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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will “do an amazing job” at Manchester United, says Denis Irwin, with one 1999 Treble winner being backed by another to handle the “incredible” pressure of working at Old Trafford.

Having been a fan favourite in his playing days, a familiar face was returned to the Theatre of Dreams in December 2018.

Jose Mourinho had been ushered through the exits, with Solskjaer initially asked to steady the ship on an interim basis.

Having delivered on that remit, the Norwegian was then handed a three-year contract and charged with the task of bringing the good times back for the 13-time Premier League champions.

The odd question has been asked of his suitability to such a demanding role, given his lack of coaching experience at the very highest level, but signs of encouragement are being offered.

Irwin is among those buying into a long-term project and says Solskjaer’s presence at the helm comes as no surprise.

The legendary former United defender told ‘The Old Footballers Club’ on Switchbox TV: “I had six, seven years with Ole and he was very studious. He was very involved in the game.

“It’s a well-known fact that when he was sub he used to take it all in and try to work on a defender’s weaknesses when he went on.

“A highly intelligent man and I think he knows what he wants. I’m not surprised at all that he went into management.

“It was tough taking over Manchester United. He went on an incredible run when he took over and this year is his first year with a pre-season. I think he’s signed some great players, particularly [Bruno] Fernandes in the January window.

“Pre-Christmas I think we were up and down a little bit, but then we went on a run where we have really got ourselves challenging for that European spot. I think Ole will do an amazing job.”

Solskjaer has United in the hunt for a top-four finish this season, with competitive action having resumed amid the coronavirus pandemic, with Champions League qualification considered to be the very least that the Red Devils should be aiming for.

With such a rich history behind them, one of the biggest clubs in world football are expected to be much more than also-rans – with any manager taking the reins fully aware of that fact.

Irwin added: “They are under so much pressure.

“There is so much money involved in the Premier League and teams like us want to be up there, winning titles and certainly being in the Champions League.

“There is so much pressure on managers these days, it’s like a revolving door. But Ole knows the history of the club, he knows what the club is all about.

“He’s tried to bring everybody back together as more of a unit as much as possible and I think we’re heading in the right direction.

“You need to be thick-skinned, but the amount of pressure managers are under is incredible.”

Ghana international Joseph Alfred Duncan has expressed worry about the Black Stars' long wait for a fifth Africa Cup of Nations title.

Four-time champions, the West Africans have not lifted the trophy since the last success in Libya in 1982.

Their most recent attempt ended woefully as they suffered a Round of 16 elimination at the 2019 championship in Egypt. It was the first time the Black Stars failed to make the semi-final since 2006.

“Obviously it’s something that is very frustrating because even when we are not in camp and we are in our various clubs, sometimes we get the opportunity to talk [among ourselves and] it’s something we talk about the most,” Duncan, who plays club football for Serie A side Fiorentina, told Citi FM.

“It’s something we also have in mind because most of the players also want to be great like the likes of Abedi Pele. Obviously we used to hear about them.

“Even having our team manager Stephen Appiah next to us, you also feel like I will like to win something with the national team or you want to get to the level where the old players got to that made them what they are today; that got them the names they have today."

In 1992, the Black Stars finished second, losing to Cote d’Ivoire in a penalty shoot-out in the final. In 1996, Ghana reached the semi-finals again, this time placing fourth after falling to Zambia in a third-place play-off.

The West Africans finished third and second, respectively, in 2008 and 2010, before making consecutive fourth-placed appearances at Gabon/Equatorial Guinea in 2012 and South Africa 2013.

At Equatorial Guinea 2015, Ghana, under former Chelsea coach Avram Grant, came mighty close once again, this time losing to Cote d’Ivoire on penalties in the final.

In 2017, the Black Stars ended the tournament in fourth position but failed to make the quarter-final of the championship at Egypt 2019 where they succumbed to Tunisia on penalties in the Round of 16.

Duncan is still chasing his first appearance at Afcon having missed the 2017 and 2019 events due to injury.

Barcelona boss Quique Setien does not expect the injured Frenkie de Jong to miss the remainder of the La Liga season.

