Looking for Soccer News?

Last year, Victor Osimhen scored just 13 goals in the French top flight for LOSC Lille in order to secure a high-profile move to Napoli, is Terem Moffi on the same trajectory?

The Nigerian forward has been one of the breakout stars of the Ligue 1 season this term, and heading into this weekend’s meeting with Osimhen’s former club Lille, no one else in the top flight had scored more this term.

He hasn’t quite matched Osimhen’s tally of last term—Moffi has eight goals so far this season—but he’s been in a sensational run of form since late December.

Between December 23 and Valentine’s Day, Moffi scored seven goals in eight Ligue 1 fixtures, ending a barren spell in some style as he tormented French defences and dragged Lorient out of the dangerzone.

Against Lille this weekend, he was unable to find the net again—a disappointing return after his double against AS Monaco last weekend—but he did contribute an assist as Lorient were defeated 4-1.

A showing against Osimhen’s former club Lille should serve to inspire Moffi of the possibilities that exist for players who can prove they can cut it in the French top flight.

Like Osimhen, Moffi is impressing in his debut season in Ligue 1, having previously used Belgium as a launchpad to reach one of Europe’s major leagues.

Napoli, who parted with €70 million to sign Osimhen—a fee which could rise to €80 million—appeared unconcerned that the Nigerian hadn’t even spent a full season in Ligue 1 before opting to take him to Italy.

Admittedly, things haven’t entirely worked out for Osimhen in Serie A so far this term—he has only scored twice in the league so far.

However, the forward is only 22, and there are caveats behind his troubled season, with injury, coronavirus and a disciplinary issue stymieing his progress in Southern Italy.

Already, despite Moffi only arriving in France from Kortrijk last year, there have already been rumours linking him with a move away from Les Merlus.

He has reportedly attracted interest from Steven Gerrard’s Scottish giants Rangers, although with respect to the SPL, if Moffi can maintain his goalscoring run, then surely he should be aiming higher.

Amissi Tambwe has revealed Yanga SC are yet to pay him after they were ordered to do so by world governing football body, Fifa.

The Zurich-based body handed the Jangwani giants a ban of three years from transfer activities after the Burundian striker sued them for failure to pay him Tsh43.5m accrued from sign-on fees and salaries after his unceremonious exit from the club at the end of the 2018-19 season.

The decision by Fifa was passed on February 5, but according to the player, the club is yet to pay him after the 45 days they were given to do so.

“Personally, I don't know anything from Yanga at the moment other than they have not paid me yet despite receiving a phone call from Engineer, Hersi Saidi and telling me to calculate the amount I claim, my lawyer did so and sent them the amount but nothing new until now,” Tambwe told Champion as quoted by Sokalabongo.

“As far as I know, Fifa gave them 45 days to pay but so far they have not communicated to me nor paid anything, so as it stands, they cannot sign any player until they have paid and contacted my lawyer to return the information to Fifa.”

Yanga had confirmed receipt of the letter from Fifa through Media Officer Antonio Nugaz who went ahead to urge club fans to stay calm as they handle the issue.

“First I want to remove fear from Yanga people about Amiss Tambwe’s issue, the issue has been received by the club’s Secretary-General, Hajji Mfikirwa and he will work for it,” Nugaz said as quoted by Viwanjani Leo after the ban.

“If the player is supposed to be paid then he will be paid without any worries under the sponsorship of Sportpesa and Brand GSM.”

The striker left Yanga in the 2018-19 season when the then head coach Mwinyi Zahera dropped him for the 2019-20 season, however, he left behind a debt of Tsh43.5 million, a decision which Cas ordered the club to pay within 45 days from December 1, 2020.

Yanga are currently leading the 18-team table with 49 points from 21 matches while champions Simba SC are second with 42 points from 18 matches.

U.S. men's national team star Jordan Morris will be out for the remainder of the Championship season after damaging his ACL, according to Swansea City manager Steve Cooper.

Morris, who is on loan at Swansea from the Seattle Sounders, suffered the injury in the club's clash with Huddersfield Town.

The American winger exited the match on a stretcher and, on Monday, the worst was confirmed as Morris has picked up the second ACL injury of his career.

What did Cooper have to say?

“He has had a bad injury, unfortunately, there’s significant ligament damage, (to his) ACL. Everything that we hoped it wasn’t, unfortunately it is,” said Cooper.

“It’s the end of his season with us and a long road back to recovery for him.

"It’s a cruel injury anyway, but I think in the circumstances of him fulfilling an ambition to play in Europe, and very much embracing and being a part of what we are trying to do here, it is a really tough one for him and us to take.

