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NorthEast United will be looking to pull clear in the race for the top four spots in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) when they take on Odisha FC on Sunday.

The Highlanders are currently tied on points (23) with FC Goa who take to the pitch against Chennaiyin on Saturday. Meanwhile, Hyderabad, having played an extra game, currently have 24 points after a 1-1 draw against East Bengal on Thursday.

NorthEast can pull two points clear of Hyderabad if they manage a win against Odisha. 

"The main thing is that we don't concentrate on other teams' games but on our own performance. We should try our best to get three points," said NorthEast assistant coach Alison Kharsyntiew.

He felt that Odisha, despite languishing at the bottom of the table, are no pushovers, as evidenced by their late comeback in a 2-2 draw with Kerala Blasters.

"They have done very well in the last game against Kerala Blasters (2-2 draw). We have to go in the match with the right mentality and give our best to win the game. We go there with a very serious attitude to show that we are hungry to win. That's our only objective.

Under interim coach Khalid Jamil, the team are enjoying an unbeaten run of five games (W3, D2). NorthEast United have strengthened their frontline by bringing in Deshorn Brown from Bengaluru FC and also have been boosted by Federico Gallego's form. 

Kharsynthiew also credited Khalid Jamil's work behind the scenes.

"We haven't changed a lot. We have only tried to strengthen our principles - to be more disciplined in defence and more creative in attack. Coach Khalid has been working very hard with the players, especially in encouraging the young players," he maintained.

In their last five games, NorthEast United have defeated the likes of Jamshedpur, ATK Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City and rallied back to hold FC Goa to a 2-2 draw. However, they were last involved in a drab 0-0 draw against Hyderabad. 

"We need to be more clinical once we reach the final third and utilise the chances we get," Alison said after revealing that Deshorn Brown is fully fit for the tie. Ashutosh Mehta and Khassa Camara also return from suspension for the Highlanders. 

Tusker head coach Robert Matano has warned his players from underrating Mihuu United who they are set to meet for the Football Kenya Federation Shield Cup on Saturday at Sudi Stadium.

Tusker - who are in good form in as far as the FKF Premier League is concerned - will play the Bungoma side hoping to sail through the competition and lift the trophy they won in 2016.

“In football, there is no small or unknown team," Matano said ahead of their game against the FKF Divison One side. 

"It is a matter of how you handle yourself against your opponent. We are prepared for any team whether it is unknown or plays in the lower division. In football when you reach the pitch, you are all equal."

The former AFC Leopards head coach further revealed their main target against their opponents.

“It’s a matter of how you organize yourself and think about how you are going to play, score goals and win the match," Matano added. "For us, that is our goal; to play well and win the match to progress to the next round.”

Given the depth he has in his squad, Matano is expected to make some changes and rest the players who have regularly appeared in the Premier League.

The Brewers played and won 4-3 against the National Super League side as part of their preparations for the Mihuu United encounter.

“We have prepared well for this game and from the friendly, I could see that the players are sharp and looking good. They are ready and responding well,” said the tactician who won the Shield Cup title with AFC Leopards in 2017.

Matano's emphasis on tackling Mihuu United with respect was echoed by midfielder Hashim Sempala. The Ugandan star was part of the team that won the cup and the Premier League in 2016.

"Yes, the tournament is important for us and knowing we have a chance to do a double is a motivation for us," Sempala told the club's website. 

"The players are ready and focused on the tournament. We know it’s a knockout tournament so we are psyched up for it and determined to proceed to the next round.

The former Gor Mahia star is also aware of the dangers the Division One side could pose in Bungoma.

“Any team that comes to play in the cup tournament is a good team so for us, it is not important which division they are in," he added. "We take every game as an equal game and we prepare seriously for it. We know that cup tournaments always have surprises and we cannot risk by taking the game lightly."

The Tusker-Mihuu United game is among several others that will be played as the domestic tournament kicks-off. 

Last season, this confrontation could not proceed past the quarter-final mark as it was cancelled due to the emergence of the coronavirus.

Odisha may be languishing at the bottom of the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) table but interim head coach Gerald Peyton has stated that his players are enthused with newfound confidence after the Kerala Blasters game.

The Kalinga Warriors rode on a Diego Mauricio brace to hold the Blasters to a 2-2 draw on Thursday and are set to face NorthEast United on Sunday. Peyton also praised the impact by January signing Brad Inman has had after coming in from ATK Mohun Bagan.

"I was really pleased for Brad Inman to come in and do things that were needed - playing in little pockets, changing the play at the right time, playing on the diagonal - it gave me a lot of good things. We set up as well to play from the back and we had some good play at the back when we were put under pressure," said the Englishman.

"They (Kerala) overloaded one side, we dealt with it. Then they tried to come from the middle, we dealt with it. The way we played against Blasters, some of our combination play was top drawer," he added.

