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Simba SC coach Sven Vandenbroeck has praised the mental strength of his squad as they head into an important match in their 2019-20 Mainland Premier League campaign on Sunday.

After Azam FC dropped points on Saturday following a 1-1 draw against Biashara United, the Wekundu wa Mzimbazi now need just a draw from their away fixture against Tanzania Prisons in Mbeya town to be crowned the champions.

Azam were headed for a narrow win when Frank Domayo scored in the second minute of the second half but conceded a goal in the fourth minute of added time, when Gershon Kabeja scored to ensure they lose the second spot to Yanga SC, who beat Ndanda FC 3-2.

Simba are at the top of the 20-team league table on 78 points, 18 more than second-placed Yanga while Azam have 59 points. A draw for Simba will see them reach an unassailable tally and thus clinch a third straight league title.

The Belgian tactician has praised the character of his players heading into the decisive clash, insisting they are not looking at the results of their opponents and want to complete the job they launched at the start of the season in Mbeya.

“We are not bothered with how Azam played because our main job is to make sure we beat Tanzania Prisons to win the title,” Vandenbroeck told Goal ahead of Sunday's battle.

“The boys have been longing for such a day when they have to win or get a point to be declared champions, they are looking sharp and good in training, they know they have a huge job ahead of them and are ready for the task, I am very impressed with how they have been responding since our last match in the league.

“It is our biggest match of the season because we will celebrate if we win and the boys are aware of that, we must stay focused and do our job without looking at what happened to our opponents, it is all about us, it is all about how we play and finish the job and I have confidence in the squad.

“I'm sure tomorrow [Sunday] we will play a good game. Every player is ready for the game and that is a good thing for the coach to choose any player. We will play to win and if the result is positive we will get something extra and that's our goal.”

With the return of midfielder Jonas Mkude, Vandenbroeck has a fully-fit squad to pick from against Prisons at Sokoine Stadium.

Hansi Flick insisted he was giving no thought to Thiago Alcantara potentially leaving Bayern Munich, with the midfielder linked with a move to Liverpool.

Thiago, 29, is out of contract at the Bundesliga club next year, with Premier League champions Liverpool reportedly his most likely destination if he leaves.

But Flick is eager to keep Thiago, labelling the Spain international an "amazing player".

"I don't think about it at all, that Thiago could leave us," the Bayern coach said after Saturday's 4-0 win over Wolfsburg.

"I have always said that Thiago is an amazing player who can give a lot to a team. Therefore, I do not think about that at all.

"And I think after such a game and such a season, you have to accept as a journalist that not every question can be answered."

Thiago arrived at Bayern from Barcelona in 2013, winning the Bundesliga in each of his seven seasons at the club.

Earlier in the week,  Flick revealed their had been no progress in contract talks with the Italian-born midfielder, but was full or praise about what his player could add to the team.

"There is no [contract] news. We always talk, almost every day, but there is no news," Flick told a news conference before Bayern's final league match against Wolfsburg.

"I see him every day at practice and at the games. There are always so-called experts who have their own opinions. When you see him on the pitch and in training, you see his extraordinary quality in possession of the ball.

"But he has now also shown that he can play against the ball. For me there are no two opinions about Thiago's quality.

"He gives the team a little something extra. He is an exceptional player who gives a team that certain something. That's my opinion and there is no other one."

Bayern completed their successful Bundesliga season by reaching 100 goals, as Kingsley Coman, Mickael Cuisance, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller scored against Wolfsburg.

They are also in a good position to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals having beaten Chelsea 3-0 in the first leg at Stamford Bridge prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cavin Lobo will have spent over a decade in Kolkata once his his three-year-deal at East Bengal ends after the 2021-22 season.

The 32-year-old, who has been signed by East Bengal for the coming season, is a familiar face in the City of Joy. He has played for East Bengal and ATK during his stint in Kolkata.

In his very first year in Kolkata, Lobo won the Federation Cup (2012). He helped East Bengal win five Calcutta Football League (CFL) titles. He has also won the (ISL) title with ATK (then Atletico de Kolkata) during his first stint at the ISL franchise (in 2014).

"It has been a great journey. I have overcome my injuries over the years and luckily I came back strong. They (East Bengal) have signed good players for this season. Hopefully East Bengal will play in the ISL but even if they play in the I-League it won't make much of a difference," Lobo told Goal.

It was not smooth-sailing for Lobo in Kolkata. He had to endure through testing times with the Red and Golds when he suffered a knee patella injury in 2016 that kept him out of action for nearly seven months. 

"East Bengal had offered me the captaincy in my sixth year with them. I was offered captaincy if I stayed but I just wanted to play in the ISL," he explained of his decision to join ATK on a permanent ahead of the fifth edition of the competition. 

"It wasn't about the money," he added. "Even the (Indian) national team coach that time, Stephen Constantine, was looking at players who played continuously in a competitive environment. So thinking of my chances of playing for India, I joined the ISL. But sadly, I wasn't getting much game time."

During his second stint at ATK (in 2018-19), he was sent on loan twice - to Churchill Brothers in January 2019 and then to Punjab FC, the club he last represented and recorded as many as 15 appearances in a season after nearly a decade.

Lobo began his senior professional career at Sporting Clube de Goa in 2007. Hailing from south Goan district of Canacona, Lobo has had to tough it out given that there was no proper training facilities there before getting his first break at Sporting.