“He has our support of course. The next steps with his recovery, I'm not quite sure in terms of whether it will be here or back in the U.S. – those conversations are ongoing - but, first and foremost, we are gutted for him.

"It's obviously a blow for us because he was just about getting up to speed and pushing to get into the team. We gave him a spell of getting fit, so it is really unfortunate in many ways.

"One thing I'd say about Jordan is that he’s a good player, but he’s an excellent professional. Even though he’s only been here a short space of time, we've seen from the first minute that he’s a really good person and really commits to his profession.

"I’ve known him long enough to know he’ll commit to his recovery 110 percent and I'm sure he'll come back strong."

Morris' time at Swansea

The 26-year-old winger joined Swansea in January, having previously admitted that he was open to testing the waters in Europe.

Morris had spent the entirety of his professional career with the Sounders after turning down interest from the Bundesliga to sign his first professional contract.

He made a total of four appearances for the Championship club, all as a substitute, with the injury derailing his time in Europe before it even got going.

Now, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Morris, as Swansea did have an option to buy the USMNT international outright at the end of the season.

Injury history

This isn't the first time that Morris has suffered an ACL injury. Morris previously tore his ACL during a CONCACAF Champions League match in 2018, missing the entirety of that year's MLS season as a result.

He won the MLS Comeback Player of the Year award the next season while claiming Best XI honors for a 10-goal, seven-assist season for Seattle.

This past season, Morris amassed 10 goals and eight assists for the Sounders before joining Swansea in January.

The big picture

The injury is, obviously, a massive blow for Morris, whose long-awaited move to Europe has been cut down just as it truly began.

Morris seemed to be finding comfort and confidence with Swansea and, with the club pushing for promotion, it seemed there were brighter days ahead for both the winger and the club.

However, that has all been cut short, at least for Morris, who will now head into another long process of rehabbing an ACL injury.

That long process will also significantly harm his standing with the USMNT, who play a series of big matches in 2021.

The U.S. is set to play in the Gold Cup, Nations League and, eventually, World Cup qualifiers this year, and it now appears they'll have to do so without a talented winger in Morris, who was pushing hard for a starting role.

Gregg Berhalter still has several talented wingers to call on but, with the roster set to be spread thin across several competitions this summer, he'll now have one less attacker to call on going forward.

As for the long term, Morris will face another battle to return to the field after previously overcoming what could have been a career-threatening injury with his first ACL issue.

Further reading

Trent Alexander-Arnold admits Liverpool have fallen into the “trap” this season of expecting to win, given how successful they have been in recent times, with a disappointing title defence put down to collective failings.

The Reds brought a 30-year wait for title glory to a close in record-breaking style during the 2019-20 campaign.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were expected to establish a new dynasty at Anfield, but injury struggles have conspired against the men from Merseyside and they have already had to throw in the towel after hitting a number of lows that have contributed towards them sitting sixth in the Premier League table.

What has been said?

Trying to explain a humbling tumble from the loftiest of perches, Alexander-Arnold told the Reds’ official matchday programme: “The trap we have probably fallen into this season is that we've almost expected to win games on some occasions because we know we have the quality to find that goal from somewhere.

“That happened naturally last season and the season before. But, breaking it down, it didn't just happen because we were lucky - it happened because we were still working hard, we were doing the basics and the fundamentals right until the very last minute and that really worked in our favour.

“The fact that we were still doing those things meant that we would still create the right opportunities and we wouldn't be forcing passes, but we'd still stick to our way and would create something we could score from.

“I think this season we've maybe forgotten a few of those fundamentals and we've kind of just expected to do that because it became so natural for us.”

How many games have Liverpool lost this season?

Klopp watched his side suffer a first Merseyside derby defeat at Anfield since 1999 in their last Premier League outing, with Everton heading back across Stanley Park with a 2-0 win.

The Reds have now lost seven of their 25 top-flight games this season.

They have suffered four consecutive defeats on home soil for the first time since 1923, while a run of four Premier League losses in a row represents the club’s worst run since 2002.

How has Alexander-Arnold fared?

A highly-rated product of the Anfield academy system is among those to have endured a noticeable wobble this season, with the 22-year-old – who has seen ball retention become his biggest concern – facing uncomfortable questions for the first time in what has been a meteoric rise to prominence.

He accepts those critics, adding: “This has been something of a spell of bad form that I haven't really had before. It's always been quite good in the past, so this is new.

“But I set targets and levels and have expectations of myself. If I don't meet them then I'm not happy and when I do meet them, then I am.

“I haven't been able to meet them this season but there's still a long way to go and during the last few games I've felt better, felt a bit more in rhythm, been able to create things for the team and feel like I have been in the last few seasons.

