Looking for Soccer News?

Facundo Pellistri is set to leave Manchester United on loan this week, Goal has learned, with a number of clubs keen on taking the winger. 

Pellistri signed from Penarol in October for €10 million (£9m/$12m) but, having only managed a handful of games for the Under-23s side, both the club and the player have agreed that he should go on loan to guarantee more playing time and develop his game.

"There have been talks and quite a few clubs interested in Facundo to go out on loan and that’s maybe something we’ll let him do now he’s had a few games in the reserves and we want him to have regular football at a high level," United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said in his press conference on Tuesday afternoon. 

It is understood Club Brugge, who United beat in the Europa League last season, are leading the race to sign the teenager on loan for the remainder of the season, with Alaves also interested.

However, the sticking point from Alaves' perspective is that they are short of time, and have yet to detail what they can offer to Pellistri.

Goal has learned that Pellistri will make the final decision on Tuesday, while United club sources say a decision has yet to be made, with a number of clubs showing their interest.

It is understood Pellistri has always wanted the opportunity to prove himself in Spain but that a move to Brugge appeals to him after the club explained to him their need for a right winger.  

The Belgian side have been in regular contact with the 19-year-old and promised him a leading role in a team who are top of the Belgian First Division and are still fighting in the Europa League, having been knocked out of the Champions League.

Solskjaer has been impressed with Pellistri since he arrived in October and his performances and ability have pleased U23s manager Neil Wood. While they are very confident in his potential, regarding him as one of the brightest young attackers in South America when they signed him, there has been limited opportunity to get him involved with the first team.

While he has been a regular in training with Solskjaer’s side, he has made just two matchday squads, where he was an unused substitute in the Champions League games against Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir.

It was expected he would be in contention for a place in the squad for the FA Cup third-round clash against Watford earlier in January, only for the teenager to have to isolate having contracted Covid-19.

He has started eight times for the U23s where he has grown in confidence and settled into a different style of play, and has managed three goals and one assist.

With Solskjaer predicting new recruit Amad Diallo could be included in a first-team matchday squad in the coming weeks, Pellistri has slipped further down the pecking order and all parties have agreed that the next step for his development would be going out on loan.

Eric Bailly has become a threat to Harry Maguire’s spot as a guaranteed starter with Manchester United, says Wes Brown, with added competition for places raising collective standards at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have seen questions asked of their defensive department in recent times, with there calls in the 2020-21 campaign for reinforcements to be found in that area.

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is said to be registering on the Old Trafford recruitment radar, with the World Cup winner approaching the end of his contract at Santiago Bernabeu.

United have, however, found stability and continuity down the spine of their side, with Bailly coming back into favour after shaking off niggling injury issues.

He has tended to be rotated with Sweden international Victor Lindelof, but Brown believes that pair could be used in tandem as club captain Maguire takes in the odd break.

The former Red Devils defender has told Stadium Astro of the improvement made in Manchester this season: “United’s defenders this year have done well.

“They started the season badly, with some bad individual mistakes, but since players have started coming back and challenging for positions, I think it has upped everyone’s game a little bit.

“[Alex] Telles coming in has upped Luke Shaw’s game, Bailly coming back and getting a few games has upped Lindelof’s game.

“Harry Maguire you would say starts every game if he is fit, but Eric Bailly now has made it difficult for Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] in the sense that if he keeps on playing like that then he might have to keep him in for a while.

“I love competition and I think that is one thing that got dug into us.”

Brown spent 15 years competing for regular game time at United after stepping out of their famed academy system.

He took in 362 appearances and helped the Red Devils to five Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns during the iconic reign of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Solskjaer is in the process of trying to bring the good times back to Old Trafford, with the progress he has overseen across two years helping to put United back in contention for major honours at home and abroad.

Western Stima chairman Laban Jobita has conceded he will be in the market for new players since the ones he has "cannot get the team out of their current position".

The Kisumu-based charges lost several key players at the beginning of the season after main sponsors Kenya Power and Lighting Company pulled out from sponsoring all sporting activities.

The team had to do with fringe players as well as bring on board those who weren't of the desired standard.

In the nine games they have played this season in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League, the Powermen have managed to get one win, two draws and six losses and as a result, they are in the 16th position with five points.

"We must bring in new players in the short transfer window," Jobita told Goal on Tuesday.