"I was playing on Palolem beach as there is no ground here in Canacona. One of my friends (Valento Pinto) was a goalkeeper at SAI (Sports Authority of India) [football hostel] at that time and he told my brother (Terence) about the trials at SAI as my brother also was interested in football.

"The trials were for U-18 boys and I was the only one who was 15. My father (Manuel) took me for trials to Ponda for three days continuously on his bike," stated the younger of the Lobo brothers.

Terence joined Sesa football academy and the two were reunited at Velsao Pale Sports Club.

Both brothers scored a goal each to shock Dempo SC to a 2-1 defeat on August 19th, 2006 after which Velsao Pale coach Eban Misquita was quoted, "I have no doubt that both Cavin and Terence have great future ahead of them as they simply played to their potential and earned a deserving win for us."

The next season, the brothers would continue their playing career together at Sporting Clube de Goa after former coach of the club, Peter Valles, suggested their names to the Panjim-based club's president Peter Vaz. The duo were incidentally among the scorers in the 2-0 win over Velsao Pale in the semi-finals of the 9th Goa Governor's Cup that Sporting eventually won by beating Dempo 1-0 in the final.

"We used to travel (70 kms. one way) every day from early morning. We (Terence and Cavin) travelled with Luis (Barreto), Felipe (Gomes) and Wilton (Gomes) in their car, five of us together," said Cavin.

Following Cavin's third year at Sporting where he wasn't able to gather enough play time due to injury, he redeemed himself in the 64th Santosh Trophy with four goals before losing to West Bengal in the semi-final, which earned him a call from Armando Colaco to join Dempo.

"Dempo had a powerful squad at that time. So I didn't get many chances to play other than in the Goa league. (Former Mumbai FC player) Nicholas Rodrigues told (former Mumbai FC coach) Khalid Jamil about me. That time the I-League was the big (top) league. I played almost all games (for Mumbai FC) that season and that is when I got the offer from East Bengal.

"Who will say no to East Bengal, I thought. It's such a big club. I didn't even imagine (such a move). I thought I would play (at Mumbai) for one more season and then look for a bigger club. So without thinking much, I agreed to play with them (East Bengal).

"Initially, I was a bit nervous to play in front of such a big crowd, especially at the (Kolkata) derbies (against Mohun Bagan). After gaining confidence by playing in front of the crowds, I really started enjoying myself in Kolkata. I had good offers from many clubs but I decided to stay there," he revealed.

"Good (Goan) players can play for longer in Kolkata. Like Rowllin Borges was playing continuously and he could have stayed for longer but then he got an offer from ISL (NorthEast United)," Cavin, who also turned out in Kerala Blasters colours in ISL 2015, concluded.

Lobo, now returning to Kolkata, will hope to bring back his best form to his old stomping grounds.

"It's a great feeling to go back to East Bengal. The people in Kolkata like me and I like them too," he said.

Barcelona coach Quique Setien said he had no interest in a player's price tag when choosing his team after starting Antoine Griezmann on the bench against Celta Vigo.

Griezmann, a €120 million (£107m/$134m) signing from Atletico Madrid last year, was introduced late as Barca were held to a 2-2 draw in Vigo on Saturday.

Setien defended his decision to start Griezmann, who has scored 14 goals in 42 games this season, on the bench.

"I don't take into consideration the player's price tag," Setien told a news conference.

"Last week we chose one specific team, and today we decided on another one. Last week you asked me why Ansu Fati wasn't playing, why Riqui Puig wasn't playing and today why Griezmann isn't playing.

"These are decisions I make and they are technical decisions. They're not made rashly, and they are done with the best of intentions for the team."

France 1998 World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf believes Griezmann's form slump could see the striker lose his national team spot to in-form Manchester United forward Anthony Martial.

Martial has scored 19 goals in 37 appearances and struck a hat-trick during the Red Devils recent 3-0 win against Sheffield United.

"Well [Martial] has a big chance to be in the squad and if he carries on like that I'm sure Didier Deschamps will think about him," Leboeuf told ESPN FC.

"It's true that with the problems that Griezmann is having right now at Barcelona, with Giroud getting older, there is a clear chance for Anthony Martial to be in the squad and to maybe be in the first XI.

"If he's consistent, he's going to be for sure with the national team. He already has been and he's going to be again."

Ex-Barcelona and Brazil star Rivaldo fears Griezmann's place at the club may be under threat and feels it is up to captain Lionel Messi to help boost his confidence.

"Barca have won both their games since the restart, with Antoine Griezmann as a starter, but he continues to be far from the player he was at Atletico Madrid and some are wondering if he may become a 'new Coutinho' at Barcelona," he told Betfair.

"It's harsh to start making those comparisons, but it's up to the player to prove it on the pitch.

"The lack of goals is demotivating and damages Griezmann's confidence, so I believe it's important for Lionel Messi to help him.

"Messi could, for example, let Griezmann take penalties when Barcelona are winning comfortably - just to get the Frenchman scoring - just like he did with Luis Suarez in the past."

Messi set up two goals for Luis Suarez against Celta, but Iago Aspas' 88th-minute equaliser saw Barca held.

Setien's men are a point clear of Real Madrid, who visit Espanyol on Sunday.

Several coaches throughout the course of the previous season had voiced their displeasure over refereeing standards in the Indian Super League (ISL). Bengaluru FC manager Carles Cuadrat, former Mumbai City FC and Jamshedpur coaches Jorge Costa and Antonio Iriondo respectively, did not mince words to criticise referees for schoolboy errors on the pitch. 