“But the individual side doesn't matter as much to me as winning games. You have 38 games in a season so there are still many more to come.”

Further reading

Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has stated they don’t fear coming up against Simba SC in their Group A match of the Caf Champions League on Tuesday.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi will host the African champions in their first meeting at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium with the game set to kick-off at 4 pm.

Simba have enjoyed a good record while playing at Mkapa Stadium, with their last Champions League game seeing them beat FC Platinum of Zimbabwe 4-0 to book their place in the group stage of the competition.

Apart from Platinum, Simba have also beaten other renowned African teams at the venue with Al Ahly also falling victim as they beat them 1-0, the last time they met with Rwanda striker Meddie Kagere notching the all-important goal in the 65th minute of their Group D fixture in 2019.

South African coach Mosimane has admitted the threats Simba possesses while playing at home but has come out to clarify they don’t fear them and are in Tanzania to pick a win and build on their first win against Al Merrikh.

“We are ready for the game and we don’t fear anything, we don’t fear them neither,” Mosimane told reporters on Monday during the pre-match press conference.

“We are ready to battle against them, it is true they beat us the last time we played here and we have come to rectify that, it is not easy playing against them especially here but we are ready, all we need is maximum points to keep our plans intact.”

Al Ahly captain Aiman Ashraf has echoed Mosimane’s sentiments claiming their main target is to return home with a win and also lift the African title again.

“Our main target is to win the match because we want to win the title again,” Ashraf told reporters. “We know are playing against a very big team, a stubborn team to beat at home and we will not underrate them.

“We have come here to fight, we have come here to play as we always do when we play away, we don’t want to change anything, it will be a big game, and we are ready for them, we will strive to do our best and get another win.”

During the opening fixtures, Simba secured a 1-0 away win against AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of the Congo while Al Ahly registered a 3-0 win against Al Merrikh of Sudan in Cairo.

Union Berlin have confirmed Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi will miss their upcoming Bundesliga games due to a thigh injury.

Awoniyi was dropped from Union Berlin’s last matchday squad against Freiburg due to the setback and medical examinations have revealed he damaged a muscle in his left thigh.

Monday's update might come as a blow for the Iron Ones as the 23-year-old remains their second top scorer this season, behind Max Kruse (six goals).

Following his loan signing from Liverpool in September, Awoniyi established his presence in Urs Fischer's squad with a contribution of five goals in 19 Bundesliga appearances.

“FC Union Berlin will be without Taiwo Awoniyi for the coming games due to injury,” the club statement read.

“After detailed examinations, the Nigerian striker was found to have a muscle injury to his left thigh. Urs Fischer will need to pick his squad without him for the foreseeable future.”

Apart from Awoniyi, Anthony Ujah is the other Nigerian player in Urs Fischer’s team but the 30-year-old is also on the sidelines recovering from a knee injury.

Ujah is yet to play a competitive match this season and he has been out of action since last July.

After ending their five-game winless run with a 1-0 win over Freiburg on Saturday, Union Berlin will be hoping to secure another win when they host Hoffenheim for their next Bundesliga match on Sunday.

They are seventh in the league table with 33 points after 22 games - three points adrift of a European spot.

Borussia Monchengladbach left-back Ramy Bensebaini is looking forward to playing against Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez but he admits it will be difficult to stop his compatriot.

The Bundesliga outfit host Pep Guardiola's side in Hungary on Wednesday for the first leg of their Champions League knockout stage fixture.

Bensebaini and Mahrez have always played together for Algeria on the international scene but the former player is now excited to face the 2016 African Footballer of the Year as an opponent.

The 25-year-old also hailed the Manchester City star’s technical abilities after they were both part of the Desert Foxes’ team that won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

"I've really wanted to play against him. Now let’s wait for the game and see if he can nutmeg me!" Bensebaini told BBC Sport Africa.

"We trained together, we played an Afcon together, so I have a rough idea of his playing style. That being said, he is still Riyad, he is still a great player and it’s my problem to find the solutions to stop him.

"It’s hard to say that I know him because he is outstanding from a technical point. It is not easy to read what he is about to do with the ball."

Bensebaini scored two goals to help Borussia Monchengladbach advance from the Champions League group stage, ahead of Shakhtar Donetsk and Inter Milan.

Although they finished second behind Real Madrid, the Algeria star remains proud of the Colts’ feat.

He added: "To manage to lead the way until the last game, in a group with Real, Inter and Shakhtar, wasn’t an easy task. We are proud of what we have done and this qualification.”

Thomas Tuchel claims to have no intention of rekindling his interest in Luis Suarez now that he is calling the shots at Chelsea, with the Blues boss having targeted the Atletico Madrid striker in the past during his time with Paris Saint-Germain.