It was a similar result in the reverse fixture against NorthEast United where both teams were locked in a 2-2 draw. The goalkeeper-turned-coach feels that Highlanders interim coach Khalid Jamil has since done a good job at the club (W3, D2).

"Since he (Jamil) has come in as the new manager, I think he's done a great job. They've had good results and a good run of games. We know that it's going to be a very difficult game," Peyton continued.

"We're going to go there to make it difficult for them because we got nothing to lose, momentum from the Blasters game to go on. We got belief [as] we scored two fantastic goals against the Blasters. Some of our combination play was very good and we're going there in a very positive mind, with Goa in three days. So the objective is to play fresh players and go there with the confidence and momentum to win the game."

When queried about the ISL and Indian football at large, he envisages success in the next 5-10 years. Peyton is impressed by the quality of Indian players, especially at the top clubs.

"I think how the [Indian] Super League has packaged the game is good. Everybody has good foreign players in the league but what's really impressed me is the Indian players, especially at the top clubs. Now the Indian players are starting to improve on the ball, vision, passing, keeping the ball, attacking and dribbling skills. How it's been developed now, I think it's going to be successful over the next 5-10 years for Indian players," Peyton mooted.

Mamelodi Sundowns kick off their Caf Champions League Group B campaign by hosting Al Hilal at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

It will be Downs’ bid for a second Champions League title after first claiming it in 2016.

And for the first time since 2015, the Brazilians will be taking part at this stage of the competition without former coach Pitso Mosimane.

It would be a stern test for their co-coaches Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena, as well as senior coach Steve Komphela as they come up against a side that is seasoned in African club competitions.

Five-time African champions TP Mazembe and CR Belouizdad of Algeria complete Group B.

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

Squads & Team News

Mokwena has stated new signing Rushine De Reuck is available for selection for this match after recovering from a “medical situation.”

This match comes exactly two weeks after De Reuck was officially announced as a Sundowns player after joining the team from Maritzburg United.

If the central defender is handed a run in Saturday’s match, he would be making his debut for Downs as well as featuring in his first-ever Champions League match.

Another centre-back Brian Mandela-Onyango is also back from injury and could make his Champions League debut for the Brazilians if selected.

Striker Mauricio Affonso has started light training but is still some way from regaining full fitness after surgery on his groin.

No injury updates from Al Hilal but Zimbabwean midfielder Last Jesi is one of the players Sundowns have to keep an eye on and has experience in this competition gained from playing for FC Platinum.

Jamaica defender Alvas Powell who joined the Sudanese giants from Major League Soccer side Inter Miami could taste Champions League football for the first time if selected to play.

Match Preview

After complaining of crammed domestic fixtures, Sundowns go into this match a bit refreshed after going nine days without being involved in competitive action.

In that period, players were also given three days off to recharge batteries.

The Brazilians also go into this match on the backdrop of enjoying a four-month run of not tasting defeat in any competition including easily dismissing Botswana champions Jwaneng Galaxy to book a group stage spot.

Their last defeat was the MTN8 quarter-final exit at the hands of Bloemfontein Celtic in October 2020.

The Sudanese giants last succumbed to defeat in October when they were edged 1-0 by domestic rivals Al Merreikh in the Sudani Premier League.

To reach the Champions League group phase, Al Hilal got past Ugandan champions Vipers as well as Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko.

They arrived in Pretoria high in spirits after a 3-0 victory over Al Ahli Khartoum in a Sudani Premier League encounter on Monday.

Jurgen Klopp says Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies have made “big steps” in recent days, and the duo could be in line for Liverpool debuts during the club's weekend clash with Leicester City.

The two signed for the Reds just before the transfer window set, giving Klopp a few more options on his backline amid an injury crisis.

Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are all out with long-term injuries, while Fabinho will also miss out this weekend against Leicester.

What did Klopp say?

 “They have really thrown themselves into everything that is ahead of them, which is what a defender should do," Klopp said. "Both Ben and Ozan are calm people, willing to learn and have a great attitude. They are making big steps in adapting to the way we play. Again, that’s important.

.“We have still a clear way to defend, which is important. If both of them would be on the pitch then there are still nine players used to what we have done before. If two players do something completely differently then that would lead to a strange situation. It’s all good so far. Now we have to make a decision. 

"We have to change again because of Fab, and now we will see which solution we will take."

Who else could start against Leicester?

Should Klopp opt against using Kabak or Davies against Leicester on Saturday, he does have other options to turn to.

Jordan Henderson has deputised in defence in recent weeks as Klopp has used 12 different central defensive partnerships in the Premier League this season.

Among the other options are youngsters Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams, whom have stepped in several times this season due to the Reds' injury issues.

What's at stake for Liverpool?

Heading into Saturday's clash with Leicester, Liverpool currently sit fourth in the Premier League.

The Reds recently suffered a 4-1 defeat against Manchester City, headlined by several blunders from the normally-steady Alisson.