Alarm bells started ringing in the FSDL (Football and Sports Development Limited) headquarters as well and the league organisers approached the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to take cognizance of the issue, and find a short term solution along with a long term blueprint on the lines of a referee development program. 

Although Josep Gombau feels that the ISL is pretty well managed and organised, there are two particular aspects which the Spaniard thinks need immediate attention. 

"ISL is very well conducted. The stadiums and travel are well organised. Nothing to complain about. But there should be more number of matches. Minimum 26-27 games and then the playoffs. It will make the league much better. The competition in the ISL was very good and cut-throat. Every single team can beat the other team on a given day. 

It must be noted that 2020-21 season was supposed to feature 27 games in the league for one team. However, those plans had to be frozen due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

"Also the refereeing standard is poor. But I don't want to blame the referees because they are not professionals. You need to bring them the tools to help them grow. They are working somewhere else and on weekends or off days, they are working as a referee. They should be focussed on one job. They need to train every day under foreign referees to improve. So I don't find fault with the referees. They should be helped," stated the Spanish manager. 

India has drawn Australia in the AFC U16 championship and since the 44-year-old coach spent almost five years down under plying his trade in various capacities at several clubs and even with the national team and he knows the football structure of the Socceroos like the back of his palm. He opines that the major differences in the two countries are infrastructure and the quality of grassroots programmes.

"The youth structure is very robust over there (Australia). There a lot of games for the kids along with great academies. India is starting to walk the same path now.  They (Australia) have a plan and a lot of investment in infrastructure with longer leagues in place. The kids must not only train well but they must also have more competitive matches for their all-round development. In India, the don't play enough matches. There is a lot of room to improve in these aspects. Qatar have been working hard with their young players since 2008. They reaped rewards in 2019 by winning the AFC Asian Cup. 

"Australia is also ahead in terms of facilities. The A-League is more matured. The quality of the pitches is also very different. The training pitches in India are not up to the mark. I was training in a first division club and the pitch was not good. When I played away games, the day before the match it was difficult to get good training pitches. So I can imagine the condition of the pitch where the juniors train. These are the basics," commented the former Barcelona youth coach, 

Gombau agrees that India have also started to tread the right path and believes that the next decade can be a game-changer for Indian football. 

"I am sure India will definitely catch up, it needs time. The next 10 years will be vital for India. There are good academies that are being established in the country. So now India will have players will with more knowledge and ideas. Currently, they lack simple concepts and basics. But with these academies, hopefully, things will improve."

After severing ties with Odisha FC, the coach is looking forward to a new assignment and it is likely that the deal with New York-based Queensboro is likely to be announced in the coming weeks.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed his team will give Liverpool a guard of honour when they face the newly crowned Premier League champions at the Etihad Stadium next week.

City's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Thursday ended their two-year reign as champions, with Liverpool holding a now unassailable 23-point lead with seven games remaining.

The developing rivalry between City and Liverpool has featured moments of simmering tension over the recent seasons.

The visiting team bus was attacked with missiles before Liverpool recorded a resounding Champions League quarter-final win at Anfield in 2018, while the sides took last year's title race to the wire – Guardiola's men prevailing by 98 points to 97.

Yet the Catalan insisted it is only right that he and his players applaud their rivals, to pay respect to what Jurgen Klopp and his all-conquering squad have achieved.

"We are going to do the guard of honour, of course," he said.

"Always we receive Liverpool, when they came to our house, in an incredible way. They cannot complain.

"Of course we are going to do it because they deserve it."

Guardiola noted Liverpool's hunger to end a 30-year wait for a top-flight crown, saying they played every match as if it was "their last".

The ex-Barcelona boss is confident he knows why City came up well short in their bid for three in a row but balked at questions over the hunger of a team that has won six of the past eight major honours on offer in English football.

"I did not say [City played] without passion. Don't put words I didn't say," he said, bristling at the suggestion.

"I don't know the passion from Liverpool. I guess, I imagine what happened, when you are three-zero years without winning the Premier League, after winning the Champions League you are focused on that.

"But I didn't say this. Because a team that wins eight titles (including the 2018 and 2019 Community Shields) has passion. In every single game, every single competition. No one in this country can say that [City don't have passion].

"It is so difficult what we have done in the most difficult league by far in the world.

"In sport you have to live for the future, the next, but you have to have a little bit, one eye, on what we have done.

"Don't forget we are an incredible club and an incredible organisation. What we have to do is learn. I think we know the reason why we suffered this season and we're going to try to solve it next season."

Next up for City is a trip to Newcastle United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup – one of two pieces of silverware they can add to this season's Carabao Cup, with a long-awaited Champions League return against Real Madrid to come in August.

Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne established a 2-1 advantage over Zinedine Zidane's men at the Santiago Bernabeu back in February.

"Of course, we have a big challenge for these two titles," Guardiola added. 

"We fought for the Carabao Cup with the way we played and won the Community Shield against the champions of Europe.

"We are going to try at Newcastle to win and prepare for the last games of the Premier League, and arrive in the best conditions possible for Madrid."

The 2019-20 Bundesliga top scorer Robert Lewandowski is "the best centre-forward in the world", according to Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Lewandowski scored a second-half penalty as Bayern, already confirmed as champions for an eighth successive season, thrashed Wolfsburg 4-0 to finish their league campaign on a high.