Suarez, who was edging towards the exits at Barcelona in the summer of 2020, could not be lured to France, but questions are once again being asked of his future in Spain amid reports of a break clause figuring in his contract at Atletico.

Chelsea are about to face the Rojiblancos in the last 16 of the Champions League, with Tuchel set to get another look at a proven striker that he has always admired and one that could come back onto the market in the next transfer window.

What has been said?

Tuchel told reporters when asked about his previous interest in Suarez: “It was a possibility. We heard the rumours he was about to leave Barcelona, and who cannot be interested in signing one of the best strikers in world football history and the present? 

“We tried our luck, we did not make it. He decided to stay in Spain, move to Atletico, and has proven his quality. 

“He is a natural striker, a born striker, and has the certain mentality that only strikers have. This mentality is to show his will, intensity and anger to score, score and score. He is never satisfied. 

“So what a mentality, what a player. I'm not involved in his history with Chelsea and to me it's never good to look too far in the past. We only look forward. 

“We play him tomorrow with Atletico and we know about his qualities. We are aware of them and will try to stop him from scoring.”

Could Suarez end up at Chelsea?

The South American has thrived in the Premier League before, with an eventful three-and-a-half years spent at Liverpool between January 2011 and the summer of 2014.

During his time at Anfield, Suarez scored 82 goals through 133 appearances, while also sparking controversy when becoming caught up in incidents of racism and biting.

He opened a new chapter in his career when linking up with Barca and went on to plunder 198 goals for the Liga giants – many of those coming alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar as part of the fearsome ‘MSN’ strike force.

A return to England could be made if the money and sporting project was right, but Tuchel has no plans to ask questions of Suarez and a possible switch to Stamford Bridge.

He added when pressed on that subject: “I don't know. That was down to a particular moment and he maybe would've been a fit to our squad in Paris. Now things are different.

“He is under contract now at Atletico Madrid and it's not worth thinking about it honestly. I haven’t and the possibility is high we won’t think about it [in the future].”

Further reading

Kaizer Chiefs will play their Caf Champions League Group C match against Wydad Casablanca in Burkinabe capital city, Ouagadougou while Mamelodi Sundowns meet Algerian side CR Belouizdad for their Group B encounter in Tanzania.

Both matches will be played on February 28 although Downs have a Nedbank Cup Last 16 match against Polokwane City lined-up for Saturday.

The Champions League games were postponed after the South African clubs were barred from travelling to North Africa due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Chiefs were initially scheduled to play Wydad on February 13 in Casablanca before Egypt also turned down a request to have Cairo’s Al Salam Stadium to be used as an alternative venue on February 19.

Caf has stated the Burkina Faso FA has agreed to have the Chiefs clash against Wydad at 4 August Stadium.

The Tanzania Football Federation has also approved having Belouizdad host Sundowns at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The Brazilians had been pencilled to play their Algerian opponents on Tuesday.

While it is yet to be announced what will happen to the Nedbank Cup between Sundowns and Polokwane City, the Tshwane giants have 10 free days between their last league match against Baroka FC and the scheduled Belouizdad clash.

Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena said the postponement of their Champions League game disturbed their program.

He, however, also draws some advantage from the development, saying it allows their players to be “refreshed.”

“Whenever there is a change in the program, it puts spanners in the work because the reality is everybody wants to work in a way where things are pre-planned and then we can navigate our way through the program that has been set out,” Mokwena told Sundowns media.

“Unfortunately it is what it is. We have to adapt and work towards allowing ourselves to have enough time while we improve the team.

“We know we have a lot of things we have to improve on. Our performances have to get better. We are not in a level where we are really firing and consistently approaching 90 minutes with very good action.

“We know we have to improve on that but at the same time that technical and tactical work must also be compensated by the physical part which now gives us a bit of time to recoup. Also, enough time to refresh the team and work with regards to making sure that we are fresh physically and ready to go for the next cycle.

“Of course, a break like that is coming when we are in a very good momentum and confident in results, of course, we want to continue with the momentum. You don’t want any disruptions and inconveniences.

“But it is what it is. The perspective we would like to take is one that now we have time to work on the team, on different game forms but also time to refresh and regenerate. Maybe prioritise freshness because the way we play demands that we put within our game forms. We need a lot of physical execution

“We would like to get a more positive approach. When you look at it from optimistic lenses, it allows us to be in control of the situation and that is the most important thing. As leaders during this time, we have to be in control of the situation so that the team finds familiarity and comfort in a lot of uncertainty.”

Jadon Sancho is impressing without the pressure of transfer talk weighing him down, according to Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.

Sancho endured a slow start to the 2020-21 campaign after being heavily linked with a move to Manchester United last summer, but has started to get back to his best since the turn of the year.