As a result, there's just a one-point gap between last season's champions and fifth-place Chelsea, while Leicester currently sits three points ahead of Liverpool in the table.

Due to the Reds' recent struggles, there is a fear that they could slip out of the Champions League altogether.

They're still in this season's competition, though, as they look ahead to a clash with RB Leipzig, which will be held in Budapest due to Germany's coronavirus restrictions.

Further reading

East Bengal were just four minutes away from registering their fourth win of the season and move up on the league table from the bottom three for the first time this season but a sudden lapse in concentrations by the defenders denied them three points and virtually ended their slim play-of hopes in the 2020-21 season of the Indian Super League (ISL).

For the first time in this season, the Red and Golds had fielded the same lineup in two consecutive matches. The win against Jamshedpur and the solid all-round performance in that tie encouraged coach Robbie Fowler to retain the winning combination against Hyderabad.

Hyderabad pressed very high right from the off and did not allow East Bengal any space at the centre of the park. The Nizams were successful in their plan as East Bengal looked uncomfortable with the ball and had less possession than Hyderabad. In fact, Manuel Marquez' side could have very well taken the lead in the first half had the players been a little more clinical.

But the most hard-working player on the pitch for East Bengal was Anthony Pilkington who was practically everywhere in the attacking third. The Irish international was often seen coming down and try and create chances for the team.

In fact, it was Pilkington's mobility that earned East Bengal the opening goal. The attacker came down to his own half and had managed to flick the long ball from Sarthak Golui with his head and made space for Bright Enobhakhare who managed to get behind the Hyderabad defence and find the back of the net with an immaculate finish. 

However, East Bengal just could not hold on to their lead. The two full-backs, Ankit Mukherjee and Narayan Das, did not have the best of days. In fact, Mukherjee was partially at fault for the equalising goal as he was not vigilant enough and left Aridane Santana unmarked inside the six-yard box.

The Kolkata giants were unlucky too as Bright Enobakhare wasn’t awarded a penalty after he was stamped inside the box by Laxmikant Kattimani. However, Hyderabad too could have earned a penalty as Raju Gaikwad handled the ball inside the box from a long-range effort by Joao Victor.

Hyderabad looked much more threatening after the introduction of Fran Sandaza. The Spaniard did find the back of the net once but was rightly flagged offside. It was from his pass deep into the stoppage time that Aridane Santa found the equaliser.

The Nizams are unbeaten in their last nine matches, of which they have drawn six. However, with the race to book a place in the ISL play-offs heating up, they will have to step up and amass as many points as possible in order to be in control of their own fate.

Two of their next three matches are against teams from the top half of the ISL table – ATK Mohun Bagan and FC Goa. The going certainly won’t be easy.

At school, football was just another sport. Dangmei Grace used to study in a catholic institution in her native district in Bishnupur, Nagaland. During the annual Jesuit sports day, one of her friends casually asked if she is interested in participating in football. 

"I never thought I would play football professionally," recounted Grace. 

After getting permission from her parents, she travelled to Kohima to play that match which she considers as the 'turning point' of her life. In those 90 minutes, she struck a chord with the sport which only grew stronger with time. Without attending football training sessions, her day would remain incomplete. Hence after school, she would run 2.5 km to the field to enjoy the best part of her day. 

Her rise through the ranks was swift. In 2010, she got selected for Manipur U14 and within three years she got the national team call up. And she credits the current assistant coach of the Indian national team Chaoba Devi for playing an important role in her formative years. 

"I first met Chaoba ma’am (Chaoba Devi) in 2011 at the U16 nationals. She was the coach of the Manipur team. I am crazy about her teaching style, and this helped me make up my mind and join her club (Kryphsa FC). She has helped me in many ways, both on and off the field. To me, she is both my mother and father. Whatever I am, is because of her, and without her, it would have been impossible for me to reach this top-level. I am lucky enough to get her as our coach," she stated to Goal. 

Grace idolises another sporting legend from the North-East of India, boxer MC Mary Kom, and in the future, she wants to try her luck in Europe. 

"To be a great player, I need to prove myself every time I play, whether in practice or in matches. I know I have to give my 100 per cent. My idol is Mary Kom. Her life story inspires me to push forward. 

"For me, pushing myself with positive thoughts plays a very important role. As a player, there are a lot of ups and downs in life, and we have to face it, whatever the circumstances. At the same time, we need to enjoy every moment of life. My goal is to become a great player for our nation, to play in Europe, and be a role model for youngsters."

But 2020 has been a difficult year for the 25-year-old. The Coronavirus pandemic stopped all sporting activities in the country and the player, like other athletes, had to adjust to the 'new normal'. 

"The lockdown totally changed our lives. As players, we are hungry and eager to practice on the field. But that was totally impossible. Yes, we did a lot of strength and conditioning, but due to the pandemic, all tournaments were cancelled. It really hurt us a lot. But I kept myself busy. Our physio planned schedules for us as a group. We used to do strength and conditioning during this time to keep ourselves fit. Apart from this, I spent time gardening and helping my mother in the kitchen.