De Jong is currently nursing a calf injury and will not be involved when the Catalans host Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday.

There have been suggestions the Netherlands international is likely to miss the rest of the 2019-20 campaign, as Barca attempt to defend their title from Real Madrid over the final eight matches.

Setien, though, expects De Jong to recover sooner rather than later.

When asked if the 23-year-old could miss the business end of the season, the Barca manager told reporters on Monday: "We hope that won't be the case. He has a small injury in the area of his calf and we'll see how he progresses. But I'm sure he'll be able to play a few games.

"He's a complete player because he gives us a lot of things when we have the ball, but he's also physical and covers a lot of space. He's young, he has dynamism, enthusiasm and quality. He's learning many things we've been trying to improve.

"It's true that he's an important loss and he could help us a lot. We're a little upset that he's not there, but these are things you have to adapt to. I still have confidence in the people who are going to play in his position."

Barca, who will also be without Sergi Roberto against Athletic, lost their place at the top of the table on Sunday as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-1 to take advantage of the champions' draw with Sevilla.

Although they are behind Madrid by virtue of their head-to-head record this season, meaning the title race is no longer in their hands, Setien says his Barca players have trained positively in recent days.

"We've trained very well. There's a bit of residual fatigue but we're going to try to keep up the excitement and expectations because we're convinced we can win the title and we're going to try to improve the footballing aspects we have to control," he said.

Setien included Jorge Cuenca and Dani Morer from the B team in his 24-man squad, but he does not necessarily expect either to play.

However, he says Samuel Umtiti has a chance of forcing his way back into the first-team picture after returning from suspension.

"As they gave us the option of taking 23 players, it's difficult for Cuenca to play, but we can't include players who haven't passed the [COVID-19] tests," he said.

"We'll see tomorrow because one of the two [Cuenca and Morer] will be left out. But they train with us every day and they're here.

"If we decided he [Umtiti] has to play, he would play. He's getting better and better and this is strictly a subject for me. These are football issues.

"It's true he's better but he was injured for a while and he hasn't been at the level of others. He's much better now and has his chances to play, like everyone else."

Setien added that Ousmane Dembele is progressing well in his recovery from a thigh injury but that his return to group training "will have to wait".

Henry Onyekuru revealed Galatasaray will keep fighting to retain their Turkish Super Lig title, notwithstanding their 3-3 draw with Gaziantep on Sunday.

The Yellow-Reds were leading 3-1 before Gaziantep rallied from behind to ensure a share of the spoils at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi Turk Telekom Stadium.

The Nigeria international featured for the entirety of the game in his 11th appearance since re-joining the side in January from Ligue 1 club Monaco.

The 23-year-old was part of the Yellow-Reds’ team that won the league title for a record 22nd time last season, after teaming up with them on loan from Everton.

Onyekuru feels the officiating was not favourable to his side against Gaziantep but he is optimistic they will not relent in their quest to clinch the 2019-20 top-flight diadem.

“Let no one perceive this as an excuse, but let's look back at the game we played last week; the same way this week,” Onyekuru told the club website.

“We can never touch our opponent. When we touch them, fouls are blown against us, and meaningless cards were shown.

“It really shocked us and we were surprised by the referee’s decisions. We did everything we could, we went 3-1 ahead.

“We were running and fighting from the beginning to the end of the match but we could only do that to the extent the referee allows us.

“We are Galatasaray. Galatasaray fight until the last minute carries this spirit and reflects on the field. I hope, these will not happen in the match we will play next week, but it was the same this past week. I hope we won't experience them next week.

“As Galatasaray football players, we have to fight until the last second. Of course, we can say that it has become difficult due to the difference in points opened, but Galatasaray does not give up in the spirit, we will continue to fight in the same spirit.”

The draw left Galatasaray in the fourth position with 51 points from 28 games, eight below leaders Istanbul Basaksehir.

Onyekuru, who has scored one goal and provided two assists for Fatih Terim’s men in this campaign, will hope to inspire his side to victory when they take on Istanbul Basaksehir on June 28.

Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA FC) defender John Revita has vowed to return stronger from an injury which threatened to end his career.

The Uganda international player picked up the injury against URA FC in January as the holders went down 1-2 in a Ugandan Premier League (UPL) match, and as a result, was ruled out for the rest of the season after the club’s doctors recommended he undergoes an operation to repair the damage.

The 27-year-old finally underwent surgery at the start of June, five months after he had suffered the career-threatening injury to repair his right knee ligament at CORSU Hospital in Kisubi, but was only released last Tuesday to start the recovery process.

Revita has now assured fans that he will use the current lockdown to heal properly and return as an improved player.

“I am happy and looking forward to the future,” Revita is quoted by New Vision.

“I will utilise this lockdown period to heal and return in time for the national league and the Chan tournament. I will come back stronger after the nine months that the doctors have prescribed for me to recover completely.

“I am still on crutches and will be going back for review after two weeks. For now, I will spend time with my wife and child.”

Revita also thanked the KCCA management for standing with him during the difficult times occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

On his part, club doctor Ivan Ssewanyana, who was present when the player went under the knife said: “I will make sure he follows the medical prescription for a good recovery. I am also grateful for the club's financial input in the health of Revita.”

Meanwhile, KCCA manager Mike Mutebi supported the club for standing with Revita, saying he was injured while doing duty for them.

“We have also treated players like Sadam Juma and Jackson Nunda before Revita got injured,” Mutebi told New Vision.

The defender was part of the Johnathan McKinstry-led team that qualified for the Africa Nations Championship (Chan) competition which was to be played in Cameroon on April 4-25. 

Revita’s injury led to his exclusion from the Uganda team that was preparing for Chan before the training was called off after the competition was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the player might have a chance to help the East African nation in the competition if he manages to recover on time.

The new date of Africa's second-tier national competition has not been confirmed yet.

Yanga SC have hit out at some of the fans for the staged protests targeting players who, according to them, are not fit to be at the club.

In a statement signed by interim secretary-general Simon Patrick, the 27-time champions stated their disapproval with the way some fans abused the playing unit.

"Yanga SC have been saddened by indecent acts by a section of the fans who abused and shouted at some players and even reached a point of fighting among themselves," read the statement as obtained by Goal.

"The club management is disappointed and has taken the earliest opportunity to insist on the importance of supporting the team and solve rising issues in a peaceful manner."

The 27-time champions have admitted there are challenges in the team but went ahead to state this was not the right time to focus it.

"The management is aware of the challenges in the team and the pain fans are going through. However, at this time, we should be working together instead of destabilizing the players psychologically," the statement added.

"It will weaken us further and will not develop our game.

"We should be protecting our players against all odds. We were voted the best team in terms of fans discipline and players' respect in Africa; let us not dent our image."

After Sunday's goalless draw with Azam FC, fans stormed outside the Yanga SC dressing room calling out for the release of Ivorian striker Gnamien Yikpe. 

The towering striker was signed by Timu ya Wananchi in January, penning a two-year contract. However, he has failed to live up to expectations and has so far scored just one goal for the team.

After the restart of the Tanzania Mainland League on June 13, the team faithful expected better from the forward.

A poor performance in the 1-0 win against Mwadui - where he missed one gilt-edged chance - and another lacklustre display in the goalless draw against Azam may have sealed his fate at the club.

"Drop Yikpe, release Yikpe," were the chants heard from hundreds of fans who were protesting outside the 27-time league champions' dressing room after Sunday's game.

"I take the point gained in our match, but I am not happy at all with some performance," an agitated fan said.

"Who signed [David] Molinga and Yikpe? Especially the latter, we were told he was a good striker who performed well for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Gor Mahia, so what happened to him here [at Yanga]?

"A striker who has scored just two goals [in all competitions], what does that tell you? The fans are hurt, we are hurting not the management. Is this the new Yanga we had been promised?"

Maritzburg United chairman Farook Kadodia has rubbished reports that they are currently negotiating with Orlando Pirates for the services of goalkeeper Richard Ofori.

