dropping two points but there are still positives and we will pick ourselves up 100 per cent and go again."

Tierney added: "Everybody wants to play European football and wants to finish as high up as we can. 

"Every game now is going to be tough in their own different ways but we look forward to the challenge."

Arsenal will be without Eddie Nketiah for the game at Spurs after the striker’s sending off against Leicester.

With Arsenal still leading thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s first-half goal, Nketiah was brought on to replace Alexandre Lacazette with 20 minutes remaining but was dismissed just four minutes later for a high lunge on James Justin.

And Leicester took full advantage of their extra man, with Jamie Vardy snatching a point for the visitors with a late equaliser.

"There were positives to take but the dressing room was a bit down with the draw," Tierney added.

"Of course, a red card is always a game-changer, especially against a team like Leicester who keep the ball. 

"We did enough to win the game, getting the second goal would have been crucial. In the changing room we are all down and disappointed and we felt we played well."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has lauded Bruno Fernandes for his "very good start" to life at Old Trafford, insisting the Manchester United talisman "has lifted everyone".

United have enjoyed a significant upturn in results since Fernandes' arrival from Sporting CP in the winter transfer window.

€55 million (£50m/$62m) was invested in a player who had yet to test himself at the very highest level of the game, but he quickly settled into his new surroundings to justify that sizeable fee.

The Red Devils haven't lost a game with Fernandes orchestrating proceedings in the middle of the park, and they could extend their recent unbeaten run to 17 matches in all competitions if they secure an away win against Aston Villa on Thursday.

The 25-year-old has recorded seven goals and six assists in his first 14 outings in United colours, helping Solskjaer's side to re-emerge as top-four contenders and potential FA Cup and Europa League winners.

Ahead of the Red Devils' trip to Villa Park, Solskjaer has talked up Fernandes' impact on the rest of the squad, while also expressing his belief that the ex-Sporting star has benefitted from being around players of the same calibre at Old Trafford.

The Norwegian boss told a press conference: “I think it’s gone both ways. Bruno has come into the club, seen how many good players there are at Manchester United, that we’ve helped him and how his attributes are as well, and it’s been a good little relationship blossoming and he can also feel we help him improve.

"He’s come in and lifted everyone and it’s been a very, very good start so far.”

Another man who has been integral to United's resurgence has been Nemanja Matic, who was rewarded for his recent performances with a new three-year contract on Monday.

The Serbian is now keeping former academy starlet Scott McTominay out of the team, but Solskjaer is confident that the Scotland international can "learn" a great deal from his more experienced team-mate which will hold him in good stead for a more prominent role in the future.

“McTominay is learning from Matic, Scott is still a young boy, seven or eight years younger than Nemanja," the United manager added.

"Nemanja’s been on record saying how much he can see himself in Scott.

"They can bounce off each other, never easy. So many times I’ve said to Nemanja I’m playing Scott today and he accepts it and, the other way around, they accept it, they can play together and I’m sure Scotty will learn from Nemanja. His attributes and the way he’s gone about his job has been great.”

Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula has called for Ricardo Badoer’s deportation for his "f*cking hyena players" comments on Tuesday.

After Goal had revealed the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Wazito FC was about to release 11 players, Badoer, via a tweet, confirmed some had already been released following what he called a "lack of love for the game".

Shimanyula said the Wazito boss should be deported for his lack of respect for Kenya and its players.

“Where is he from in the first place?” Shimanyula asked in an interview with Goal on Wednesday.

 “He should desist from belittling the Kenyan players. He should be deported as soon as possible.

“These are the kind of people who hate a country they are residing in and end up abusing Kenyans.

“How can he openly hate Kenya and the players? Even if he has got money that is his own money. Men have got money but they never brag about the same and abuse Kenyans.

“Let him be deported quickly. Let him take his money, the little money he brags of with, to his home country.

“He has done a grave mistake of calling Kenyans hyenas.”

In his rant, Badoer had claimed some of the players who have been shown the door at Wazito were signed without his express approval.

“Today the Wazito FC cleaning continues. Kicking out no good f*cking hyena players that were recruited without my approval,” the businessman had stated on his Tweeter handle.

“All they did was to eat my money and lose games. I wish them the best on the f*cking streets where they belong.

“They lacked self-respect and love for the game.”

As Shimanyula calls for Badoer’s deportation, the Kenyan immigration laws are clear on when one should be deported.

“A person who, in consequence of information received from any government or from any other source considered by the Minister to be reliable, is considered by the Minister to be an undesirable immigrant,” Kenya’s Immigration Act states as it outlines grounds where a foreigner can be deported.

“A person, or a member of a class of persons, whose presence in Kenya is declared by the Minister to be contrary to the national interests;

“A person who, upon entering or seeking to enter Kenya, fails to produce a valid passport to an immigration officer on demand or within such time as that officer may allow;

“A person who was, immediately before the commencement of this Act, a prohibited immigrant within the meaning of the former Immigration Act, now repealed, by reason of paragraph (f) or paragraph (g) of section 7 (2) of that Act;

“A person whose presence in or entry into Kenya is unlawful under any written law other than this Act; (k) a person in respect of whom there is in force an order made or deemed to be made under section 8 directing that such person shall be removed from and remain out of Kenya.”

The release of the players came a day after head coach Stewart Hall and Wazito parted ways in what they called a mutual agreement to do so.