Looking for Soccer News?

Uganda striker Muhammad Shaban has stated they learnt a lot from their pre-African Nations Championship engagement against Cameroon on Friday.

The Cranes and the Indomitable Lions played to a 1-1 draw and the Vipers SC forward has said they have learned a number of lessons despite going down to 10 men in the first half.

“We have learnt a lot from this match,” Shaban, who came on for Milton Karisa, said after the game according to Fufa’s website.

“Having played with 10 players for almost the whole game, we are happy with the result. We shall improve in our next game.”

Shaban’s coach Johnathan McKinstry said their main agenda for the pre-Chan tournament was not all about results.

To the former Rwanda coach, the main reason for engaging in the competition was to get the players ready for the actual tournament.  

“We said coming into this tournament was not about results,” McKinstry told the Fufa portal too.

“It was about taking on the host nation and other top opposition. We wanted to come here and prepare for the main tournament.  We encouraged our players to be confident even when we lost one of them.

“We created chances even with a man less but the equaliser was well deserved.”

In a separate interview, McKinstry said he was happy in how the players faced the Indomitable Lions but there are areas they have to work on.

“It was great for the fitness of the players and the tactical development of the players and also important for growing the confidence of the players,” added the tactician.

“And for large parts of the game we were the team creating chances from open play and we couldn’t be more pleased with the players.

“There are things to be improved naturally, but we felt that we played good football. We know we have speed in the team and on the bench.”

Uganda are among the three nations that organised a pre-Chan mini-competition in Cameroon as a precursor to the continental tournament.

They will play Niger and Zambia in the remaining fixtures but Ben Ocen will not feature after he was red-carded for a bad challenge in the game against Cameroon.

Kingsley Coman has revealed his Bayern Munich team-mates tease him because he is afraid of heading the ball.

The 24-year-old – who won the Champions League final with a strong header in August – admitted he has to shut his eyes when going up to strike the ball.

"It's just the way it is that I get a bit frightened of heading the ball, and my team-mates make fun of me over it," Coman told Bild.

"You can see it in the pictures. I closed my eyes for the header. It's instinctive - a natural reflex. I always try to keep my eyes open, but at the last moment I always have this reflex."

His crucial effort against Paris Saint-Germain aside, Coman has never been the most prolific wide player.

His tally of 10 goals in 2018-19 was the only time he has reached double figures in a season but, with five to his name this campaign, it is a benchmark that he is on course to match.

Coman once admitted he was never likely to be a 'killer' in front of goal, though it is an area of his game he would surely like to improve.

“I’ve had to be more present in front of goal and I’m creating more chances,” he told Le Parisien in 2019.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be someone to score 30, 40 or 50 goals in a season. This instinct to be a killer in front of goal, it’s not natural to me, even if I work for it.

“I love creating goals. But I know that scoring is very important. So I’m strict with myself and I try to be more egotistical.”

Coman and Bayern return to Bundesliga action on Sunday following a brief winter break.

They closed out a historic year with a 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen on December 19, overtaking Peter Bosz’s side to finish 2020 in their customary spot at the top of the table.

Bayern have six league fixtures to negotiate in January, starting at home to second-bottom Mainz, with a DFB-Pokal fixture against second-tier Holstein Kiel also on the schedule.

Roy Krishna hasn’t scored a goal in the last three Indian Super League (ISL) matches however, coach Antonio Habas isn’t a worried man. The Fiji international scored five goals in as many matches but hasn’t found the back of the net since their 1-0 win over FC Goa where Krishna converted from the spot.

In fact, his last goal from open play, where he was offside by some distance, was against Jamshedpur FC on December 7, 2020.

“I have to analyse the performance of the whole team and not just Roy Krishna in the last matches. The team's behaviour and performance is 100 per cent. Roy Krishna can score goals but more important is their attitude and overall performance,” said Habas.

The ATK Mohun Bagan coach was questioned on the reason as to why his strikers have been guilty of being wasteful this season. He answered by stating that he would be concerned if his team weren’t creating goalscoring opportunities.

“I would have been worried if didn't create chances to score but in football, you can do something in one situation and cannot do that in another. In football, all situations are different during the 90 minutes,” he said.