"However, it was hard to follow the diet that we usually follow in the national camps. Despite the challenges, we managed to follow as much we could. We could not manage to follow the diet every day, yet made sure we stuck to it at least for two or three days a week," she expressed. 

India now ranks 53rd in the world in women's football and she feels that the exposure trips organised by All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Indian Women's League (IWL) have played an important role in improving the standard of football. 

"Many thanks to AIFF for the opportunity given to the women’s team. Earlier, we hardly had a couple of tournaments to play in a year. However, now the federation organises the IWL (Indian Women's League) alongside various other exposure trips. These matches give us the necessary experience and exposure to prove ourselves," she stated. 

In the run-up to the AFC Asian Cup 2022, the Indian team will play a host of friendlies with West Asian and South-East Asian countries to ensure that the team gets to prepare in the best way possible. 

Grace agrees that there has been an increase in awareness about woman's football in India and hosting FIFA tournaments like the U17 Women's World Cup will further boost the popularity of the game. 

"There are a lot of supporters and fans of women’s football, and they are increasing gradually. Hosting a mega-event like the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will bring a lot of changes to women’s football in the country. Parents will see this and will be more supportive in the future for their children to take football up," she mentioned.

However, there's one thing that she is vexed of. In spite of being a key member of the Indian national team, Grace feels that since she hails from the North-Eastern region of the country she is targetted on many occasions. 

"At times, due to our appearance – as we belong from the North East, some people refer to us differently. To overcome it, I think positively -- saying to myself that despite the differences we are all Indians, with the same common language and same national anthem."

The 25-year-old knows how to answer her critics. She scored in the SAFF Women's Championship against Bangladesh in the final to help India clinch the fourth successive title. On the scoresheet, it was Dangmei Grace (India). The rest doesn't even matter. 

Fulham manager Scott Parker has launched a frustrated outburst over a tribunal's ruling that Liverpool must pay an initial £1.5 million for Harvey Elliott, stating that it is "madness" that the Cottagers will not see what he feels is appropriate compensation for the teenager's talents.

The Professional Football Compensation Committee ordered the Reds to pay an initial £1.5m, plus £2.8m in performance-related clauses for a maximum total of £4.3m ($6m), following a protracted saga surrounding disagreements over a fee for the then-16-year-old in 2019.

Fulham said they were "pleased" with the outcome in a short statement following the ruling, but those sentiments do not appear to extend to their coach, who remains angered that his side will likely not see even half of their original asking price of £8m ($11m).

What Parker said

With Elliott, currently loaned out at Blackburn, needing to make 100 appearances for Liverpool and win an England cap to earn the full fee, the Cottagers boss took aim at the tribunal's ruling.

“I was disappointed in it all because this is a player that had been developed at this club for a long, long time," Parker said.

“We gave him his debut. You don’t want to go and spend £20-30m on players. That’s why the academy is so important for us. We want to develop these players. But we have developed that player for a big club to take him.

“Four million quid for a player we developed and thought the world of, to then leave like he did, is madness really. Harvey Elliott has the potential to be a top-class football player but Liverpool have taken him off us for minimal numbers for what he’s capable of.”

Goal's view on Elliott's fee

"It's fair to say that, for Liverpool, this is a very good outcome. Fulham had hoped for at least double the final fee, and perhaps even more.

"Given Elliott's record-breaking feats - he became the youngest ever Premier League player before he left Craven Cottage, and has since became the youngest player ever to start a game for Liverpool - and his excellent form for Blackburn this season, plenty expected them to get what they wanted. 

"In the end, though, the fee looks heavily weighted in Liverpool's favour. Plenty of people at Anfield expect him to become a first-teamer, even if the path is a very tough one to tread, and in years to come that £4m figure could well look slim. Indeed, Liverpool could likely sell him for much more than that already.

"They won't, though. He'll return to Anfield at the end of the season all the better for his experience in the Championship. Fulham's loss is very much Liverpool's gain."

Neil Jones, Liverpool correspondent

Further reading

Jose Mourinho admits that Tottenham are in a different place financially than Manchester City as Spurs prepare to take on the Premier League title favourites this weekend.

The Portuguese manager says clubs like Manchester City and Liverpool are working with different budgets than Spurs, giving them more opportunities to address weaknesses.

Mourinho's Spurs currently sit eighth in the Premier League, four points out of a Champions League spot.

What did Mourinho have to say?

"Pep [Guardiola] and Jurgen [Klopp] are, of course, two of the best coaches in the world and the Premier League. They are in two clubs that want to win everything, they want to win everything, and to win everything, you need to have top players in every position," he said.

"A team is a puzzle, and that’s what they did and if Pep thought in a certain moment that he needed to spend that money in defenders, he did it, and Jurgen he felt the same with Van Dijk and then when Van Dijk was not enough because he was feeling another fragility, they got Alisson.