The England international netted his 10th goal of the season in a 4-0 win at Schalke on Saturday, and also set up one of Erling Haaland's efforts, with Watzke glad to see him showing his "incredible quality again" after a testing period.

What was said?

Watzke told Sport 1: "Jadon is doing really well at the moment, he's back. But that was only a matter of time. All the transfer talk in the summer has already been forgotten.

"Edin [Terzic] talked to him a lot. Jadon has shown again in the last few weeks what incredible quality he is. We are very happy that he is playing for us."

Sancho's future

Sancho still has two years left to run on his current contract at Dortmund, and although speculation over his future has died down in recent months, rumours of a potential switch to Old Trafford continue to swirl in the background.

BVB's refusal to budge on their £100 million ($141m) valuation of the winger ultimately put off the Red Devils last year, but it has been reported that the German giants may drop their asking price when the market reopens amid the financial uncertainty caused by the coronavirus crisis.

What can Sancho achieve at Dortmund this season?

Dortmund have slipped out of contention for the Bundesliga title after falling 15 points behind reigning champions Bayern Munich, but they are still going strong in the Champions League and DFB Pokal.

Terzic's side won the first leg of their round-of-16 European tie against Sevilla 3-2 last week, and also have a quarter-final clash against Borussia Monchengladbach to look forward to in the domestic cup.

Sancho and Co will also be determined to make sure that BVB secure a top-four finish in the German top flight, with a home fixture against Arminia up next on Saturday.

"Of course, qualifying for the Champions League is still realistic," Watzke added. "That is our stated goal. There are six points [for us to make up] on Frankfurt and Wolfsburg. 

"In the end, we have to leave one of those two teams behind. It is certainly good that we have still got to play both of those teams. So, for us, everything is still possible."

Further reading

Kelechi Nwakali has the quality to be a success in the Premier League according to his Huesca teammate and former top flight champion Shinji Okazaki.

The 22-year-old midfielder is currently on loan at Segunda side AD Alcorcon after failing to establish himself in Huesca’s first team in La Liga during the first half of the 2020-21 season.

However, despite stepping away from the Spanish top flight, his Japanese teammate - a Prem winner with Leicester City in 2016 - has explained why he’s confident that the one-time wonderkid can still thrive in La Liga or the Premier League…and has explained how he can get there.

“He has the potential to play in La Liga and in the Premier League as well,” Okazaki told Goal. “It’s clear from the training sessions.

“It’s important that can get more experience, and that he can reflect on what he can contribute in the strategy and show that as a result in the matches.

“The young player has high capabilities,” Okazaki continued. “In training, you could see the difference in ability, that was clear.”

The Japan international has also shed some light on why Nwakali, who signed for Arsenal in 2016 but failed to make the breakthrough in North London, struggled to date to make his mark at Huesca.

“Of course there’s also trust with the managers, and you can gain trust from your teammates,” Okazaki added.

“I think the impressions between teammates and in a match are different,” he noted. “[Nwakali] needed to be in a match to show what he can do and that can be a part in [him getting] recognition.

“I’m hoping he can apply that at Alcorcon to be a better and more confident player.”

To date, Nwakali, who featured just five times in La Liga during the first part of the season, has made two appearances for Alcorcon, who are currently second from bottom in the Spanish second tier.

Nwakali broke onto the scene at the U-17 World Cup in 2015, when he captained Nigeria to the title and clinched the Golden Ball award as the best player of the tournament.

While he didn’t taste first team football at Arsenal, he was loaned to several clubs during his three-year stint in North London, seeing action at MVV Maastricht, VVV-Venlo and FC Porto’s B team.

He signed for Huesca in 2019, having made his full Nigeria debut the year before, featuring in a 2-1 friendly victory over Liberia.

Shinji Okazaki was speaking with Goal during a virtual call facilitated by LaLiga

Nottingham Forest are expected to complete a sensational £18 million ($24m) swoop for Hammarby wonderkid Jonas Christiansen after agreeing a deal with the Swedish club, Goal can reveal.

The 18-year-old Danish striker, whose form in the Allsvenskan in the early part of the season forced many of Europe’s top clubs to sit up and take notice, will sign a four-year deal with Forest. 

The Championship outfit were surprise winners in the race for Christiansen’s signature, with many elite clubs reported to be interested.

It is understood that Forest had been keeping tabs on the striker for a number of months prior to his breakthrough at Hammarby, with new boss Nathaniel Milton insisting on an increase in the scouting budget following his appointment in July so that they could expand the club’s knowledge base across Europe.