Javier Hernandez, who scored two goals in the ISL final last year, has been missing in action due to an injury. The 31-year-old hasn’t recovered completely from his injury yet as Habas and his medical staff are in no hurry to bring him back until then.

“He was well but just before the match (Chennaiyin) he had some problem, and we preferred not to force the player,” said the former Bolivia national team coach.

Habas maintained that it is vital for his side to continue their progress in the same vein and assimilate as many points as possible in the league stage.

“Being top of the table is good confidence for the team but at the same time, it is also a big responsibility for us to continue the performance and remain at the top of the table. Our team is preparing for that,” he signed off.

Mamelodi Sundowns forward Kermit Erasmus has underlined that Saturday’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) clash against Orlando Pirates at Loftus Versfeld “is all about the team” and not just his attacking partnership with Themba Zwane and Peter Shalulile.

The three have managed 13 of Sundowns' 16 goals in eight league matches so far this season and Erasmus says selflessness has been key in building their feared partnership.

While Erasmus and Zwane have been doubtful for this match, there have been, however, chances that the they could play to complete an attacking combination that has been terrorising PSL defences.

“We complement each other on the field of play and we always try to find space and look for one another and not be selfish in front of the goals,” Erasmus told the Sundowns website.

“We know it is all about the team, it’s the team before the individual. If the team wins we are happy and we have shown no selfishness amongst each other and it has been good for the team and us.”

Zwane headlines this combination with seven goals and an assist, Shalulile has chipped in with four strikes and two assists while Erasmus has contributed two goals and three direct goal feeds.

The Buccaneers’ defenders could be in for a torrid afternoon if the three are fielded and continue with their fine form.

But Erasmus says that it will not be an easy game as he comes up against his former team Pirates in this big fixture that opens 2021.

“Pirates are a very attacking and ball-playing team, they use their width properly,” said Erasmus.

“It will be a difficult game but if we stick to the plan we are working on anything can happen and we have been creating chances and we just need to convert them. It will be an entertaining game for the people to watch.”

Log leaders Sundowns are five points better off than fifth-placed Pirates who, however, have a game in hand.

A win for the Soweto giants will fire them up to just two points of the league leaders.

FKF Premier League side Bandari will have to wait for at least two more days before unveiling their new coach Andre Casa Mbungo.

Goal exclusively reported on Friday the former AFC Leopards tactician was heading to handle the Coastal-based side after agreeing on contractual terms.

The Rwandan tactician, who has already resigned as the coach of Gicogi United so as to take over at Bandari, will not arrive as planned after the delay in getting his Covid-19 results done in Kigali on Friday.

“Mbungo will not arrive as planned in Mombasa because Rwanda have strict Covid-19 regulations which he has to undergo before boarding the plane to Kenya,” a source privy to the transfer move, and who did not want to be named, told Goal on Saturday.

“He took his Covid-19 test on Friday and he is still waiting for the certificate and results and it means he can only arrive on Sunday or Monday meaning the unveiling cannot be done as planned.

“He will also not be able to watch the team in action against Western Stima.”

A source told Goal on Mbungo’s return to Kenyan football: “An agreement has been reached between the club and coach [Mbungo]. He will travel from Rwanda today [Friday] and will be unveiled on Saturday, of course, after signing the papers.”

Bandari will be the second Kenyan club Mbungo will be coaching after a short stint at AFC Leopards. The experienced coach quit Ingwe in December 2019 after going for months without pay.

He went on to work briefly for Gasogi United before Rayon Sports convinced him to join them. 

At the Dockers, Mbungo will be assisted by Patrick Odhiambo. The former Sony Sugar coach is currently at Gor Mahia acting as an interim coach after the exit of Brazilian coach Roberto Oliveira.

Former Bandari coach Ken Odhiambo has already been unveiled by Sofapaka in the top-flight.

Bandari started their league campaign with a 1-0 win over Sofapaka FC. They drew 0-0 with Tusker FC in their second game before falling 2-0 to Nairobi City Stars. 

Another 2-1 defeat came at home against league leaders KCB before settling for a 1-1 draw with Posta Rangers.

Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League-winning captain Jordan Henderson says he was in “a very dark place” when the club tried to sell him to Fulham in 2012.

The England midfielder was not always so highly rated at Anfield and then-manager Brendan Rodgers wanted to use him in a swap deal for Clint Dempsey.

Henderson turned the move down and eventually became a club hero on Merseyside, but things could have worked out very differently.

“That was a difficult moment I remember very clearly,” Henderson said to the Guardian.

“We were preparing for a [Europa League qualifying] game against Hearts at Anfield. We met as normal in the hotel and I got a knock on my door saying the manager wanted to speak to us.

“To be fair to Brendan Rodgers, it was really just a conversation. It was an opportunity I didn’t want and I didn’t like. I still felt I had an awful lot to give, but I was in a very dark place at that time.”

When Jurgen Klopp arrived in 2015-16, things weren’t any easier for Henderson as he missed 19 Premier League games through a succession of injuries.

“When the manager first came, it was difficult for me because I was injured,” he said. “I kept getting niggles so it took a while to get the real me and my rhythm back.

“And then I began to play in a deeper role and that is thanks to Jurgen, because I don’t think many people would have seen how I could do that role. There were times when I wasn’t performing well. Then you would question if I was good enough.

“But I had confidence in the manager and kept working and I matured. I’m really grateful for having that opportunity because my all-round game has improved defensively and offensively.

“When we signed Fabinho, a natural defensive midfield player, I felt that was a good thing for me because I could play a little higher up. So when I had the conversation with the manager he was very open. But I don’t think he was going to play us there straight away.

“Not long afterwards I was on the bench at that Southampton game before I came on as an attacker and managed to score. I’ve matured even more since then.

“At the end of last year, I played more as a No.8, but with certain injuries I’ve had this season I’ve played a little deeper again. I feel I can contribute to both positions.”

Orlando Pirates assistant coach Fadlu Davids has described Mamelodi Sundowns as a new team with a “completely changed structure” which makes them favourites to clinch the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title.

The two teams meet at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday as league action continues after the festive break.

Under co-coaches Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena, as well as senior coach Steve Komphela, Sundowns are leading the PSL table, five points ahead of fifth-placed Pirates, and Davids feels their rivals are well-placed to retain the league title.

The Soweto giants are, however, keen to close the gap and victory would see them two points behind Downs with a game in hand.

“We are quite confident in our preparations leading up to the big game against Sundowns away from home at Loftus,” Davids told Pirates’ media.

“We are ready for the challenge, we know that they are the favourites, they are leading the log. It is our job to try and close the gap. You can see they completely changed the structure and the principles of play. They are a new team with new ways of playing.

“We have to be prepared for them. Yes as have to take care of their structures but more importantly execute our game plan and our way of playing.”

Sundowns are bidding for a fourth-straight league title which would be a record for successive crowns in the PSL era.

On the other hand, Pirates are desperate to end a nine-year title drought, their longest run without being crowned champions in this era of the league.

The Buccaneers captain Thulani Hlatshwayo has emphasised starting the year on a “good note” as he also stressed Saturday’s game as important as a Cup final.

“Everyone is ready and pumped up to start a new year on a good note. I wouldn’t say we got some free time for a long time because we had a game in Angola [on December 22, 2020] and the guys needed to spend time with their families which was a short break,” said Hlatshwayo as per Front Runner.

“So you could see in training that the guys are still sharp. The preparations have been very good, everyone has been available. We don’t have much injuries except [Zakhlele] Lepasa and [Tshegofatso] Mabasa and we are happy with the preparations so far because everyone is sharp and everything has been good. For sure it is an important game, it is like a Cup final.”

Hlatshwayo has also identified areas Pirates have been found wanting so far in a campaign they have scored nine goals in seven league goals, the lowest tally in the top eight.

“So internally as a team we have targets, one of the targets has been accomplished [MTN8 triumph] and now we have to make sure we have to focus on the league,” Hlatshwayo said.

“We have played a lot of draws, we have not created a lot of chances, we haven’t scored a lot of goals. We have been doing finishing quite a lot this week and we are now looking forward to Saturday’s game.”