"You know, I think that’s a thing that the big clubs with incredible economical possibilities, they do it. Lucky them, good for them."

He added: "When I came to the club, the club was very open and very honest with me. I'm not going now to try to compare my situation with other clubs because the club was very open with me.

"I knew that I was going to come to a different reality. A big club, no doubt about that, not one second, but a club with a different profile in terms of being or not being a candidate to win competition A or B, a club not being able to resolve problems with a cheque.

"The club made the possible efforts in the summer to improve the team and I'm not complaining about anything, I just do my work the best I can and that’s it."

Who have Tottenham signed under Mourinho?

The club completed four major transfers this summer, bringing in the likes of Pierre-Emil Hojbjerg, Matt Doherty, Sergio Reguilon and Joe Rodon this summer for roughly £64 million.

Additionally, the club completed a deal to bring Gareth Bale back to the club with the Wales star rejoining Spurs on loan from Real Madrid.

However, the Bale deal has yet to truly pan out as the winger has struggled to make an impact upon his return to London.

Mourinho recently fired a jab at Bale, saying an Instagram post by the forward is “totally wrong” and that there was a “contradiction between the post and reality" after the forward posted that he had enjoyed a good training session.

According to Mourinho, though, Bale had asked not to be involved and requested a scan on an injury.

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez admits that he hit "rock bottom" during his first season with the LA Galaxy.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star joined the club from Sevilla and was expected to be one of the biggest stars in MLS history.

But, amid a series of off the field issues, he struggled to adapt on the field, scoring just two goals in 12 appearances.

What did Chicharito have to say?

“I touched rock bottom,” he told the LA Times. “I lived things that normally you live through [in] five, 10 years, you know what I mean? It’s not an excuse. It’s reality. And the reality is I didn’t take responsibility. I wasn’t able to handle all of that.”

“When the end of the season came, I did a very profound critique. About my life, about myself. And I just decided that I can do much, much better. In the emotional and very spiritual side, when COVID hit, it was like a perfect time to expose the things that I haven’t worked with

“I took full responsibility of what is in my hands. My body, my mind, my emotions and I want to push them beyond, I don’t even want to even say limits. Because for me that doesn’t exist.”

What went wrong for Chicharito?

Chicharito dealt with difficulties in 2020 that stretched beyond the pandemic that impacted everyone on the planet.

His grandfather, Mexican icon Tomas Balcazar, died at age-88 in April, just as criticism over Chicharito's play was truly beginning.

Due to the coronavirus, Chicharito was unable to travel home for his grandfather's funeral.

“I experienced, for the first time, the death of someone very close to me,” he said.. “It hit me in very different ways.”

As his on-field struggles played out in public, Hernández’s wife, model Sarah Kohan, took the couple’s two young children, 20-month-old Noah and 4-month-old Nala, home to Australia.

“Of course, I miss them,” Hernandez said of his kids. “I will love to be with my kids, obviously.”

He added: “I’m just a human! Every famous person, it’s like you sign an invisible contract with the fame. Of course, it’s a responsibility that you’re going to take. But that’s not against being a human.

“We’re all humans, you know?”

What's next for Chicharito and the Galaxy?

With the MLS season set to resume in April, Chicharito will be stepping into a different situation for his second year with the Galaxy.

The club parted ways with coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto, turning to former Toronto FC boss Greg Vanney, a former Galaxy player and an MLS Cup winner as a head coach.

But perhaps the most important move of the offseason for the Galaxy could be the return of one of the club's stars as the club remains in pursuit of winger Cristian Pavon.

The Argentine was one of the few bright spots for the Galaxy, who finished 10th in the Western Conference last season, as Pavon has provided a total of 13 goals and 15 assists in 33 games with the club.

All of those goals and assists came while Pavon was on loan from Boca Juniors, with the Galaxy now looking to convince the club to sell for less than the originally-agreed-upon $20 million fee.

Still, the key for the club will be Chicharito's performance as the Galaxy will need the forward to truly bounce back if they are to contend in 2021.

Pep Guardiola said he ripped up Manchester City’s playing style and went back to basics before his side embarked on their record-breaking 15-game winning streak.

City were left trailing Saturday’s opponents Tottenham by five points at the top of the Premier League after a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to relegation-threatened West Brom  in December.

Guardiola said he was not happy with how his side were performing after winning just five of their opening 12 fixtures.

What happened?

Guardiola called a meeting with assistant managers Juanma Lillo, Manel Estiarte and Rodolfo Borrell and sporting director Txiki Begiristain to discuss their problems.

The City boss said he had to take his side back to the football philosophy which had proved so successful for much of his four-and-a-half years in charge at the Etihad.

He also revealed that captain Fernandinho rallied the dressing room after their disappointing start to the season with the Brazilian telling his team-mates that their standard wasn't good enough.