"I am afraid the players we have cannot get us out of our current position. So we have to get players who will help us move upwards on the table before it is too late.

"I am waiting for the report from the technical bench and then we implement it as soon as possible."

Currently, the team has 30 players and the administrator has hinted more than 10 will be released to create space for a few new ones.

"We want to have a total of 22 players as opposed to the current number," Jobita added.

"The 22 players will include those we are signing but for us to do so, we have to release others. We want to perform well in the remaining matches of the season and we must have players who will help us achieve the same."

Stima's latest game was a 3-1 loss against leaders KCB in a match played at the Moi Stadium last Sunday.

The Bankers got an opener in the 26th minute when Simon Abuko converted from the penalty spot. The Powermen were not entirely discouraged after they conceded first and fought to equalise in the 52nd minute through Kennedy Agogo.

Henry Onyango gave Zedekiah Otieno’s side the lead three minutes after the hour mark as he blasted into the net at close range. Victor Omondi scored the third goal for the Bankers in the 70th minute for a win against a side that had frustrated them, especially in the first half.

Argentine icon Hugo Gatti has pointed out that “every time Lionel Messi doesn’t play, Barcelona win”, with the Blaugrana considered to be using “other strengths” when their talismanic captain is absent.

A six-time Ballon d’Or winner has taken in a few breaks this season, with Ronald Koeman prepared to offer the 33-year-old rest time when others are expected to carry the load.

Messi has still seen 22 appearances in the current campaign, with 14 goals recorded in those outings, but he is not required to figure in every fixture for Barca across multiple competitions.

Koeman has enough talent at his disposal to shuffle a star-studded pack when required, with experienced performers and home-grown academy graduates looking to provide cover for an all-time great.

Big things are expected from the likes of Ansu Fati and Pedri, with the latter catching the eye at present while the former recovers from an untimely injury.

Copa del Rey progress has been secured with Messi on the sidelines, with the South American having to serve a two-match ban after collecting the first red card of his Barca career to date.

Koeman’s side emerged victorious in each of the outings that their skipper was forced to sit out, with Gatti suggesting that the Liga giants are not as reliant on a mercurial talent as they once were.

He has told El Chiringuito: “Every time Messi doesn't play, Barcelona win because they can draw on other strengths.

“Football is about winning and if you play well, even better.

“Every time Messi doesn't play, Barcelona win.”

Former Boca Juniors goalkeeper Gatti has been keeping a close eye on Spanish football and believes that the standards Messi has set can be emulated by Eden Hazard, despite the Belgian’s struggles for form and fitness at Real Madrid.

The 76-year-old added: “I still think that Hazard can be at the level of Messi. That he can be better than Messi, but he has not played.

“If you remove that mental injury problem, he can star. And even more so because this Messi today is not the Messi of a year or two ago. 

“He could be Madrid's trump card. But we have to see what happens.”

Thomas Tuchel is travelling to London to complete his appointment as Chelsea's new manager.

The former Paris Saint-Germain head coach will replace Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge and hopes to be in position in time to be able to take charge of his new side against Wolves on Wednesday.

Tuchel will sign an 18-month contract, with the option for a further year, and is back in management just a month after his exit from PSG.

What are the details?

Just 24 hours after sacking Lampard as Chelsea's head coach, Blues owner Roman Abramovich is ready to usher in the latest manager to be given the task of leading the London club.

Indeed, Tuchel is travelling from Paris to London to finalise the move, and is hoping to be in place for the Blues' Premier League meeting with Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

The 47-year-old will be required to record a negative Covid-19 test to be able to enter Chelsea's bubble, and he will then be allowed to lead training sessions and take charge of matches.

The London club will allow Tuchel to bring an initial core group of staff with him to operate in the short-term, with further additions to be reviewed as the season goes on.

Initially, the German will sign an 18-month contract but there is the option to extend the deal for a further season, should both parties be happy with the arrangement.

The decision to make the change at managerial level comes with Chelsea currently in ninth place in the Premier League table, some way short of pre-season expectations that they would be capable of challenging for the title.

Overall, Lampard only earned 1.67 points per game during his 18 months in charge at Stamford Bridge, and ultimately that is one of the main reasons why he has been axed.

The former England international's assistants Jody Morris and Chris Jones have also been let go, although Joe Edwards and Anthony Barry have remained to take over training in the meantime.