The Team of Choice boss also refuted claims that he demands R15 million for the Ghanaian netminder, saying they are not talking to any Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs.

Ofori has been linked with a move to the Buccaneers for some time as coach Josef Zinnbauer looks to strengthen his goalkeeping department.

“No, it’s not true that I want R15 million for Ofori. I don’t know who is spreading false stories. That’s is just a lie,” Kadodia told Isolezwe.

“There is no club that we are privately talking to regarding Ofori. We are not talking to any club and that includes Orlando Pirates.”

With Pirates having the likes of Joris Delle, Siyabonga Mpontshane, and Wayne Sandilands in their goalkeeping department, the Black Stars international has been reportedly targeted by the Soweto giants to beef up their squad.

The 26-year-old has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the country and he is likely to be nominated for the PSL Goalkeeper of the Season award.

The towering player has kept 10 clean sheets from 22 league matches this season which has been suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic since mid-March.

On the other hand, the chairman has already confirmed that an unnamed Belgian club is interested in their first-choice keeper.

Moreover, Pirates are reportedly competing against Mamelodi Sundowns for the keeper’s services, but the latest reports suggesting that the reigning PSL champions are close to signing Bidvest Wits’ Ricardo Goss means they might have pulled out of the race.

However, the agile keeper has made it clear that he is in no rush to leave the Team of Choice, saying the club has treated him well as he is now in his third season in the PSL, having joined coach Eric Tinkler's troops from Ghanaian club Legon Cities in 2017.

Paul Pogba’s cameo appearance for Manchester United against Tottenham proved that he is “world class” and much more than a “standard Premier League player”, says Michael Owen.

Questions have been asked on a regular basis as to whether the France international deserves a standing among the global elite since he returned to Old Trafford in the summer of 2016.

There has never been any doubting his ability, with the 27-year-old a World Cup winner and talismanic presence for his country. Consistency has, however, proved to be an issue at club level, while fitness struggles having further hampered his progress in the 2019-20 campaign.

A return to action was made in style, though, against Spurs, with Pogba stepping off the bench in north London to win the penalty that allowed United to take something from a 1-1 draw.

His quick feet inside the box lured Eric Dier into a clumsy challenge, presenting Bruno Fernandes with an opportunity to convert from the spot, while there were also flashes of the power and passing range for which he is famed.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes there is much more to come from a player with many doubters to win over, with United eager to see Pogba flourish alongside Portugal international Fernandes.

Owen is among those expecting good things from that partnership, with plenty of encouragement taken from their first competitive outing together. Pogba must prove himself deserving of a key role in Solskjaer’s plans, with his outing against Tottenham showing that he can be a Premier League superstar if fit and firing on all cylinders.

Former United striker Owen told Premier League Productions of a man who continues to divide opinion: “These players are the difference. That is the difference between just a Premier League player and someone that we all talk about, all the time.

“That [Pogba winning a penalty] is just a moment of brilliance when the game is hard, when Tottenham get 11 men behind the ball.

“You need something out of the ordinary, and Paul Pogba has got that about him. The little shimmy and that’s it.

“If it wasn’t for him, then they would have got beaten 1-0. It’s brilliant play. That’s the difference between standard Premier League players and world-class players.”

Pogba will be looking to force his way into Solskjaer’s starting XI for a meeting with Sheffield United on Wednesday, with the Red Devils needing another positive result in that contest to keep themselves in the hunt for a top-four finish.

National Super League (NSL) side Shabana FC have welcomed the Kisii County government's move to renovate the Gusii Stadium.

The renovation will see the iconic stadium have a VIP pavilion while its carrying capacity on the terraces is also expected to increase.

The work has been undergoing as football actions remain suspended and Shabana feels the time is enough for the renovation works to be finished before the next season begins.

“Ten spectator stands have been constructed. An additional 10 stands will increase the capacity of 8,000 while the VIP stand will accommodate 2,500 people,” Shabana's statement on Facebook read.

“As Shabana FC family we have welcomed the new developments which are being undertaken after the indefinite suspension of the NSL.”