Social media has been ablaze with excitement as Forest fans revel in the fact that their club is about to steal a march on some of the world’s biggest clubs in the transfer market, although there have been some reservations about the fee with a number of club legends among those to describe it as a gamble.

“I completely disagree; we’ve made a good deal which we’re very happy with,” said Milton. “I firmly believe Jonas Christiansen is destined for big things, whether at this club or somewhere else.”

A native of Aarhus, Christiansen starred for AGF’s youth teams before joining the Hammarby academy and graduating into the first team at the Swedish club as a 17-year-old. 

Restricted to cameos from the bench in his first senior campaign, the precocious teen nailed down a starting position in his sophomore year after impressing in pre-season.

After bagging 12 goals in his first 10 games of the season, Christiansen was rewarded with his first call-up to the Denmark senior squad, making his international bow in November.

The move for Christiansen is now likely to bring an end to Forest’s tentative pursuit of veteran striker Mario Mandzukic, who emerged as a target following the horror injury sustained by first-choice attacker Lewis Grabban in December.

Negotiations had been ongoing with the Croatian star, who is desperate to end his Leicester City nightmare after arriving in the East Midlands following a short-lived spell in Qatar, with supporters excited by the prospect of the world-class Croatia international arriving at the City Ground.

Radamel Falcao, Olivier Giroud, Daniel Sturridge and even Diego Costa were all linked with the club, with a host of former players urging Milton not to gamble away the club’s season on a speculative punt with unknown youngster Christiansen.

The teenager is expected to go straight into the Forest first-team and Milton will be hopeful that he can hit the ground running by making a positive contribution to the club’s unlikely play-off push.

The City Ground outfit find themselves in sixth place in the Championship at the mid-way point of the campaign, with rookie boss Milton confounding expectations after a worrying start.

This weekend’s clash against Preston is likely to be too early for Christiansen to make his debut in red, but he will be in line to feature when Forest lock horns with AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup.

Play Football Manager 2021 now

Questions of Jose Mourinho’s future at Tottenham are “ridiculous”, says Glenn Hoddle, with the Spurs legend baffled as to why they would sack their manager with major silverware still up for grabs.

A sorry run of results that has delivered five defeats in six Premier League outings has left a disgruntled fan base calling for change in north London.

Mourinho has, however, guided a success-starved side through to the Carabao Cup final and last 32 of the Europa League, and retains complete faith in his ability to deliver on ultimate targets.

What has been said?

Hoddle told the Evening Standard when asked if he expects Mourinho to be relieved of his duties: “No I don’t, not at the moment.

“He has been brought in to bring silverware, he is in a cup final. How can you sack somebody who has got a cup final in April? It is ridiculous. That is the reason why he has been brought in.

“Consistency and maybe other things have got to change over time, but I think he has earned the right with what he has done in his career to be given more time.

“As much as I look at Tottenham at times and think we do look an average team. But that is other clubs as well and that can change very quickly. A couple of wins and the confidence can come back.

“There is a lot of calls from fans [for Mourinho to be sacked] but second half against West Ham, who are flying at the moment and are a great side, every attacking option he had was on the pitch. They hit the bar, hit the post and it could have gone a different way.”

Why is Mourinho under pressure?

A title challenge appeared to be on the cards for Spurs at one stage in 2020-21, as they hit top spot in the Premier League table.

The wheels have fallen off for Mourinho since then, with his side currently stuck in an alarming rut.

Setbacks have been suffered against Liverpool, Brighton, Chelsea, Manchester City and West Ham, while also bowing out of the FA Cup at the hands of Everton.

City will, however, be faced in a Wembley showpiece on April 25 and a 4-1 lead has been established in a continental clash with Wolfsberger.

Mourinho’s track record suggests that he is the man to get Tottenham back on the trophy trail, with the enigmatic Portuguese having enjoyed tangible success in the past at Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Further reading

Football Kenya Federation Premier League side Posta Rangers have released six players as they continue to rebuild for the season.

The Nairobi-based team has struggled to get wins in the Kenyan top-tier in the ongoing campaign, and new coach Stanley Okumbi is doing away with players he feels are a let-down.

Those who have been shown the door from the Mailmen are Collins Okumu, Salim Odeka, Bill Oporia, Raphael Asudi, Elijah Mwanzia, and Yusuf Juma.

"The coach felt the released players would not give him the results he wants, and we had to let them leave," a senior source at the club told Goal on Monday.

"Okumbi has been given a free-hand regarding team structuring and the management is doing its best to ensure his wishes are granted. A few more changes are coming before the short transfer window is closed."

The team has made several signings already to bolster the squad and ensure the team gets positive results consistently.

The latest signings are Alex Dunga Luganji who joins the team from the National Super League side Nairobi Stima. Rising Star Steiner Musasia and Josphat Lopaga.