Chelsea have also temporarily paused any transfer activity as they await the arrival of Tuchel at the club.

What's been said?

Announcing the decision to sack Lampard, Abramovich said in a statement: "This was a very difficult decision for the club, not least because I have an excellent personal relationship with Frank and I have the utmost respect for him.

"He is a man of great integrity and has the highest of work ethics. However, under current circumstances, we believe it is best to change managers.

"On behalf of everyone at the club, the board and personally, I would like to thank Frank for his work as head coach and wish him every success in the future.

"He is an important icon of this great club and his status here remains undiminished. He will always be warmly welcomed back at Stamford Bridge."

Lampard himself, meanwhile, has spoken of his disappointment at being dismissed by Chelsea, releasing the following statement: "It has been a huge privilege and an honour to manage Chelsea, a club that has been a huge part of my life for so long.

"Firstly, I would like to thank the fans for the incredible support that I have received for the last 18 months. I hope they know what that means to me.

"When I took on this role, I understood the challenges that lay ahead in a difficult time for the football club.

"I am proud of the achievements that we made, and I am proud of the Academy players that have made their step into the first team and performed well. They are the future of the club. I am disappointed not to have had the time this season to take the club forward and bring it to the next level.

"I want to thank Mr Abramovich, the board, players, my coaching team and everyone at the club for their hard work and dedication, especially in these unprecedented and challenging times.

“I wish the club and the team every success in the future."

Further reading

Rio Ferdinand says he's confident Paul Pogba will stay at Manchester United if they win the Premier League title because the midfielder would then be eager to "create a legacy" at Old Trafford.

Pogba has enjoyed an impressive return to form since returning to full fitness in late November.

A combination of injuries and a positive coronavirus test restricted the Frenchman's contribution at the start of the season, but he has played a key role in United's rise to the Premier League summit in recent weeks.

In addition to scoring spectacular winning goals against both Burnley and Fulham, the 27-year-old has been a driving force for the Red Devils with his physicality and exceptional passing range, having finally stepped out of the shadow of €55 million (£49m/$67m) signing Bruno Fernandes.

However, speculation over Pogba's future continues to rage due to comments from his agent Mino Raiola before United's Champions League exit at the hands of RB Leipzig in early December.

Raiola insisted that the World Cup winner, who has been strongly linked with Real Madrid, will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season because he is no longer happy in Manchester.

Pogba had even admitted two months earlier that a potential move to Santiago Bernabeu would be a "dream" for him, with the Blancos reportedly lining up a swoop for the playmaker currently tied to the Red Devils until 2022.

However, Ferdinand thinks Pogba will snub a potential transfer and commit to staying put if he can help Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side secure the Premier League trophy come May. 

"I don’t know but whenever I’ve spoken to Paul Pogba, Paul Pogba is happiest when he’s playing on a regular basis," the ex-United defender said on his YouTube channel FIVE.

"When he’s playing consistently, when he’s playing good football and when he’s winning. He’s a happy person.

"Manchester United right now must be a happy place for Paul Pogba to be. So, for him to go somewhere else, if they win the league I think it will be very difficult for him to walk out.

"I think a new contract will probably be on the table and for him to walk away from that, at the start of something he was very committed to when he walked through the door, he wanted to come here and win things and get Man Utd back on track to winning.

"I think he’s the type of person who’d want to continue that and create a legacy at this football club. At this moment in time, if Pogba leaves at the end of this season – even if they win the league he hasn’t created a legacy that he would’ve wanted to walking through that door."

Jody Morris has been left hurting at a Chelsea departure for the third time in his career, with the former Blues midfielder bidding farewell to Stamford Bridge in the wake of Frank Lampard’s sacking.

The highly-rated coach emerged out of a famed academy system in west London to take in over 120 appearances for the Blues.

He returned to take up a role within the club’s youth system after hanging up his boots, before being lured into the dugout by Lampard when he took the reins at Derby in 2018.

Morris followed the Chelsea legend back to familiar surroundings a year later, with an emotional homecoming taken in by all concerned.

That dream role has lasted just 18 months, with Roman Abramovich wielding the axe once more, but those heading through the exits are proud of what they achieved in the most demanding of posts.

Morris, who may decide to follow Lampard into his next job, posted on Instagram as the dust settles on another big call at Chelsea: “It’s hurt twice previously that I’ve had to leave this great club, but it’s been on my terms and both times it was done with the bigger picture for myself and my family in mind...