That took Lewandowski's tally for the season to 34 - six more than RB Leipzig's Timo Werner - a figure that represented the Polish striker's best ever return in Germany's top flight.

It is the fifth time former Borussia Dortmund man Lewandowski has finished as the Bundesliga's top scorer and he now has Gerd Muller in his sights, with the Bayern legend having finished as the leading marksman on seven occasions.

Indeed Muller is the only man to have scored more than 34 Bundesliga goals in a season, a feat he achieved on three separate occasions.

"To score 34 goals in one Bundesliga season is an incredible achievement," Rummenigge told Bayern's official website.

"Only 'Der Bomber', Gerd Muller, has ever scored more goals in one campaign.

"I'd like to congratulate and thank Robert Lewandowski. He is the best centre-forward in the world."

Lewandowski's haul came across 31 games and he suggested a full 34-game campaign meant have resulted in an ever better return.

"Unfortunately I missed three matches this campaign," the 31-year-old added.

"I am very pleased with the 34 goals, but of course thanks must go to the team."

Lewandowski has the third-most goals in Bundesliga history having registered 236 times.

Only two men - Muller and Schalke great Klaus Fischer - have found the net more often in the history of Germany's top flight.

Bayern's thumping of Wolfsburg started comfortably as Kingsley Coman got the celebrations started in the fourth minute, latching onto a brilliant through-ball from Thomas Muller and guiding a fine finish across opposition goalkeeper Koen Casteels and into the bottom-left corner.

Lewandowski was denied by Casteels shortly after but there was nothing the Wolfsburg stopper could do to stop Mickael Cuisance's left-footed, 20-yard curler from finding the top-left corner.

After being stopped by Casteels again, Lewandowski finally hit the target in the 72nd minute. The Poland international scored his 34th league goal of the season after Josuha Guilavogui felled the impressive Cuisance.

Bayern made the most of their numerical advantage by scoring a fourth seven minutes later, Muller drilling home at the back post and the celebrations stepped up a gear after the final whistle.

Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy has thrown his weight behind Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Adama Traore to play for either Liverpool or Manchester City in the future.

The speedster has been delivering impressive performances in this campaign for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, scoring four goals and providing nine assists in 31 league games.

His performances have contributed to Wolves’ fifth place on the Premier League table and a number of European clubs have been jostling for his signature.

The 24-year-old utility player has recently been linked with newly-crowned Premier League champions, Liverpool.

Cundy, who is impressed with the development of the former Aston Villa forward, believes he could fit into any of the top clubs in the world.

 “Adama Traore, he is good enough for Champions League football,” Cundy said on talkSPORT.

“I believe he’s reached the sort of heights with his quality in the final third now, his delivery, his knowledge now and he’s learned from his own mistakes.

“When I first saw him at Aston Villa he was all pace and no end product, even at Middlesbrough he was a bit like that.

“But now, fair play to Nuno Espirito Santo, to get [to this level], he must have worked tirelessly on the training ground.

“And it’s with both feet – he put in a brilliant cross with his left foot [against Bournemouth].

“He can drop deep, he can travel with the ball, he’s incredibly strong, his footwork is excellent with the ball and without the ball, the way he moves the ball, his pace, his strength.

“I think he’s good enough to put him in Liverpool, you could put him in City and not only would he not look out of place, I think he could get to a place where he could actually demand a first-team place."

The 24-year-old forward started his career with Spanish giants Barcelona, joining the side’s youth setup in 2004.

He later moved to England to team up with Aston Villa in 2015 before his dazzling displays caught the attention of the Middlesbrough and he was signed in 2016.

Traore is born in Spain but he is eligible to feature for Mali, the country of his parents and has previously stated he is yet to decided on his international future.

He will hope to continue his eye-catching displays when Wolves take on Arsenal in their next Premier League game on July 4.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola declined to confirm his future at the Etihad Stadium beyond the end of the 2020-1 season as the club's focus shifts to the FA Cup after losing their Premier League crown. 

City's status as reigning English champions came to an end on Wednesday as they went down to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea, a result that confirmed Liverpool's triumph in the 2019-20 campaign with seven games to spare. 

The club also faces two years out of European football due to a UEFA Financial Fair Play ruling that is currently subject to appeal. 

Reports have suggested that should the ban be confirmed, star players such as Kevin De Bruyne as well as Pep himself would look to leave City; but the manager refuses to look past the end of his current contract. 

“I’m incredibly excited for this part of the season, and the next one," Guardiola told reporters ahead of Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final clash against Newcastle United.

“I am incredibly satisfied to be in this club and to try to do our best.

"But I don’t want to think too far ahead. Now is not the time. I just think about today.

"I want the players to recover because the last 15-20 minutes were so demanding 10 against 11. We have a tough game against Newcastle and that's what I have to be focused on."

Pep faces something of a dilemma at centre-back for the last-eight meeting, having revealed that John Stones joins the suspended Fernandinho in missing out against the Magpies. 

“He's still injured,” Guardiola said of Stones. “We knew it after lockdown for the lack of preparation.”

“We knew it - lack of preparation and this amount of games in a short time we have to survive. Survive and try to qualify for the Champions League and arrive good on Sunday.”

While the Premier League eluded City, the club still has the chance to add two major titles to the Carabao Cup crown won in March at the expense of Aston Villa. 

With the FA Cup now in full swing, Pep's men also remain active in the Champions League, where they hold a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid after the first leg of their last-16 meeting.