“It's quite a good move to have these renovations while the league is on break. Otherwise, it would have cost us a lot of money to play our home matches in Awendo, Kericho or even Narok,” Vice-chairman Nyandoro Kambi said.

“The fans should have the same spirit as that will make the players feel a sense of belonging and in return play to the maximum for better results,” Shabana's Organizing Secretary Stephen Kiama stated.

The Kisii Governor James Ongwae revealed why his government has undertaken to renovate the facility which is one of the recognised stadiums in the Nyanza region.

“Kisii is a sporting region and I thought, as a governor, that this stadium will remain behind as a memory to my people that indeed devolution works," Ongwae told Nation Sports.

“The Kisii County Government has prioritised youth talent nurturing and sports by implementing a massive expansion programme for Gusii Stadium.

“Gusii region has produced a number of champions in athletics, including the legendary Nyantika Maiyoro who honed his skills at the Gusii Stadium. This behoves us to establish a modern facility to nurture this talent.

“The Gusii Stadium now has a sitting capacity of 12,000 and we are keen on improving it to meet international standards.

“With enough spectator ablution blocks and adequate water supply system installed, the stadium is on a pedestal of rivalling established ones like the Nyayo National Stadium in hosting major events, thus injecting more revenue to the local economy besides exposing our youth to professional players who will come to play in Kisii.”

The stadium had hosted the Kenya Inter-County Sports and Cultural Association (Kicosca) games two years ago.

Liverpool "disappointed" in Sunday's Merseyside derby and need to be more "clinical" going forward, says Jordan Henderson.

Jurgen Klopp's men were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton at Goodison Park over the weekend, as they failed to get back to winning ways following the coronavirus-enforced break in the 2019-20 campaign.

Liverpool have been the Premier League's standout side by some distance this season, but their usual attacking vigour was in short supply against their local rivals.

In the end, the Reds were lucky to escape with a point, as Klopp admitted himself post-match, with Tom Davies going closest for the hosts when he hit the woodwork in the 80th minute.

Henderson, who got a full 90 minutes of action under his belt against the Toffees, has conceded that the reigning European champions lacked a cutting edge during their first outing since March.

The Liverpool captain told the club's official website: "I think we can be a lot better of course. We know that [but] there were still some positive things that I thought were good.

"We tried to adapt to the situation but overall obviously we are disappointed because we wanted to come here and get the three points.

"But there are still plenty of positives, a clean sheet and I thought we defended really well. We just lacked that bit in the final third.

"The intensity was pretty good with the counter-pressing with the ball higher up the pitch. I thought that was good.

"We were unlucky with a couple of injuries and hopefully they are not too bad. Overall, we’ve just got to take it, move on and try to be better in the next game."

Liverpool are now only five points away from sealing a first league title in 30 years, but their coronation might have been delayed even further were it not for Alisson's late save from Dominic Calvert-Lewin's instinctive flick.

Henderson went on to praise the Brazilian for his contribution, before looking ahead to a meeting with Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

The midfielder added: "He has been outstanding all season and he’s come up with a brilliant save as well to keep us with a clean sheet, so that was important for us.

"Like I said, in the final third I think we can be a little bit better and more clinical but we'll get ready now for Wednesday.

"Every game in the Premier League is tough and each team. You look at our next game against Crystal Palace, who performed well on Saturday, so every game we play will be tough.

"We’ve just got to perform as best as we can and try and win as many games as we can."

Liverpool should be doing “all they can” to reach a loan agreement with Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho, says John Aldridge, with a short-term deal making sense to “all parties”.

Jurgen Klopp has offered little indication that he will be joining the chase for a Brazil international playmaker when the next window opens.

Plenty of Premier League clubs are said to be mulling over a move to bring a player who has previously flourished at Anfield back to English football.

Opinion on whether or not Liverpool should form part of that pursuit remains mixed, with many eager to point out that a side on the brink of title glory have moved on from the South American schemer .

Aldridge concedes that Coutinho’s push for the exits back in January 2018 left “a nasty taste in the mouth”, with bridges that will need to be rebuilt in order for any deal to be explored.