“Yesterday was tough to take on all levels... I’ve always felt lucky to be able to say I’ve played for the team I’ve supported since I was a young boy growing up on north end road.

“I am also immensely proud to say I’ve been stood next to our gaffa @franklampard who has worked tirelessly to improve the players and the culture every single day. Us as your staff couldn’t ask for a better leader!!

“There has never been a bunch in that dugout that cared more inside Stamford Bridge!! I’m even prouder of the work that has gone on day in, day out at Cobham in what has been the toughest period anybody has had to face in charge.

“Thank you so much to the fans for the support I’ve had personally throughout. I am one of you...

“Thank you to Mr. Abramovich and Marina Granovskaia for allowing me to fulfil one of my dreams... Chelsea is and always will be my club no matter what.”

The Blues are expected to hand their managerial baton to former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel, with it possible that the German could be in place by the time a Premier League home date with Wolves is taken in on Wednesday.

Former India and Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Prasanta Dora has passed away at the age of 44.

It is learned that he was suffering from Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and was admitted in a hospital in Kolkata since December 28.

"His platelet count reduced drastically and doctors took a long time to diagnose the disease. He was later treated at the Tata Medical (a cancer care centre in the New Town). We were giving him blood regularly but he could not survive and died at 1.40 pm today," his elder brother Hemanta told PTI.

Prasanta represented clubs such as Tollygunge Agragami, Calcutta Port Trust, Mohammedan Sporting, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. He was the "Best Goalkeeper" in when Bengal and won back-to-back Santosh Trophy titles in 1997-99 and 99.

At the international level, he first featured for India in the Olympic qualifier home match against Thailand in 1999, after which he made five appearances in competitions such as SAFF Cup and SAF Games.

Asante Kotoko have been barred from making new signings during the upcoming second Ghana transfer window after being found guilty of breaching the contracts of four former players during their stint with the club.

The players, Matthew Kelvin Andoh, Stephen Tetteh Ayiku, Evans Owusu and Abass Mohammed, separately filed complaints against the Porcupine Warriors for unilateral termination of their contracts.

The second registration window of the 2020-21 Premier League season is set to open on February 16 and run until March 18.

"The Players’ Status Committee (PSC) of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has pronounced decisions on four cases concerning Asante Kotoko SC and four of its former players," the Ghana Football Association have announced on their official website.

"In separate petitions, Abass Mohammed, Mathew Kelvin Andoh and Stephen Tetteh Aryiku and Evans Owusu, all petitioned the PSC on the Club’s unilateral termination of their contracts.

"They, therefore, sought for the PSC to rule on the payment of their outstanding salaries and signing-on fees."

With the players demanding payment of their outstanding salaries and signing-on fees, the PSC has ordered Kotoko to pay a combined compensation of GH¢197,800 (27,973.31 Euro) within 14 days, in addition to the transfer ban.

Failure to meet the 14-day deadline for the payment of the compensation to the quartet and a GH¢10,000 fine to the GFA will result in the cases being referred to the GFA Disciplinary Committee for further sanctions, which may include points deduction in the Ghana Premier League.

After ten rounds of matches, Johnson Smith’s side sit fifth on the league standings with 16 points to their name so far.

The most successful club in the history of the Ghana Premier League, Kotoko are regarded as arguably the biggest club in the West African nation.

The Porcupine Warriors have won the league title on 23 occasions, four more wins than arch-rivals Hearts of Oak.

At continental level, the Kumasi-based outfit have won the Caf Champions League on two occasions - in 1970 and 1983. Their best performance in the Confederation Cup was a runners-up finish in the 2004 edition.

Roberto Firmino has become “a concern” for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp should be looking to splash out £100 million ($136m) on luring Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland to Anfield, says John Aldridge.

The reigning Premier League champions have found themselves short on firepower of late.

Mohamed Salah bagged a brace in his latest outing against Manchester United in the FA Cup, and continues to top the Premier League scoring charts, but others are struggling for a spark.

Brazil international Firmino falls into that category, with the target found just five times in the 2020-21 campaign, and Aldridge sees Liverpool lacking a “Plan B”.

Big money could be thrown at addressing that issue in the summer transfer window, with a prolific Norwegian considered to be the ideal candidate to solve attacking issues on Merseyside.