Atletico Madrid took a big step towards sealing Champions League qualification as they defeated Deportivo Alaves in a 2-1 LaLiga win at Wanda Metropolitano.

After a low-key start to Saturday's contest, a Saul Niguez header just before the hour mark put the hosts in front.

Two Atleti substitutes played a part in the second as Diego Costa converted a penalty won by Marcos Llorente to wrap up what ultimately proved to be a comfortable victory for Diego Simeone's side.

Joselu scored a stoppage-time penalty for the visitors, but Atletico are now four points clear of Sevilla in fourth and have opened up a superb nine-point cushion over Getafe in fifth.

Alvaro Morata sent an early header just wide, shortly before his flick-on to fellow forward Joao Felix saw the Portugal international send an impressive acrobatic effort narrowly off target.

Jose Maria Gimenez put a free header over from 12 yards and, despite their opponents defending deeply, it was Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak who had the only first-half save to make from Aleix Vidal.

Diego Simeone brought on Costa and Llorente early in the second half as he attempted to inject life into the hosts and the latter made an instant impression, winning a free-kick down the right.

Kieran Trippier sent in a fine delivery and the onrushing Saul converted with a thumping header from six yards for his fourth goal of season, keeper Fernando Pacheco getting a hand to it but unable to make the save.

Alaves almost levelled when a powerful aerial effort from Oliver Burke flew inches wide, but Atleti soon threatened at the other end when Llorente's long-range effort forced Pacheco to parry.

Llorente then showed superb pace and skill down the right before drawing a foul from Ruben Duarte, with Costa sending Pacheco the wrong way from the spot 17 minutes from time.

Three minutes into added time, Joselu sent a fine penalty into the top corner after Koke was penalised for handball, but it was too late for the visitors to recover.

What does it mean? Atletico impressing since lockdown

Atletico took the chance to extend their advantage over Sevilla, who could only draw with Real Valladolid on Friday, and now look almost certain to claim a Champions League spot.

They have impressed since LaLiga resumed after the coronavirus-enforced break – having drawn their first game back, they have won four straight games, with only the late spot-kick denying them a fourth straight clean sheet.

Llorente lifts Atletico

Former Real Madrid midfielder Llorente changed the game when he came on, winning the free-kick and penalty that led to each goal, as well as testing Pacheco with a rasping drive.

Correa struggles to make an impact

Angel Correa only had one blocked shot and 10 completed passes to show for his 57 minutes on the pitch, though he was not the only one to blame for a sluggish Atletico start.

What's next?

Atletico needed points in this match as their next one is a huge test away to Barcelona on Tuesday. Alaves, meanwhile, are at home to Granada a day later as they bid to halt a run of three straight defeats.

Frank Lampard believes Christian Pulisic is capable of emulating the goalscoring feats of the likes of Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane or Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling.

Pulisic has hit the ground running following the Blues' return to action to leave Lampard delighted, but the Chelsea boss feels the United States international can deliver even more.

The winger's goal in Thursday's 2-1 home win over Manchester City was his seventh in the Premier League this season and the 21-year-old is now Chelsea's second top scorer in the league, as well as being the leading scorer in the top flight aged 21 or under.

The former Borussia Dortmund attacker has shown he can score different types of goals, and Lampard now wants to see Pulisic be ambitious and chase the kind of goal-scoring numbers that other top wide players are achieving.

"I think he can be a really big player," Lampard said. "Because he broke through so young in Germany and he moves to us, people's expectations rise, but we have to take his age into consideration.

"There's no doubt in his quality and you can see that. He is very keen to work and improve. He is particularly hungry at the minute because of his injury. And if he wants to learn, and he does, on the training pitch and how he sees the game, he needs to look at the players he sees around him who have made that sort of jump like the Raheem Sterlings, Sadio Manes and Mo Salahs who are now producing numbers [of goals] from wide areas.

"It is important that he understands the work he needs to do to do that because he definitely has the talent to do it. He needs to try and get to that level and I am delighted to have him at the minute. He works hard every day and he has to set his sights as high as he can."

In all competitions, Pulisic is Chelsea's joint-second top scorer alongside Willian and he looks set to play a starring role in his side's end to the season with an FA Cup quarter-final match with Leicester at the King Power stadium up next on Sunday.

Lampard has yet to complete his second year in management and he continues to chase his first trophy working in the dugout.

He concedes that him and some of his young players need to win their first trophy, with the FA Cup looking the most viable option to do so this season.

"Yes, I think it is important. You have to have that idea but the reality is the competition you go up against with the teams that are still in this FA Cup means it is going to be tough," Lampard added. "We are in a year of slight transition.

"Of course, our focus is always the league but when it comes to Chelsea, when you get to a quarter-final, you want to try and get to Wembley and you want to try and go and win it. It is important to focus on that. We are building, we are working and it won't be easy to try and win this trophy.

"But with the squad we have and the positive feeling we have at the minute in the group, we have to go in with the right attention."

Lampard's first major trophy as a player was the League Cup under Jose Mourinho in the 2004-05 season which began a culture of winning for Chelsea even after the legendary manager left the club.

In recalling that success, Lampard drew comparisons between that team and his young Blues side of 2020.

"It was very important for us at the time because we were a team with not many winners," he continued. "We didn't have too many titles between us and we were a relatively young team but Jose brought that to us, that mentality and winning that first one helped you to push on.