NorthEast United have won once in their last seven Indian Super League (ISL) games this season. After a bright start to their campaign, the Highlanders are struggling for consistency and now find themselves sixth on the table.

Coach Gerard Nus was asked if his team are looking to strengthen their squad in the January transfer market as the ISL enters its midway mark.

“We are a club that is always looking to improve and obviously, in terms of movements in the market, we are with our eyes and ears open because we always want to be a competitive team. For whatever the players need to move, we have to analyse and consider with the coaching staff and management,” said Nus.

Ghanaian striker Kwesi Appiah has picked up an injury since their last match against Odisha FC on December 22nd 2020. Although it is highly unlikely that the striker would feature again this season for the northeastern side, Nus remained optimistic.

“We are looking to get him ready as soon as possible. We are discussing everything with the medical department and our players are our priority. So, we want to do everything in our hands to make him ready for the next games. We know it's going to be a lot of games coming and it may be hard to be 100 percent fit at times but we have to all work in that direction,” stated Nus.

On Sunday, the going will get tougher for NorthEast United as they will be up against ATK Mohun Bagan. The Kolkata outfit have the joint-best defensive record this season with just three goals conceded and have an in-form Roy Krishna waiting to pry on defensive errors. Nus believes that since ATK Mohun Bagan retained the core of the side from last season, it has helped them acclimatize better as opposed to those teams who have had wholesale changes to their squads.

“Regarding tomorrow's game, we know that it is going to be very tough. They are one of hardest teams to play against, no doubt about it. If you see the table, you can see why. No matter what, they will be at the top all this season because they have got amazing players. They retained many players that they got in the squad and that obviously helps in a short tournament like this,” reasoned Nus.

The Spaniard promised that his team will surely give a good account of themselves and would be keen to spoil the miserly defensive record of ATK Mohun Bagan.

“No matter how well we prepare, they are going to be a really tough side that has lost only one game. It's going to be difficult. They only conceded three goals and if you concede only three goals from eight games, you know that they are doing a lot of good things. We are going to be ready and would like to prove those statistics wrong by increasing the number of goals conceded by them,” said the former Liverpool FC academy coach.

Nus highlighted that NorthEast are the only team in the competition who have five different goalscorers. He also pointed that he has a squad full of fighters, who play in an organised fashion – both offensively and defensively.

“I think that we are a well organised team and a team that fights for every single ball. In the last game (against Odisha FC), we were capable of making a record 18 attempts. That is obviously something that we need to feel proud of as no other ISL team has achieved that so far.

“On the offensive side of our game, we want to be consistently creative and keep our structure defensively because if we do both things then we will get what we deserve and more points.

“As I said, we are the top team in creating chances and we should get a trophy for this. We are also the first team in terms of number of goalscorers. We have five players who have scored goals for NorthEast United,” he focussed on the positives.

Nus reiterated that his team should have picked up full points from their match against Odisha FC. He also spoke on how his team will have to put their best foot forward in order to pick up three points this Sunday.

“I think the Odisha game (2-2 draw) was an excellent answer after a (1-0) defeat against Jamshedpur. We have created the most chances in the ISL so far and that shows our answer. We are a team who focus on three points and we deserved three points. That is history and our commitment and determination is going to be even more because we are playing a side that is on the top of the ladder but at the same time, we respect them a lot. We know how good they are and we will need to be at our best to get full points,” Nus pointed.

Ashutosh Mehta, who has been in fine run of form this season, stated that his ambition is to win the ISL with NorthEast United.

“In football, the most important game is the next game. So our main focus is on ATK Mohun Bagan but it's important to take it step-by-step. Of course, I want to win the ISL with NorthEast United but we have to go step-by-step. They have good players for sure. ATK Mohun Bagan are tactically a very good team and physically very strong,” said the former Mohun Bagan player.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Cedric Kaze has maintained they are still on track to achieve some of the targets they set at the start of the new season.

The Jangwani giants are currently leading the 18-team league table on 44 points from 18 matches after they secured a late 1-1 draw against Tanzania Prisons at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Sumbawanga on Thursday to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

The Burundian tactician, who is yet to lose a match since signing for the club as a replacement for Serbian Zlatko Krmpotic, has now said the club's fans should expect more from the team because they are heading in a promising direction.