He is, however, adamant that a player with strong ties to the Reds, and one who retains match-altering ability despite his recent struggles at Barca and Bayern Munich, should be among those Klopp is considering.

Liverpool were short on attacking spark when making their return to competitive action in a 0-0 derby draw with Everton, and Coutinho could be the man to add greater depth to their ranks.

Former Reds frontman Aldridge told Sunday World: “I think Liverpool should do all they can to bring him back to Anfield.

“I know there will be some fans out there who might be surprised by my call for Liverpool’s owners to hand Coutinho a route back to Anfield, but let me explain why I think this transfer could work for all parties.

“Despite his troubles in Spain, we are talking about a class player here who lit up the Premier League. He was a big hero of the Anfield faithful during his time at the club.

“He understands how English football works and would not need long to acclimatise if he returns to Liverpool. Crucially, this loan move could be funded within the tight financial boundaries Klopp is working with this summer.”

Aldridge added, with Klopp having already passed up the chance to sign Timo Werner from RB Leipzig: “Liverpool’s decision to pull out of a deal to sign Werner confirmed they are short of cash after the coronavirus pandemic ripped a hole on football’s finances, but a one-year deal should be affordable.

“Coutinho didn’t handle his exit from Liverpool as well as he could have done. With his eagerness to complete what he saw as a dream move to Barcelona seeing him pull a few tricks to get out of the club.

“That left a nasty taste in the mouth, but we are heading into this summer with Liverpool openly admitting they can’t afford to sign top players. They could have a chance to get around that by getting Coutinho in on loan.

“Liverpool can’t afford to stand still and allow their opponents to close the gap they have opened up on the opposition in the Premier League. So that’s why I say a deal to bring Coutinho back on loan would make sense for all parties.”

Manchester City’s victory over Arsenal in midweek coupled with Liverpool’s 0-0 draw against Everton on Sunday means that the Reds’ wait for a first Premier League title in 30 years will roll into another week.

Can Jurgen Klopp’s Merseysiders finally get their hands on the championship this week?

SuperSport bring you all of the action from what is set to be another dramatic week of Prem action.

On Monday, City host Burnley, in their next fixture at home following the return of action following the coronavirus suspension.

City were rampant against Arsenal on Wednesday, exploiting uncertainty in the Gunners’ defence to secure a 3-0 victory through Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden.

Had the gap to Liverpool not been so significant, then Pep Guardiola’s would have looked every bit like champions-elect, but seven defeats this season hasn’t been good enough to keep pace with Jurgen Klopp’s side.

However, should City beat Burnley at home on Monday, they will prevent the Reds from wrapping up the title at home against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening.

Both matches are live on SuperSport.

Liverpool’s meeting with the Eagles at Anfield is by no means a foregone conclusion, and not just because the Merseysiders were uninspiring in Sunday’s lacklustre draw with Everton at Goodison Park.

Palace have been among the most impressive teams back in action so far, and were utterly convincing in their 2-0 victory over struggling Bournemouth.

Of course, the Eagles are well-drilled under Roy Hodgson, but their threat going forward—notably Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha—can cause problems for the Reds at the other end.

Regardless of Liverpool’s result on Wednesday, their wait for the title might still extend until early July, when they must travel away to the Etihad Stadium, if City win.

SuperSport Fixtures

Monday 22 June – Manchester City vs Burnley (Premier League)

Monday 22 June – Bologna vs Juventus (Serie A)

Tuesday 23 June – Spurs vs West Ham (Premier League)

Tuesday 23 June – Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao (LaLiga)

Wednesday 24 June – Manchester United vs Sheffield United (Premier League)

Wednesday 24 June – Liverpool vs Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Wednesday 24 June – Atalanta vs Lazio (Serie A)

Wednesday 24 June – Inter Milan vs Sassuolo (Serie A)

Wednesday 24 June – Real Madrid vs Mallorca (LaLiga)

Also in Premier League action this week, SuperSport viewers will be treated to a London derby on Tuesday evening, when Tottenham Hotspur face capital rivals West Ham United.