Former Reds frontman Aldridge has told the Sunday World: “Roberto Firmino's form has been a concern for some time, so I would encourage Liverpool to do all they can to sign Erling Haaland next summer.

“Liverpool don't have a Plan B option in their forward line and as we have seen with their slump in form over the last few weeks, they don't have a back-up plan when Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino are not firing.

“A player like Haaland would give them that variation and while he would cost in excess of £100m to sign from Dortmund, he is the man I'd like to see Liverpool go for.

“This lad looks to be the real deal and he has lived up to his hype time and again over the last year. He's strong, direct, great in the air and a brilliant finisher.

“On top of that, he is young and hungry, which is what Liverpool need in a team that has lost a little of its bite amid their current slump.

“Haaland has everything you look for to be a top centre-forward and having him alongside Mane, Salah and Diogo Jota next season would give Liverpool a real chance to spring back into contention for the top trophies.”

Aldridge added: “Whether Liverpool's owners would sanction this kind of transfer is a different issue as they appear to be reluctant to spend money, even at a time when Klopp is crying out for a central defender.

“Yet if you want to continue the kind of success the club has enjoyed over the last couple of seasons, you need to invest in the squad and this Liverpool team clearly needs a reboot after the results over the last month.

“We should not write them off as a team that has achieved so much can get back to their best as quickly as they have drifted away, but Klopp and the owners need to work together now to inject some life back into a team that appears to have lost some of its edge.

“If a player of Haaland's stature arrived this summer, along with a top-class centre-back, it would confirm that Liverpool are ready to compete for the best players in the world.

“Without that level of investment, you wonder whether Klopp can continue to produce miracles on a budget that is threadbare compared to the managers he is competing with.”

West Bromwich Albion manager Sam Allardyce has confirmed the club’s interest in Ahmed Musa, who is a free agent.

The fleet-footed forward has been without a club since he parted ways with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr in October by mutual agreement.

Musa moved to Saudi Arabia after ending his two-year stay with Premier League club Leicester City, where he struggled to establish himself and had to rejoin his former club CSKA Moscow on loan in his quest to enjoy more game time.

The forward made 50 league appearances for Al Nassr and scored nine goals to help the club win the league title in the 2018-19 season and the Super Cup trophy.

Musa is now set to make a return to the Premier League as Allardyce confirmed he is expecting the winger to have a trial with his side.  

“He [Musa] is not here yet. He’s a person of interest and when he arrives we’ll alert everybody and let them know," Allardyce said, as per West Brom Evening News.

“We’ve had many other players on the radar, many abroad, but we’ve not been able to secure that particular player yet

“We must keep our ear open on the transfer market to try and secure the signings that we want – we want two more if we can possibly achieve that.

“I’d emphasise we have to try and get the right quality, but it’s difficult in our position. Some might not want to join the fight and the position where we are in the Premier League.”

Should Musa seal a deal with the Hawthorns outfit, he would be expected to hit the ground running and help the club avoid relegation at the end of the campaign.

West Bromwich are currently in the bottom three after gathering only 11 points from 19 Premier League games.

Musa will also link up with his compatriot Semi Ajayi at the club, who has been one of the outstanding players for the Baggies this season.

The winger is one of the most consistent players for the Nigeria national team and currently has 95 caps for the West Africans.

Musa will be expected to captain the Super Eagles to victory in the 2022 African Cup of Nations qualifying games in March.

Simba SC have completed the signing of Highlanders FC defender Peter Muduhwa ahead of the resumption of the Tanzania Mainland League.

The 21-time champions have been strengthening their squad to ensure they meet their set targets in the ongoing 2020/21 campaign.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi have confirmed the arrival of the player a day before the start of the Simba Super Cup.

"Welcome to the big family of Tanzania champions defender Peter Muduhwa 'Master of Defense'" Simba confirmed on their official social media sites.

"We as the Simba family welcome you with both hands and we believe you will help us perform well in the Caf Champions League and the Simba Super Cup.

"Muduhwa, who joins us from Zimbabwean outfit Highlanders FC, has arrived to seal the deal from Cameroon where he was representing Zimbabwe in the [African Nations Competition]."

'The Master of Defense' played in two Group A matches for the Warriors but was not involved in the 1-0 loss to Mali. He was commanding the back four as the Zdravko Logarusic-led charges lost by a solitary goal to the Indomitable Lions in their opening game.