“Fans should expect more from us because the direction of the team is now promising if you can judge from where we started and where we are as such, this year, we will continue to make them proud,” Kaze said as quoted by Daily News.

On the outcome of the match against Prisons, Kaze said: “We already knew they prefer playing long balls and fielding more players at the midfield section of the pitch as such, the only way to manoeuvre them was to use wingers.

“In the second half, we tried to play our game but unfortunately, we conceded hence we had to give in everything and in the end, we succeeded to equalise the goal. All in all, one point away is not that bad...we will have thorough preparations for the next games.”

During the match, Jumanne Fadhili scored for the administrative side before debutant Saidi Ntibazonkiza equalized matters for the vital draw.

Meanwhile, Prisons coach Salum Mayanga was happy to have picked up a point against the table-toppers but also blamed their opponents for playing defensively after conceding first.

“Aside from that, I salute my players for the good game they had to earn one point from home which was not what we desired but, the game itself was tough,” said Mayanga.

Yanga and Tanzania Prisons had also drawn the first round meeting 1-1 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Yanga have now opened a nine-point lead at the summit with second-placed Simba SC on 35 points from 15 matches while Azam FC are third on 32 points from 17 outings.

Former Gor Mahia coach Steven Polack has blamed the club’s current poor run of results in both the Caf Champions League and FKF Premier League on the lack of stability at the club.

The British tactician, who left the club on mutual consent after guiding them to their 18th league title in the truncated 2019/20 season, believes the team will only start performing well if they stop the high number of players leaving every season because of financial issues.

K’Ogalo are currently staring at the exit in the Champions League after they suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to CR Belouizdad of Algeria in the first leg of the second preliminary round played on December 26 at Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 Stadium in Algiers.

Goals from Amir Sayoud, who scored a hat-trick, Hamza Bellahouel, Larbi Tabti, and Maecky Ngombo were enough to put Belouizdad on course to qualify for the next stage.

On the league front, Gor Mahia have not started well, as they struggled to edge out Ulinzi Stars 1-0 in their season opener, before losing 2-1 to Tusker in their second match.

“You must remember how many new players they [Gor Mahia] have brought in again,” Polack told Goal on Saturday. “You need to get stability within the squad to get consistency and that takes time.

“Bringing too many players at once doesn’t help, as it takes time for them to gel together and that is the problem Gor Mahia are suffering from.

“The team will take time to regain consistency which we had built during my time [as the coach] because almost all the key players left, and now they have new players and also a new coach, it will take them time to get started.”

Last season, Gor Mahia lost a number of key players, including defender Joash Onyango, goalkeeper David Mapigano, Lawrence Juma, Wellington Ochieng; Elvis Ronack, Kennedy Otieno, Boniface Omondi, Peter Odhiambo, Dickson Ambundo, Juma Balinya, Clinton Okoth, Edwin Lavatsa, Shafik Batambuze, and Jackson Owusu.

In return, the Kenyan champions signed a record 17 players, among them Andrew Juma from (Mathare United), Tito Okello (Vipers SC, Uganda), Bertrand Nkofor (Al Mudhaibi FC, Oman), Jules Ulimwengu (Rayon Sports SC, Rwanda), John Macharia (FC Guria Lanchkuti, Georgia), Andrew Malisero (Commercial FC), Samuel Njau (Western Stima FC).

Other new faces include Benson Omalla (Western Stima), John Ochieng (Chemelil Sugar), Frank Odhiambo (Bongonaya FC), Gad Mathews (Kisumu All-Stars), Kennedy Odhiambo (Western Stima), Levis Poiyo (Nairobi City Stars), Dickson Rails (Masawa FC), Sydney Wahongo (Western Stima) and Kelvin Wesonga (Western Stima).

Gor Mahia are now preparing to face the North African giants in the return leg on January 6 at Nyayo Stadium needing a minor miracle to advance to the next round.

ATK Mohun Bagan's Arindam Bhattacharya has kept as many as six clean sheets, at least two more than any goalkeeper in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) at the end of the year 2020.