The Mailmen also signed midfielder Bernard Ondiek from Gor Mahia a couple of days ago.

The veteran player found it hard to break into the K'Ogalo first team and opted to try his fortune elsewhere. The Mailmen jumped on the opportunity and brought him on board.

Other arrivals in the team are Evans Makari Maliachi from side Talanta FC, Joshua Otieno Nyatini from Wazito FC, and Ambrose Awio Ayoyi from Biashara Mara United.  

Rangers have struggled to win matches in the top-tier this season and it is something they aimed at solving by bringing Okumbi and the other new signings on board.

However, the tactician started his reign with a 4-1 loss to Tusker FC a couple of days ago. Jackson Macharia, Henry Meja, and Luke Namanda scored for the 11-time league champions while the Mailmen's goal was struck by Ezekiel Okare.

The Mailmen have collected just one win from the 12 matches they have played in the FKF-Premier League, drawn seven, and lost four. They have also scored eight goals and conceded 15 which puts them at a goal difference of negative seven.

James Rodriguez has refuted reports suggesting that he is unhappy in England and considering a move away from Everton after just one season at Goodison Park.

The Colombia international playmaker was a marquee addition for Carlo Ancelotti – a coach he previously worked with at Real Madrid – during the summer of 2020.

Inconsistency has been an issue for the 29-year-old at times, but his creative qualities remain without question and he is determined to embrace the challenges posed by Premier League life – rather than run away from them.

What has been said?

James told Marca Claro of the exit rumours after helping Everton to an historic 2-0 derby victory over Merseyside neighbours Liverpool: “I am happy. We all know it is a new stage for me.

“At almost 30 years old, I am fine. I am happy for every new thing that is added to my life. It all adds up.

“It was tough [against Liverpool]. Everyone knows that Liverpool is a great team. I think they are in the top three teams of those who play good football.

“I’m happy to have helped my team win. Everton haven’t won [at Anfield] since 1999, so we’ve made history.

“I’m happy I was there. I hope we can continue this well.”

How has James fared at Everton?

Ancelotti handed the South American 62 minutes at Anfield, with no risks taken on his fitness after a recent injury issue.

James is now up to 21 appearances for the Toffees in all competitions, with five goals and eight assists recorded across those outings.

The bigger picture

His latest assist came against Liverpool, with Richarlison teed up for an early opener in that contest.

Everton battled bravely from there to keep their noses in front and wrapped up the points late on when Gylfi Sigurdsson converted from the penalty spot.

James added on the Toffees’ ambition from this point, with victory over arch-rivals lifting them into seventh place – level on points with Liverpool while still boasting a game in hand on the defending champions: “We always want to win. There are games in which things go well and others in which things go wrong.

“Football is very physical now. There are teams that don’t have much quality, but they want to win by force, committing fouls.

“We are ready in each game and what we do want to do is to play well. Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t, but hey… it’s part of football.”

Further reading

Timo Werner has admitted that he has been brought down to earth by his struggles at Chelsea and that he can no longer be considered a "super striker".

Much was expected of Werner when he joined the Blues from RB Leipzig for £47.5 million ($67m) last summer, but he has so far failed to live up to that hefty price tag.

The Germany international, who drew another blank during the 1-1 draw with Southampton at the weekend, knows he has fallen short of expectations in his first few months at Stamford Bridge having been surprised by the physical nature of Premier League football.

What was said?

Werner told Kicker of his inconsistent start to life at Chelsea: "At the beginning, I had this self-image that I can go on doing my thing here, but in the last few months I have been brought down to earth. It's the way in England that you never have a quiet game.

"The players are 1.9 meters tall, brutal physically and really fast - including the defenders. It's impressive what intensity is going on in the Premier League."

Werner's Chelsea record so far

Werner has contributed 10 goals and nine assists to the Blues' cause in 33 appearances in all competitions in 2020-21.

The 24-year-old endured a 14-match goal drought before getting back on the scoresheet in the 2-0 victory over Newcastle on February 15, leading to question marks over his ability to lead the line for the west London outfit.

Asked how he has dealt with the criticism that has been aimed in his direction, Werner responded: "Of course I noticed that in such a lull you are no longer necessarily called a super striker. I just had to let go of all the pressure of having to score goals."

The bigger picture

Chelsea's chances of winning a trophy and securing a top-four Premier League finish could hinge on whether Werner is able to start delivering the goods in the final third on a regular basis.

Thomas Tuchel's side are sitting fifth in the top-flight at the moment, two points behind fourth-placed West Ham, with a Champions League round of 16 first leg tie against Atletico Madrid up next on Tuesday.