What’s been said?

“We could’ve won [against West Brom] with two incredible chances at the end but after that game, I felt this is not the team I can recognise myself,” Guardiola said ahead of Saturday’s clash with Tottenham. “I didn’t like what I watched, I didn’t like what I saw. 

"We talked with Juanma, Rodo, Manel and Txiki and we said, 'OK, we have to come back to our first principle,' and we had to reconstruct the team from that point. What we are as a team, how we had success in the past.

“We had to come back to our game, move the ball quicker, do more passes, stay in position, run less with the ball, do it together. We don't have a specific player to win games, we have to do it together.

"But above all that was the commitment of the players. They talked, they thought, 'OK we have to do more' and they did it.

“After that we didn’t press ourselves too much. We just said to win the next game, don't think we are in a position to win the Premier League or whatever, we are not good enough to compete right now. Win the next game with our principles and see what happened.

“Everyone dropped points and we didn’t do it. What we want to do is continue with those principles as long as possible.

"A defeat is coming. It is going to come. This is exceptional, because this has never before been done since English football started.

"We came back to what I said from day one when I arrived here. We have to do this, this, this. The results and the qualities of the players did the rest."

The big impact

City head into Saturday's clash five points clear at the top of the Premier League having played a game fewer than the rest of the top six, and remain in contention for both domestic cups and the Champions League.

Since that draw with West Brom, City have won 15 consecutive matches, which is a new record for a top-flight English club.

Guardiola’s side have also won their last 10 league matches, with Mohammed Salah’s penalty in last week’s 4-1 victory over champions Liverpool, just the second goal they have conceded during that time.

Further reading

Bruno Fernandes has admitted that he tries to celebrate every strike and success for Manchester United as if in the presence of their die-hard supporters amid the Premier League's empty stadiums.

The Portuguese has been restricted to just four home matches with fans in attendance since his arrirval at the start of last year, with the Covid-19 pandemic ensuring closed-doors encounters across the top-flight, domestic competition and Europe.

But the talismanic playmaker - the key driving force behind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side's revival and surprise title challenge this term - says that he attempts to honour every goal home and away as if Red Devils fans were lining the terraces rather than watching on their televisions.

'I am with them'

Speaking to the club's website, Fernandes opened up on how he and his teammates attempt to generate their own morale boost in the absence of supporters, as well as the inspiration he draws when he encounters them away from matchdays.

“When you score you want to celebrate," he stated. "Some players when they score they don’t have that feeling to celebrate.

"[That is] because there is nobody there and we have to make our own way to celebrate and make the atmosphere happy when we score as if the fans were there.

“One of the things the fans told me when we started to play behind closed doors is that when we score you need to celebrate like we are there with you.

"I’m trying to do that, sometimes it’s difficult because you are not in the mood and maybe you don’t feel it, but I’m trying to do it like they are there or if they are at home then they are feeling that I’m happy and I am with them.”

Midfielder relishing full houses

Fernandes admitted that while he did not feel robbed of the experience of adoration from the Old Trafford faithful, he was still a touch frustrated to not be playing out the dream experience he had hoped for upon signing.

"[I'm] just a little bit disappointed because, as I’ve said before, coming to the Premier League and coming to play for Manchester United, the atmosphere of the game day, I’m not living that at all," he added.

“I’m feeling the support of them [the fans] on social media and when we can see them sometimes if I go to the supermarket and they say some words because we can’t be closer than that.

"It’s really good when you have that support [but], of course, coming from the stands would be much better.”

Further reading

Sebastien Bassong and global players' union Fifpro have expressed their support for banned Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana.

The Cameroon international was handed a one-year suspension after failing a doping test but the shot-stopper has promised to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

His Ajax teammates led by Ivory Coast international Sebastien Haller have shown their solidarity to the goalkeeper by wearing shirts which bore the name and number of the 24-year-old during their KNVB Cup quarter-final game against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday. 

The Fifpro and former Cameroon international Bassong are the latest to align with the goalkeeper during this difficult time. 

"Fifpro strongly believes the one-year sanction imposed on Andre Onana is excessive and disproportionate," Fifpro said in a statement.

"Fifpro cannot accept a system in which football players have shown to have no intention of cheating continue to be stopped from practising their profession for a prolonged period of time. Such sanctions not only affect their career but also their well-being.

"Fifpro has previously called for a new approach to anti-doping regulations so that employee and employer organisations have more influence on how these rules apply to professional football.

“Furthermore, the notion that the player is not even allowed to train with the rest of the team is utterly incomprehensible.

"The rules need to urgently retract this additional injustice, which has no added value whatsoever and leads to the unnecessary isolation of a young professional football player."

Bassong believes the ban would hamper the progress of the 24-year-old and calls for support for the goalkeeper to help him overcome the psychological impact of the suspension.