"In our team, I think we do have a mixture of players who have been there and won a lot. We have some younger players who haven't. Me, myself, in my managerial career, I haven't. I recognise the importance of that.

"That's why we are here to win things at a club like Chelsea so it doesn't fall short on me. The FA Cup is something we are going to give everything to. It is a difficult game, of course, against Leicester. We know the quality they have but we have to focus on trying to go as far as we can.

"It would be a big boost if we can get further, but we are just going into the quarter-final and it is hard to jump that far ahead because we are going to have tough matches."

Ray Parlour believes it’s time for Arsenal to take some risks in the transfer market in an attempt to get themselves back into contention for the Champions League.

The Gunners sit ninth in the Premier League and are set to miss out on the top four for a fourth successive year, with their continued absence from Europe’s elite club competition taking a heavy toll on the club's finances.

And with the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic now adding to Arsenal’s problems, transfer business at the Emirates Stadium this summer is expected to be extremely difficult.

But Parlour - who won three league titles and made a record 333 Premier League appearances during his 12-year senior career in north London - says his former club must find a way of strengthening Mikel Arteta’s squad, even if it means they have to take a gamble.

“Maybe they have to take a few more risks which probably they don’t want to do but sometimes in football you’ve got to take a risk,” he told Goal.

“Because if you can get the right players in, suddenly you can turn things around and turn the club around because you can compete again with the best.

“And that’s when you can attract big players in the Champions League.”

Parlour added: “You’ve got to be clever, you’ve got to wheel and deal sometimes because Arsenal are not a club who are going to be competing with the likes of Manchester City [in the transfer market].

“Not having Champions League football is a real burden on the financial situation, that’s why it’s so important to try and get back in it as quick as possible. They had a massive chance last year in the Europa League final, if they had won that.

“Now they have to find a way somehow, I don’t know what route they take to get back there, but we’ve seen what it’s done for Spurs and that’s what Arsenal have got to try and get back to.

“But it’s not as easy as you think, it’s not simple because you are competing against good teams, even teams like Wolves now who have improved so much.

“And what happens with Newcastle if the takeover goes through? They are going to come in and say we are going to have a go at the top four. So it really is difficult to get into the Champions League now.”

Arteta is keen to improve his squad at the end of the season, with a central midfielder now top of his priority list having just completed the permanent signings of centre-back Pablo Mari and right-back Cedric Soares.

Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey is a target, but his £44 million ($54m) release clause could prove prohibitive, unless Arsenal raise some significant funds with some sales once the window open - something Parlour believes could happen.

“There are also some players who you would probably think they could do without,” said the former Gunners star. “There are quite a few players whose contracts are running down.

“I don’t know what they will do with Lacazette. Nketiah is getting a chance now and he’s still a young lad.

"He’s still got to improve and get better, but Arteta might be saying ‘l like what I’m seeing in training from him and I know he will improve’.

“So it will be interesting to see what he does with certain players. Whether Aubameyang stays I don’t know and obviously it’s important to sign Saka up to a long-term contract. He’s been excellent.”

Parlour added: “It’s down to the club now recruitment wise. Arsenal have to get that right.

“They’ve brought Edu in, someone who has played in very good dressing rooms, he was part of the Invincibles and he knows what sort of characters you need if you are going to be successful as a team.

“That’s what his hardest job is now, finding those players who have got good characters that rub off on other players. That’s the hard bit, trying to find them.”

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed Odion Ighalo's predatory instincts and impact on Manchester United behind the scenes after the on-loan striker netted against Norwich City in the FA Cup on Saturday.

The 31-year-old continued his goalscoring form in cup competitions with the opener as the Red Devils saw off the Canaries 2-1 after extra-time in Saturday’s quarter-final.

After a goalless first-half at Carrow Road, Ighalo fired the visitors into the lead from close range in the 51st minute with his first shot of the game, prompting praise from his manager.

"It is great to have the option to rotate,” Solskjaer told BBC Sport. “Anthony Martial came on and did brilliant, but Odion gives me a chance to rotate. 

"He's a proven goalscorer and played his part in both goals," the Norwegian coach continued. "He is a great person to have around the dressing room too.

“Odion knows how much we value him in and around the dressing room; he’s a goalscorer, a poacher, he’s strong, we can play the ball into him, he showed for the second and Paul [Pogba] found him.”

Todd Cantwell equalised for Norwich in the 75th minute with an effort from outside the box, but captain Harry Maguire scored an extra-time winner as he fired home as the hosts failed to clear their lines.

While Ighalo is yet to score in six Premier League outings for United, he's proved to be an excellent option for Solskjaer in cup competitions.

He netted against Club Brugge in the Europa League, and scored twice away at Derby County in an FA Cup clash in early March as he made a strong first impression on his new fans after joining on loan from Shanghai Shenhua.

In Ighalo’s last start before this weekend, he scored one and contributed an assist as United thumped LASK 5-0 away in Europe, form which prompted United to extend his loan deal until early 2021.

“It was very important (to keep him at the club), that was important for me and we worked hard to do it,” Solskjaer concluded.

United, who are now unbeaten in their last 14 games across all competitions, travel to Brighton and Hove Albion in Tuesday’s Premier League encounter as they look to maintain pace in the race for Champions League qualification, before welcoming Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth on Saturday.

Currently, United are sixth having collected 49 points from 31 league outings.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was forced to dodge an awkward question over Manchester United's plans for Jadon Sancho, refusing to rule out a bid for the Borussia Dortmund star. 