The Blues also have an FA Cup quarter-final date against Sheffield United to look forward to, but a lack of cutting edge up front could see them fall short of their goals come the end of the season.

Further reading

Shola Shoretire says he's aiming to emulate Manchester United's homegrown stars such as Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood after making his "dream" debut for the club on Sunday.

After naming Shoretire on the bench for the first time during a Europa League clash with Real Sociedad last Thursday, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer decided to hand the teenager his first senior appearance against the Magpies.

The English forward came on as a late substitute during the 3-1 win at Old Trafford, and he has now set his sights on securing a regular place in the team.

What was said?

Shoretire told MUTV: "I was nervous but I worked really hard to get here for this moment so I just wanted to do the best I could.

"Hopefully it’s just the start. I’m going to keep working hard in training, keeping my head down and keeping humble and just looking forward to playing more.

"Looking at people like Marcus and Mason, they’ve come through the same thing I have, through the academy, it shows the coaches are doing a really good job.

"It’s also nice to have Nicky Butt and Mark Dempsey on the bench because I’ve been with them with the Under-23s, they’ve been helping me out, it’s good to share that moment with them.

"When I travelled to Turin for Real Sociedad I was thinking I might get on because we’re winning, obviously I could’ve been disappointed after that game but I thought I’m just going to work hard in training again.

"I can learn from them [Rashford and Greenwood]. Everyone in the academy idolises Mason and Rashford because they’ve gone on the path we all want to follow, so it’s great to share a dressing room with them."

Where does Shoretire rank among United's youngest debutants?

Shoretire became the seventh youngest debutant in United's history when he made his brief cameo against Newcastle at 17 years and 20 days old.

Norman Whiteside, Willie Anderson, Angel Gomes, Duncan Edwards and Jeff Whitefoot were all younger when they made their bows for the Red Devils, but David Gaskell still holds the record after lining up at the age of 16 years and 19 days in the 1956 Charity Shield.

Shoretire added: “It feels great. It is such a proud moment for me and my family. I’ve worked so hard to get here and my mum and my dad. I have been at the club since I was 10 and it is a dream come true to be playing for the biggest club in the world.

"With the fans, it makes it 10 times better but still to come on at Old Trafford, looking around me at the size of the stadium and looking where I would sit as a fan and finally playing on the pitch, it was a great moment."

What's next for Shoretire?

Shoretire could be in line to make his first start for United when they take on Real Sociedad in the second leg of their round-of-32 Europa League tie on Thursday.

The Red Devils won the first leg 4-0 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, which gives Solskjaer the opportunity to ring the changes for the return fixture at Old Trafford.

Further reading

Ciro Immobile is embracing the challenge posed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski in another thrilling race to land European football’s prestigious Golden Shoe.

The Lazio striker is the current holder of that prize, having registered a stunning haul of 36 Serie A goals during the 2019-20 campaign.

He has a further 14 efforts to his name this season and is currently readying himself for a showdown with Bayern superstar Lewandowski in the last-16 of the Champions League.

What has been said?

Italy international Immobile told UEFA’s official website: “What do I like most about Robert Lewandowski? The fact he is never satisfied.

“Every year he tries to improve and go beyond his limits, even if they are already exceptional. He is a complete striker. I think he is currently the best No 9 in the world, so we have to be very careful.

“It was crazy to beat him in the race for the Golden Boot. To challenge great players like him and Ronaldo brought me great happiness.”

Who tops the 2020-21 Golden Shoe chart?

Bayern frontman Lewandowski currently leads the way, with the prolific Pole finding the target on 26 occasions in the Bundesliga this season.

Andre Silva (18 goals) and Erling Haaland (17), of Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund respectively, are trying to chase him down in Germany.

Romelu Lukaku of Inter (17) tops the charts in Italy, with that tally being matched by Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah in the Premier League.

Ronaldo, Luis Suarez, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are among those on 16 goals, with Immobile sitting alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic on 14 – one behind Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes.

Lewandowski or Immobile: who is the superior striker?

Lewandowski and Immobile are set to clash this week when Lazio host Bayern Munich in their Champions League round of 16 first leg clash, and former Germany forward Miroslav Klose - who represented both clubs during his stellar career - has been running the rule over the strikers.

Klose, now a coach at Bundesliga champions Bayern, told Gazzetta dello Sport: "For me Lewandowski is an absolute top player. Before I rated him highly, but now that I train him and see him every day I can say that he has very few weaknesses.

"Robert is two-footed, he is strong when heading, he understands situations, he's fast. In my opinion, Immobile is very good. He creates opportunities, he knows how to play deep, he has a good shot. In my opinion, however, Lewandowski has something more."

Further reading