"I feel really sorry for him because he was really on his way in career and a year ban is going slow him down. Even for his own mind it will be tough to recover from that but he is strong enough," Bassong told BBC Sport. 

"I truly believe he didn't do it on purpose, he's not that type of guy. Hopefully, the appeal (to CAS) will go through and they reduce the ban or cancel it. He's young but really determined, he's come a long way and he's worked his way through.

"There's a lot of things that need to be sorted out mentally, with the support of everyone around him, his club, the Cameroon federation hopefully he will pick it up after the ban. He'll be 25 (when the ban ends) with a long career ahead of him and hopefully would still get the move that he's been looking for."

The ban would also force Onana to miss the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Cameroon and Bassong has expressed his concerns.

"Missing the Afcon is what worries me the most, we have all been waiting to host the tournament for years and years, it's been rescheduled and put back and Andre will be a big miss for us," he added.

"That's why everyone is putting in the effort to help him and get this ban overturned because, for our nation, it's going to be a massive loss. If the decision gets confirmed he'd have to be away from any kind of football at all, he won't be able to get close to any football premises - that will be the difficult part.

"He'll feel that people are taking what he cherishes the most away from him. So hopefully he will get the support he needs."

Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor has said Sam Mewis is "very unlikely" to join up with the U.S. national team ahead of the SheBelieves Cup next week. 

Mewis has not played since she injured her ankle in last month's USWNT friendly win over Colombia, missing Man City's past four league matches. 

City have still managed to win all four of those games, including Friday's 3-0 victory over local rivals Manchester United. 

What Taylor said about Mewis

"It was a difficult one that because they were close," the City boss said after Friday's game of Mewis and Demi Stokes, who is also injured.

"But again, as much as you want them in big games like this, or certainly having the option to use them from the bench, we had to look at the bigger picture.

"And the bigger picture was that, OK, what we might gain in the short term we could lose in the long term with all of the games that we have coming up soon. 

"It's highly unlikely Sam is going to U.S. camp, so she'll stay with us, she'll continue with her rehabilitation.

"As will Demi, she won't go to the England camp. And that just gives us that opportunity to get them really ready for when we restart after the international break."

A blow for the USWNT

Mewis has been in strong form for the U.S. in recent games, scoring her first national team hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Colombia on January 18. 

The 28-year-old, who was named the 2020 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, suffered the ankle injury in another game against Colombia four days later.

After the game, USWNT star Megan Rapinoe said Mewis is "the best player in our team right now."

The 2021 SheBelieves Cup

The USWNT will face Canada on February 18, Brazil on February 21 and Argentina on February 24 in the four-team SheBelieves Cup, which will take place in Orlando.

Argentina were a late addition after Japan pulled out due to coronavirus concerns. 

Further reading

Chennaiyin and FC Goa have not won a game since six and seven matches respectively when the two sides lock horns in a 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) fixture at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim, on Saturday evening.

TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM

The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the ISL in India.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

 TEAM NEWS

Chennaiyin Possible XI:

Injured - Aman Chetri
Doubtful - Anirudh Thapa
Suspended - None

Key Players - Isma, Manuel Lanzarote

FC Goa Possible XI: 

Injured - None
Doubtful - None
Suspended - None

Key Players - Igor Angulo, Glan Martins  

Chris Mugalu scored the only goal at the Pentecost Martyrs Stadium, Kinshasa on Friday night to fire Simba SC to a 1-0 win over AS Vita Club in their Caf Champions League outing to go top of Group A.  

The hosts started the match on a high, pushing for an opening goal from the wings. In the fourth minute, they won a free-kick in a good area when the captain of the night, Mohamed Hussein, handled the ball, but Ivorian Pascal Wawa headed the danger away.

In the 10th minute, goalkeeper Aishi Manula had to be alert to stop the Ivorian from deflecting the ball into his own net. Jeremie Kalenda had done well to get past his marker before crossing the ball into the danger zone. Kenyan Joash Onyango headed it but it hit his defensive partner but the custodian bailed them out.

As time went by, the Black Dolphins were growing in confidence and attacked with every opportunity. 

Manula bailed his charges out once again in the 13th minute. A long ball caught the Wekundu wa Msimbazi napping and it fell to Kalenda. The Taifa Star had to commit and managed to force the forward to cross the ball in search of a teammate, but the chance was eventually wasted.

After that attack, the Tanzania Mainland League champions opted to possess the ball more to avoid frequent attacks by their hosts. However, they still struggled to break down the opponent's solid defense.

Simba must have celebrated in silence when they had the first-half whistle go, owing to their struggle to match their opponents. The break presented an opportunity for them to re-strategise for the second half.

The East African heavyweights came into the second half a much-improved side and prevented the Congolese from playing as freely as they did in the first half.

They were eventually rewarded in the 60th minute. Clatous Chama managed to get into a good position and cut the ball back to Luis Miquissone. The Mozambican's effort was blocked by Ousmane Ouattara's hand and the referee awarded the visitors a penalty.