Sancho, 20, has been closely linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer, although the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona are also said to be considering an offer. 

Any transfer, though, would likely not come cheap, with Dortmund reportedly setting a price tag upwards of £100 million ($123m) on their young gem at a time when spare cash is at a premium in the post-coronavirus football world. 

That did not stop a reporter from Norway's Viaplay from asking Solskjaer whether he was considering signing anyone from BVB, a question that momentarily stumped the United manager. 

"I'm good at maths, but I can't answer that question. There are many good footballers on many teams," Solskjaer told the journalist, before adding that United would be in the market for the right player and on the right terms. 

"If something is in front of us screaming that it's sensible, both from a sporting and a financial perspective, I know we're going to try, but you can't make any promises."

Speaking on Saturday, Dortmund director and former player Sebastian Kehl emphasised that his club had received no bids for Sancho's services and were hopeful of retaining him for at least another 12 months.

“We expect Jadon to play with BVB next season and we’re all very happy with the quality that he brings to our side and the difference that he can make,” he told  Sport Buzzer.  

Sancho arrived at Signal Iduna Park in August 2017 when he was just 17, having declined to sign professional terms with United's arch-rivals Manchester City. 

He has gone on to establish himself as a key member of the Dortmund first team and one of the world's premier young talents, making 99 senior appearances to date and scoring 34 goals. 

The 2019-20 season saw Sancho reach a personal best tally of 17 Bundesliga goals, a figure only bettered by Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski and future Chelsea signing Timo Werner.

However, it was not enough to break Bayern's domination of the German top flight as the Bavarians ultimately finished 13 points clear at the top to seal their eighth consecutive title. 

Ritah Kivumbi registered her first goal of the season for Mallbacken despite losing 4-3 to Alingsas in Saturday’s Swedish Elitettan game.

Mallbacken headed into the encounter on the back of a two-game winless run, including last weekend’s 1-0 triumph over Bollstanas while the Alingasas suffered their first defeat in a 2-0 loss to AIK.

And Kivumbi was handed her first start of the season, after her contributions to Conny Johansson's two opening victories but her effort was not enough to ensure they extended the fine run.

And the Uganda international rewarded the manager for affording her the starting role as she opened the scoring for the hosts just five minutes into the tie to gain a first-half advantage.

The visitors resumed the second half on a high and they found a way back when Ina Österlind netted three minutes after the restart at Strandvallen.

In the 57th minute, Pernilla Milton doubled the lead for Lars Bjork's team but Felicia Edgren levelled for the hosts five minutes later.

The back-and-forth continued between the ambitious sides as in-form Osterlind restored Bjork's advantage in the 67th minute but Fanny Flyckt secured the equaliser for the hosts a minute later.

However, Osterlind struck eight minutes from time to seal the victory as Johansson's team could not find a late response, condemning them to their first league defeat of the season.

Kivumbi, who opened her Elittetan goal account for the new campaign, lasted for 66 minutes before she made way for Fanny Flyckt, while Nigeria's Sarah Micheal was an unused substitute.

The defeat saw Mallbacken drop to fourth on the log with six points - three behind leaders AIK after three matches and they will seek to return to winning ways against 10th placed Kalmar on July 1.

Afriyie Acquah was in action as Burundi midfielder Youssouf Ndayishimiye scored a goal and assisted another in Yeni Malatyaspor's 3-2 defeat against Fenerbahce.

Acquah made his 24th appearance in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday but his effort was not enough for Hikmet Karaman's side who fell to their fourth loss in their last five league outings.

The Black Stars midfielder was on parade for 90 minutes in the five-goal thriller as Fenerbahce scored two last-minute goals to turn the game around and secure maximum points.

It was a goalless affair in the first-half but the second 45 minutes produced five goals in the last 20 minutes.

Vedat Muriqi opened the scoring for Fener at the Ulker Stadium in the 70th minute but Ndayishimiye came off the bench to revive the visitors’ chances in the encounter.

He grabbed the equaliser for Malatyaspor 11 minutes later, thanks to an assist from Ivory Coast's Moryke Fofana.

The strike was the Burundian midfielder's maiden goal in the Turkish top-flight on his fourth appearance this season.

Shortly after the goal, Ndayishimiye turned provider for his side’s second goal as Mitchell Donald fired them ahead in the 89th minute.

Malatyaspor were on course to secure their second Super Lig victory since December until Ozan Tufan’s scored a stoppage-time brace to give Fenerbahce maximum points.

The result left Yeni Malatyaspor just a point away from the relegation zone as they are placed 14th in the league table with 28 points from 29 matches.

Acquah provided defensive cover for the visitors during the game, and he managed the most interceptions (2) with two clearances.

The Ghana international has been a key fixture in Hikmet Karaman's team since his arrived in Turkey on a free transfer from Serie A club Empoli last August.

Egypt's Karim Hafez, Morocco's Issam Chebake, Zimbabwe's Teenage Hadebe and Benin goalkeeper Fabien Farnolle were also on parade for the Malatya outfit.

Next up for Yeni Malatyaspor in the Super Lig is a home fixture against Genclerbirligi on Saturday and the African stars will be aiming to boost the team's survival with a victory.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised his substitutes after Manchester United booked their place in the FA Cup semi-final following a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Norwich.