They then fell 3-1 to Burkina Faso in their second game and as a result, they were eliminated from the competition.

On Monday, the Msimbazi-based charges also confirmed the signing of Junior Lokosa as the team aims at reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The East African heavyweights were pooled with the Democratic Republic of Congo outfit in Group A alongside defending champions Al Ahly and Sudanese heavyweights El-Merreikh in a draw conducted at the Caf headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on Friday, January 8.  

The Nigerian came in as a free agent after being released by the Tunisian heavyweights. He was deemed surplus to requirements and was dropped by coach Moine Chaabani alongside fellow countryman Samuel Atvati and Algerian Tayeb Meziani.

The 26-year-old was signed by Esperance after a good run in the Nigerian Professional League in 2018 where he managed to score 19 goals to emerge the top scorer. 

However, he did not have an impact at the North African outfit owing to a cruciate injury and struggled to make 11 appearances for the team, scoring two goals in the process.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi have already signed Zimbabwean Perfect Chikwende and have also reached an agreement to bring the Democratic Republic of Congo player Doxa Gikanji on board.

Timo Werner is “working his socks off” in a bid to bring his goal struggles at Chelsea to a close, says Tammy Abraham.

The German frontman enjoyed a positive start to his spell at Stamford Bridge, with the target found on eight occasions by November.

He has managed just one effort in 16 outings since then – with that solitary strike coming in an FA Cup win over League Two outfit Morecambe.

Werner’s latest outing saw him fluff his lines once again, with a penalty missed against Luton in what would prove to be Frank Lampard’s final game at the Blues helm.

The 24-year-old could be forgiven for wanting to hide, with his confidence seemingly shot, but Abraham says a proven performer is doing all he can to rediscover a spark.

The Chelsea and England striker told the Blues’ official website: “I feel that to be a new player coming into the Premier League it is never easy. I have had my struggles last season where I went a couple of games without scoring myself, so I know the pressure that comes with it.

“You just have to keep getting into the right areas and putting yourself out there. One thing I love about Timo is that even in hard times he always works his socks off. He is a top player and it is always good to have those players around you.

“As a striker you just have to keep making the runs and getting yourself in those positions. Eventually it will come for you.”

Werner has been at the top for long enough to know that his every performance will be dissected in minute detail, with players in his position expected to deliver end product.

Abraham faces similar pressure, with the 23-year-old adding on life as a goal-getter: “That’s one thing that getting into football does to you.

“There is always pressure. Good times and bad times, there is always pressure in football. But I feel like that is what we signed on for, to deal with the pressure.

“It is about how we overcome the bad times and when we are having the good times, how to celebrate those as well. For us as a team we just need to stick together and work hard, go back to basics - what we are good at.”

With Lampard gone and former Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel seemingly on his way in, Chelsea will be back in Premier League action on Wednesday when they take in a home date with Wolves.

Rwanda captain Jacques Tuyisenge has promised their supporters his best ahead of Tuesday night's Group C African Nations Championship game against Togo at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium.

Amavubi are third in their pool with two points from identical 0-0 scores against Uganda and defending champions Morocco. A win in their final group game against the Sparrowhawks will guarantee them a place in the last eight of the biennial competition.

"Every time I am going for a game, I consider it as the last game of my life," Tuysienge, who plays for APR in his home country, said ahead of the game.

"We are going to give our best. We did not come here for tourism but to stay in this competition which can only be achieved by winning the game."  

This is the fourth time Amavubi are playing in Chan. They made their debut in 2011 in Sudan but ended up losing all the three group-stage games. Their next appearance in the competition was in 2016 when they were hosts.

They reached the quarter-finals of the competition. Two years later, they were in Morocco again but they did not go past the initial stage.

Meanwhile, Uganda coach Johnathan McKinstry has stated his charges will give absolutely everything to get the needed result to eliminate defending champions Morocco from the competition.

The two teams will meet at the Reunification Stadium on Tuesday night with the winning team qualifying for the quarter-finals of the competition. 

The Northern Irish manager concedes his charges have already given a lot in the previous two games against Rwanda and Togo, but they will have to work even harder against the defending champions to seal progression.

"[The players] have put a lot of energy in the first two games, and now it is about everything they have got," McKinstry said.