He may have pulled off three less saves than Rehenesh TP (27) from the same number of games (8). But Rehenesh has faced four more shots (76) than Arindam which means the ATKMB goalkeeper possesses a superior save percentage (88.88%) than his Jamshedpur counterpart (81.81%).

ATKMB have let in the least number of goals let in (3) along with Mumbai City. However, the Mumbai custodian Amrinder Singh's average of 0.43 goals conceded per game is higher than Arindam's who has conceded 0.38 goals per game owing to an extra appearance in the goalless draw against Chennaiyin. In that game, Arindam put up a brilliant show.

The former ISL champion with ATK before the club merged with Mohun Bagan made several saves including denying Rafael Crivellaro in a one-on-one situation early on and fingertip saves to keep out Lallianzuala Chhangte, Reagan Singh and Memo.

Arindam was hardly troubled in the 1-0 win over Bengaluru and did enough to keep out FC Goa's prolific attack in a match they won 1-0. 

In fact, one of the goals that the 31-year-old conceded was from the penalty spot as Joao Victor found a way past Arindam in what was Hyderabad's only shot on target in the 1-1 draw. Even in the 2-1 defeat at the hands of Jamshedpur where Nerijus Valskis scored two headers, there was not much Arindam could do about them.

The former Churchill Brothers goalkeeper started off the season with three clean sheets against Kerala Blasters, East Bengal and Odisha where  he showcased a safe pair of hands whenever called to action.

Arindam knows Antonio Habas from his time at FC Pune City and has now turned into the manager's trusted man. 

As strikers usually hog the limelight for their prolific performances, goalkeepers like Arindam Bhattacharya also deserve some plaudits.

Zinedine Zidane is aiming to "take advantage of the moment" at Real Madrid as he is unsure how long his Santiago Bernabeu reign will last.

The four-year anniversary of Zidane's initial appointment at Madrid is approaching, but the head coach revealed last month he was not discussing an extension to a contract that expires in 2022.

The Frenchman was asked prior to Saturday's game against Celta Vigo if another four years at Madrid - this time unbroken by a spell away - could be on the cards.

However, unable to provide any promises over a long-term stay, Zidane responded: "It takes a lot out of you, but it's a great position here.

"I'm lucky enough to say I'm manager of Real Madrid and take advantage of every moment. I can't say a month, a year or four years. Life is just about the day to day.

"That's what I'm interested in: the day to day, to give everything I can, in every training session, every game. That's what I'm interested in.

"The rest? I don't know what's going to happen in one week. That's why we have to take advantage of the moment."

Zidane will hope to have added to his 11 major honours by the time he does depart, although this season's La Liga title race is far from straightforward.

Defending champions Madrid can at least briefly move above Atletico Madrid if they beat Celta, against whom they are unbeaten in 12 in La Liga, but Zidane's men have already played two more games than their city rivals.

It is advantage Atleti for now, yet the former Ballon d'Or winner is not overly concerned.

"Being first means you have an advantage, and that's it," Zidane explained. "We just have to keep on going. We can't control [Atleti being favourites].

"They have an advantage because they're first, and that's it. People are speaking a lot about Atletico now, because, as I said, they're first.

"But the nice thing about this league, right up until the end, it's going to be an open league - as it always is. We'll see."

Despite their strong recent record against Celta - scoring in 28 consecutive home La Liga meetings, their longest ongoing such run against any side - Madrid were held 2-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu last season.

Eighth-placed Celta could draw against Madrid in consecutive matches for the first time since May 2003.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is full of praise for Eric Bailly after his defensive contribution helped the Red Devils to a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on New Year’s Day.

Bailly threw his body at a shot from substitute Keinan Davis in the closing stages to help Manchester United seal all three points, with Bruno Fernandes scoring the match-winning goal after Burkina Faso's Bertrand Traore cancelled out Anthony Martial's opener.

The defender won the most clearances (six) and one further interception at Old Trafford on Friday, and  was surrounded by his teammates at the game's conclusion as they applauded him for his crucial block.

Solskjaer, in his reaction, disclosed that the 26-year-old defender, who started their last three Premier League games, deserves the ovation he is getting.