Mugalu held his nerves to send Simon Omossola the wrong way and give his team a lead. 

Despite a spirited fight-back from the Black Dolphins, Simba held on to get maximum points and go top of their group.

In Group D, five-time champions Zamalek SC were held to a goalless draw at the Cairo International Stadium by MC Alger. 

The White Knight had come into the match hoping to capitalise on the home ground advantage but they could not find their way past the Algerians. 

AS Vita XI: Simon Omossola, Ousmane Ouattara, Vivien Assie, Djouma Shabani, Ernest Luzolo, Amede Masasi, Papy Kabamba, Sidi Yacoub, Jeremie Mbuyi, Glody Lilepo, Fiston Mayele.

Subs: Landu Mavanga, Zemanga Soze, Jeremie Mumbere, Arnaud Akakpo, Ducapel Moloko, Ricky Tulengi, Obed Mayamba

Simba XI: Aishi Manula, Shomari Kapombe, Mohamed Hussein, Joash Onyango, Pascal Wawa, Taddeo Lwanga, Clatous Chama, Yasin Mzamiru, Chris Mugalu, Larry Bwalya, Luis Miquissone

Subs: Beno Kakolanya, Gadiel Michael, Kennedy Juma, Saidi Ndemla, Meddie Kagere, Bernard Morrison, Francis Kahata

Manchester City defender Angelino is set to complete a permanent move to RB Leipzig in the summer after triggering an €18 million (£16m/$21m) obligation to buy, Goal can confirm.

The Spaniard joined the Bundesliga club on a season-long loan in September with an appearance-based obligation-to-purchase clause.

Angelino had to appear in 12 matches through the season, with five of those in the second half of the campaign, and he passed that figure on Friday night when he started the Bundesliga clash against Augsburg.

Why is he leaving City?

Angelino first joined City as a 16-year-old from Deportivo La Coruna and impressed as he worked his way through the academy ranks.

But the left-back joined PSV on a permanent move in 2018 after loan spells with New York City FC, Girona and Mallorca.

City exercised a buyback clause after he starred for the Dutch side but he made just six appearances under Pep Guardiola before joining Leipzig on loan last January and again at the start of this season.

What’s been said?

"I have that thorn of why I did not play more or I did not quite fit in [at City]. But that helped me get here, meet the coach, the group, and reach the semis in the Champions League,” Angelino said in November.

"If I'm honest, I'm here for [head coach Julian] Nagelsmann. I signed again for him. I was very happy with him, the way he played, everything, everything he transmits, the tactics, fits me perfectly. He's the reason I'm here. Obviously, the relationship with colleagues is also very good.

"Something came out of interest [from Barcelona], but Leipzig pulled a lot for me to come back and in my head, I wanted to be calm and continue enjoying football like I was doing in recent months and stay there."

The big picture

Angelino’s move to Leipzig was always going to go through because of the way the 24-year-old has become such a key part of Nagelsman’s plans.

The 24-year-old has started all but one of Leipzig’s 21 Bundesliga matches as well as all of their Champions League group-stage games.

Coming through the ranks as a left-back, Angelino has thrived higher up the pitch as a wing-back under the German coach and has even been used as a midfielder.

Further reading

Bayern Munich have agreed a deal to sign defender Dayot Upamecano from RB Leipzig, sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has confirmed.

The European champions will pay a €42.5 million (£37m/$51m) release clause to land the France international, who will sign a five-year deal.

The likes of Chelsea and Liverpool were heavily linked with a move for Upamecano, but the 22-year-old has decided to stay in the Bundesliga.

Bayern had 'strong competition' for Upamecano

When asked whether he could confirm reports that Bayern had won the race for Upamecano, Salihamidzic told Bild: "I can do that, and we are very happy about it at FC Bayern.

"We had very good, intensive and professional discussions with Dayot and his advisor Volker Struth for many months. We knew that we had very strong competition.

"Upamecano is a young player, 22, whose qualities have already developed extraordinarily. I was always convinced that we had presented a good concept.

"We presented him with our vision of his career at Bayern. During the past week in Doha I had further talks with everyone involved. At the end of a long process, the players, family and management were convinced that FC Bayern was the right club. 

"Dayot Upamecano will play for Bayern for the next five years."

The bigger picture

Upamecano is tied to Leipzig until 2023 but his agent confirmed last month he had a release clause in his deal, meaning he was always likely to move on this summer.

Bayern made no secret of their desire to get their hands on the highly rated defender and Struth was spotted entering the club's offices for talks at the end of January. The European champions are set to lose David Alaba on a free transfer in the summer and were keen to secure a replacement quickly.

Struth also confirmed there were two clubs from the Premier League interested in signing the 22-year-old, believed to be Chelsea and Liverpool.

The German champions were always confident of having an edge in the negotiations due to their history with Struth, and so it has proved.

Further reading