"There is no point in reserving energy for games in the future. Because those games may not happen. If we reserve anything it is going to be a waste. 

"They need to go out on the field and put every last ounce of energy. That is the first thing and look when we get the result we need, then yes we will have to rebuild [the players]."

The Atlas Lions lead Group C with four points, followed by the Sparrowhawks who are on three. The Amavubi are third with two points while the Cranes remain at the bottom with a point which came from a draw with Rwanda.

Jamshedpur FC will hope to get back to winning ways after a three-match winless run when they take on Kerala Blasters in their 14th match of the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) season.

The Men of Steel's were defeated by the Yellow Army just 17 days back but their coach Owen Coyle suggested that the previous result will have no consequence on Wednesday's clash.

"In the previous game we were in a great condition to win the match but we made some individual errors. That can happen in football. What happened in that game has no relevance to tomorrow's match. We have to be at our best."

The former Chennaiyin manager heaped praise on new recruits Farukh Choudhary and Len Doungel who joined the club last week from Mumbai City and FC Goa respectively. Both players were involved in Jamshedpur's last game against Hyderabad and Coyle suggested that they have enriched the team's attack.

"With Farukh (Chaudhary) and Len Doungel coming in they have added a great dimension to our forward play and that was evident in the Hyderabad game. We want to stay positive. They (Kerala Blasters) are an attack-minded team and they will want the three points. They have the momentum with their unbeaten run. We have to start our unbeaten run. It has started with a draw against Hyderabad and now what we have to do is continue the unbeaten run until the end of the season," said Coyle.

Australian forward Nicholas Fitzgerald has got just 72 minutes of game time at the club since the striker was plagued with injury since the beginning of the campaign. However, Coyle suggested that the striker has slowly regained fitness and might take the field against Kerala Blasters.

"Nic (Nicholas) Fitzegarld is training very hard. He obviously was injured since the beginning of the season. He came on a couple of games back, so hopefully, he will be involved tomorrow night and it will be nice to see him at his very best."

The experienced manager also spoke about the extreme competitiveness of the ISL and how teams lying low on the league table can create upsets and move up the ladder in no time.

"What the league has shown is whether you are in position one or position 11, everybody is capable of beating and taking points from each other. We have to make sure we do well. Against Hyderabad, the boys worked really hard. I saw how many additional opportunities we got in the second half. Having done well, we still have to be more offensive and creative and I feel if every personnel is trying hard we are capable of doing that," signed off the Jamshedpur head coach.

Liverpool "desperately" need to sign a defender, according to Danny Murphy, who says a new centre-back would give the Reds a huge "boost".

Klopp delivered Liverpool's first league title in three decades in 2019-20 as his team blew away their competition by securing the domestic crown with a record-breaking seven games to spare.

It was initially suggested that triumph would mark the beginning of a new era of domination for the Reds, but they have been unable to maintain the same levels of consistency in their latest campaign.

A five-match winless run has seen the reigning champions drop to fourth in the standings, six points behind current pace-setters Manchester United.

Liverpool have only scored once in that period, with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino all struggling for form, while Klopp has also had to deal with a significant injury crisis at the back.

Murphy feels his old club should be dipping into the transfer market for defensive solutions with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez still sidelined, with it his belief that Joel Matip is being too heavily relied upon to provide cover.

The former Liverpool midfielder does not think any of the blame for the team's recent dip should be put on Klopp's doorstep, though, as he told talkSPORT: “The small area of concern is the lack of transfer activity when they’re so desperately in need.

“I don’t think you should go out and buy for the sake of it. If you can’t get the ones you want in then you don’t do it.

“Defensively they’re not right, are they? That’s for sure. I know they’re not scoring, but you could see [against Man Utd in the FA Cup] defensively they’re not right when [Joel] Matip isn’t there.

“So I hope for everybody’s sake they do something in the last few days of the window, give everyone a boost and then a decent result at Tottenham [on Thursday] can get them back on track.

“It’s a difficult time for them. It’s a weird season. There’s one thing for sure, Jurgen Klopp’s got plenty in the bank. I don’t mean money, I mean credit.”

Asked if he expects a new defender to arrive at Anfield before the end of the month, Murphy responded: “I would really hope so. I’d be really surprised if nothing happened.”