“You can see today his physicality, his pace and his bravery is second to none really," Solskjaer was quoted by Manchester Evening News. "He's got a style of play that's caused him to get injured a few times and probably muscle fibers have caused some injuries as well.

"You can see how much it means to him but also for the rest of the boys at the end of the game, because he is such a well-liked player and man in the dressing room.

"Everyone wants him to do well and knows the struggles he's had and we're delighted for him."

Since their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in November, Manchester United are unbeaten in the English top flight, and they are now level on 33 points with leaders Liverpool after 16 matches.

Solskjaer described how his team survived the nervy finish, with David de Gea and Bailly’s impact highlighted.

"Then towards the end, David [de Gea] makes a good save and Eric makes a fantastic block and we saw it out one way or another,” the Norwegian manager added. “Sometimes you've got to find a way to win.

"We could have managed the last 10 minutes better but we got it over the line.

"I'm very happy with the position we've found ourselves in. It's such a big difference, if you look 12 months back. You lose the chance to be there or thereabouts in the first 10 games, you can't lose the chance to be in the title race.”

Manchester United are set to boosted by the arrival of Atalanta wonderkid Amad Diallo but don't expect to see much movement from the club in the January transfer window, according to coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Red Devils confirmed the purchase of 18-year-old Diallo from the Serie A club over the summer for a fee which could reach £37m ($48m), with the winger staying at Atalanta until a work permit could be granted for his move to Old Trafford.

Following United's 2-1 win over Aston Villa, which sent the club equal on points with Premier League leaders Liverpool, Solskjaer confirmed Diallo's arrival in Manchester was imminent.

However, the Norwegian tactician hinted there wouldn't likely be any other business during the current player movement period.

"Amad, we've had all the paperwork, I can't see any obstacles," Solskjaer said.

"Hope very soon he will be with us. Very excited to have him in. He'll need time to develop.

"Apart from that I'm not thinking too much about January."

Right winger Diallo has only played 35 minutes for Atalanta in all competitions this season, with the Serie A club preferring to give game time to prospects staying at the club.

The teenager will likely link up with United's Under-23 team until he acclimatises in England and tries to break into a Manchester United team that is currently flying.

Since losing to Arsenal at the beginning of November, the Red Devils have been unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League matches, winning eight and drawing only two against Manchester City and Leicester City.

"Of course we are happy with what we are doing," Solskjaer said of Man Utd''s unbeaten league run.

"We have shown we have improved a lot in a year. We lost to Arsenal away last new year's day. We have improved immensely. We are getting fitter and fitter and stronger and stronger.

"These players have a great age. They are learning and are hungry to learn which is important. They come in every day with a hunger and desire to be the best on match day. They have been focused."

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has raged at the penalty awarded to Manchester United, which allowed them to claim a 2-1 win when the sides met at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Friday.

United had led the match thanks to an Anthony Martial goal before Bertrand Traore levelled the match just before the hour mark. Three minutes later, though, Paul Pogba went to ground in the box and the hosts were presented with a penalty opportunity.

Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot – his 15th successful attempt from 12 yards since arriving at Old Trafford a year ago – and the hosts went on to win the game.

“I thought it was a penalty at the time, but I looked at it after the game and saw he tripped himself. I don't see why [referee] Michael Oliver couldn't have looked at it. That's what VAR is for isn't it?” he told Sky Sports.

“He's tripped himself up. There are margins in football. I've seen it again, and I don't think it's a penalty.”

Overall, he was pleased with how his side responded after a disappointing start to the game.

“First half we were miles off it. The first 15 minutes felt like a testimonial,” he said. “Then they injected some pace into it and deservedly went ahead.

“I asked for more at half-time and we deserved to get back in the game. Our goalkeeper has had to make some good saves but they were all outside the box.

“We know we're on a good journey at the moment. We believe we've got five key arrivals to go with the players who are Premier League ready now.

“This is only our second season in the division, but competing here and against Liverpool and Arsenal shows our journey is going well so far.”

Villa find themselves sixth in the Premier League and in the thick of the race for European spot. They are presently one of six teams in a remarkable logjam on 26 points.

They have a week to regather their strength before an FA Cup clash against Liverpool on January 8.