United had struggled against the Canaries in the quarter-final clash at Carrow Road after Solskjaer made eight changes to the side that easily beat Sheffield United in the Premier League on Wednesday.

The rhythm and fluidity to United’s attack had disappeared and the Norwegian explained it was the result of making so many changes.

“We’re really happy with going through, Jesse (Lingard) and the others that hadn’t played and needed another game, they needed minutes to get the sharpness back and in that respect this worked out really well,” he said after Harry Maguire's extra-time winner saw off 10-man Norwich.

“The difference between training and games, the competitive edge, will help them in the next few months.

“This team, they played together against Derby in the last round, it took us too long to get into rhythm of trusting ourselves passing between the lines, one and two touches, we moved the ball a little bit too slowly. We kept prodding and we got the goals we needed.”

Solskjaer became the first manager to utilise the option to use six substitutes, after the game had headed into extra time, and they needed the firepower off the bench and a red card for Timm Klose to push them to victory.

While Solskjaer praised the impact of all the substitutes, he was particularly impressed with Anthony Martial.

“I thought Anthony came on and did really well, he made a little bit of a difference, runs down the channel, some great sprints and turns, he was positive, with 10 men we knew we had 30 minutes, we had to keep prodding and take our chances,” Solskjaer said.

“With them being down to 10 men and us having dominated it was time to put all hands to the pump, get the forwards on, get Nemanja (Matic) playing centre-back, we only ended with one centre-back with Harry. Sometimes it doesn’t work as hoped, in training it looks great and on paper it looks great, they were really organised and they tired towards the end.”

Solskjaer also praised Odion Ighalo after the striker scored his fifth goal in four starts for the club.

“It was very important (to keep him at the club), that was important for me and we worked hard to do it, Odion knows how much we value him in and around the dressing room, he’s a goal scorer, a poacher, he’s strong, we can play the ball into him, he showed for the second and Paul (Pogba) found him,” Solskjaer said.

“He’s performing well but it also gives me the chance to rotate with Marcus (Rashford), Anthony and Mason (Greenwood) so they can get a rest and we’re fresh for every game.”

Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela has announced the government resolved to rename Goble Park Stadium after Mike Mokoena. 

The late Free State Stars boss succumbed to cancer at a Johannesburg hospital last week and was laid to rest on Friday. 

He was accorded a special provincial official funeral by South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa as a way of honouring the man who had been involved in football for 43 years. 

"We have resolved as the executive of the Free State provincial government to change the name of Goble Park Stadium to the Mike Mokoena Stadium," said Ntombela at Mokoena's funeral. 

Ntombela said the government aims to speed up the process so that everything is finalised this time next year.   

"So next year, when you come here and you make your way to Goble Park, you will be saying, 'we are going to the Mike Mokoena Stadium'.

"Of course, the necessary processes will be followed. Look, I swear, this one is going to happen," she said.   

Ntombela further revealed they have also done all the necessary research behind the name Goble Park and found that it means nothing to anybody, and therefore Mokoena's name will take over the legacy.  

"We have also checked who Goble was, we are not fighting anyone – it’s just a name from overseas and it means nothing to anybody. So, indeed we were just waiting for Bra Mike to take over. That Goble will be Mike Mokoena Stadium," concluded Ntombela.

Mokoena relocated Stars from Qwaqwa to Bethlehem soon after returning to the PSL in the early 2000s, and this has been their home ground for decades with Charles Mopeli Stadium used as their alternative ground until around 2013.   

Mokoena formed the club now known as Free State Stars in 1977 but at the time, it was known as Makwane Computer Stars.

It was under Mokoena's leadership that the club gained promotion to the National Premier Soccer League in 1986. 

Stars won two major trophies in the professional ranks - the 1994 Coca Cola Cup and the Nedbank Cup in 2018. 

The Bethlehem-based side got relegated in 2019 after finishing 16th at the end of the 2018/19 season. 

Portia Boakye was on target but her effort counted for nothing as Linda Molthalo was sent off to see Djurgarden bow to a 3-2 defeat against Uppsala in Saturday's Damallsvenskan opening game.

Banyana Banyana star was afforded her Damallsvenskan debut as a substitute in the tie, having bagged a brace in a 4-2 win over AIK on arriving from Chinese side Beijing Phoenix in January.

For Ghana's Boakye, she started her third season campaign with Djurgarden in style since arriving from Ostersunds in 2018 before she grabbed her first goal for the club in the match.

Tilde Lindwall scored the opening goal of the encounter at Studenternas IP as Pierre Fondin's team gained the lead after just eight minutes in the Damasvenskan season opener.

However, the hosts fought their way back with a strike from Sara Olai in the 25th minute but their celebration was shortlived as Boakye put the visitors back in front six minutes later.

Before half time, manager Fondin was forced to make an early change for his visiting team due to injured Fanny Lang, who made way for Molthalo in the 35th minute.

After the restart, Djurgarden held on to their slim lead but the hosts broke their defensive resilience as Cassandra Korhonen cancelled out Boakye's effort to level matters in the 81st minute.

Three minutes later, the South Africa international bagged her first booking for a poor challenge before she was given her marching orders after a second serious foul play inside two minutes.

Having gained a numerical advantage, the home side rallied late to overpower their visitors to claim the crucial winner through substitute Beata Olsson deep inside injury time.

The defeat leaves Djurdgarden in 10th position after a losing start to a new campaign, and they will hope for a winning home start in front of their fans against 12th placed Vaxjo on July 4.