He added on suggestions that the Reds are now involved in a battle for Champions League qualification rather than the title: “I still think he [Klopp] will be confident enough of getting top four with the attacking prowess they’ve got because those players are top class.

“Just because they’re having a little dip, that [quality] will come back. I’m not worried about goalscoring. He’ll believe they’ll get top four, but that’s not good enough now.

“Liverpool are way above that in terms of where they want to be and expectations and what the fans desire.

“If they don’t sign a defender, how fit can Matip stay with all the games? They’ll need [Jordan] Henderson and Matip fit, if they get those two fit they’ll be alright.”

Martin Odegaard’s “mentality” has been questioned by former Real Madrid player and coach Jorge Valdano, with the Norwegian accused of running away from a fight at Santiago Bernabeu as he prepares to link up with Arsenal on loan.

A short-term deal for the 22-year-old midfielder is being lined up at Emirates Stadium.

Any switch to the Premier League will take Odegaard away from the Spanish capital in a fifth successive season, with previous stints taken in at Heerenveen, Vitesse and Real Sociedad.

Fierce competition for places is forcing the talented playmaker to look elsewhere for regular game time, with Arsenal the latest to open their doors to a one-time teen sensation.

Valdano believes Odegaard should be embracing battles with the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, rather than shunning them, with a lack of patience being shown by a highly-rated performer.

“The quality that Odegaard possess is necessary for this Real Madrid team,” Valdano told El Transistor.

“I don’t think that Odegaard has played badly. Perhaps he was a bit conservative when it came to him, maybe he lacked some more daring actions, but he also lacked patience to continue at Real Madrid. In the end he competes with two stars like Modric and Kroos.

“I am more concerned about his mentality.

“It is not worthy of a Real Madrid player to leave your place, not have that patience. It’s not just any player ahead of him. I am surprised that he would leave the club and leave his spot open for others.”

While Odegaard is preparing to part with the Blancos, Zinedine Zidane is sticking around.

Questions have been asked of the Frenchman’s future as the reigning La Liga champions scratch around for form and see routes to major silverware in 2021 shut off, but Valdano believes a coach that has delivered three Champions League crowns in the past should be trusted to get things right.

He added: “I would never question a coach like Zidane.

“It’s not a good sign to kick a coach out in the middle of the season. You have to save the image of the club.

“The Alcoyano game was a blow, a humiliation, but falling in the cup was never a trauma for Real Madrid.”

Did the club you support get off to a disappointing start in the 2020-21 edition of the Indian Super League (ISL)? If they did, there is absolutely nothing to be concerned about.

Let's rewind a little. After a lot of confusion about how the new ISL season will be organised amidst a Coronavirus pandemic, the competition finally kicked off on November 20, 2020, in Goa. 

While all the stakeholders were glad to welcome top tier football back, there were concerns regarding how the tournament would play out due to the setup that the clubs found themselves in. All the squads were locked in a bio-bubble in Goa and only got to work on a short pre-season schedule before the season kicked off. 

And when the season finally kicked off, there were a lot of injury concerns for teams and slow starts that went with it. However, this wasn't a case for just one or two teams. 

The issues that each club had at the start of the season were not too different from each other. After 13 games, as teams get over their slow starts, there is nothing much that is separating at least eight out of the 11 participants. 

East Bengal, who had the shorted pre-season among all teams due to delays in paperwork regarding their entry into the ISL, had failed to pick up wins in their first seven matches. Their first win of the season came against Odisha in their eighth match but five more games later, they are only six points behind the fourth-placed team. 

The ongoing seventh season is turning out to be the most competitive season of ISL in recent years, with only six points (a matter of two wins!) separating fourth-placed Hyderabad from tenth-placed East Bengal. FC Goa, who are third on the table, are eight points above the Red and Golds. 

Consider a team like Kerala Blasters who have been disappointing this season and lie ninth on the table with just three wins to their name. They have 14 points and are only four points behind fourth. In fact, only Odisha have been thoroughly disappointing and have fallen behind, with just one win and eight points in 13 games at the bottom of the table. 

For a lot of teams, a chance to get into the playoffs was nearly ruled out after their poor starts. But going by how equal the teams have turned out to be this season, except for ATK Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City who have performed consistently, all these teams are very much involved in a tight race to nab the two seemingly available spots in the top four. 

It is certainly difficult but not impossible. 

Click here to view the latest ISL standings