Spurs appeared primed to secure a valuable victory against Manchester United in their first match back, only for Eric Dier to concede a penalty late on and Bruno Fernandes to step up to fire home the resulting spot-kick.

It’s a result that leaves Spurs four points behind United in fifth, while the Hammers’ defeat by Wolves leaves them on 27 points, and only above the relegation zone on goal difference.

United can take a major step towards the Champions League if they can see off the challenge of Sheffield United at home on Wednesday.

It’s not just about the Premier League on SuperSport this week, with viewers also able to enjoy action from Europe’s other major leagues.

In Italy, Juventus are away at Bologna on Monday, while Lazio’s match away at Atalanta and Internazionale’s home game with Sassuolo are both being broadcast on Wednesday.

Inter returned to action with a 2-1 victory over Sampdoria on Sunday evening, with Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez opening the scoring inside the first 33 minutes as Antonio Conte’s side reaffirmed their title credentials.

Can they overhaul Juventus? Their current six-point gap appears significant, but with 12 games still to play, and so much up for grabs, the Nerazzurri will still believe.

There’s also Spanish top-flight action on SuperSport this week, with Barcelona hosting Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday evening before Real Madrid face Real Mallorca on Wednesday.

Barca were held 0-0 by Sevilla on Friday evening, a result which allowed Real Madrid to claim top spot with Sunday evening’s 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad.

Both of the Spanish top-flight’s big two struggled to break down their weekend opponents, but while Barca never got the opening goal—and dropped two points—Real finally did undo Sociedad’s resolve with goals from Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema.

La Liga’s title race is getting increasingly tight as the weeks fly by, and neither of the two giants at the top of the table can afford any slip-ups.

Jan Vertonghen has agreed to extend his existing contract at Tottenham until the end of the season.

Vertonghen has established himself as one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League since moving to Spurs from Ajax in 2013.

The 33-year-old has racked up 311 appearances for the club in total, scoring 12 goals, while forging a formidable partnership at the back with fellow countryman Toby Alderweireld.

However, the Belgium international's time in north London appears to be drawing to a close, with his current deal set to expire this summer.

Vertonghen dropped the biggest hint over his future yet in May as he revealed his ambition to learn another language while continuing to play in top-level European competition.

He told Play Sports Kot : "I want to play in Europe and learn another language. Spain and Italy are options. And the duration of the contract will also play a role."

Vertonghen was due to drop into the free agency pool at the end of the month, but Tottenham have at least managed to tie him down through to the conclusion of the 2019-20 campaign.

Spurs confirmed that the ex-Ajax star and back-up goalkeeper Michel Vorm have committed to fresh terms on Monday.

A statement on the club's official website reads: "We can confirm that defender Jan Vertonghen and goalkeeper Michel Vorm have agreed to extend their existing contracts with the club until the end of the 2019-20 season.

"Both players’ contracts were due to expire at the end of this month and this extension means they will now be available to play for us for the remainder of the current Premier League season."

Spurs have also revealed the extension of several loan deals, including Danny Rose's season-long stint at Newcastle.

The statement continues: "We have also agreed to extend the loans of Danny Rose (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton), Jack Clarke and Luke Amos (both QPR), Brandon Austin (Viborg) and Armando Shashoua (Atletico Baleares) until the end of their respective league seasons."

Tottenham will be back in Premier League action when they play host to West Ham on Tuesday, in a must-win game for Jose Mourinho's men as they continue to chase down a top-four finish.

Fans stormed outside the Yanga SC dressing room calling out for the release of Ivorian striker Gnamien Yikpe after Sunday's 0-0 draw against Azam FC.

The towering striker was signed by Timu ya Wananchi in January, penning a two-year contract. However, he has failed to live up to expectations and has so far scored just one goal for the team.

After the restart of the Tanzania Mainland League on June 13, the team faithful expected better from the forward.

A poor performance in the 1-0 win against Mwadui - where he missed one gilt-edged chance - and another lacklustre display in the goalless draw against Azam may have sealed his fate at the club.

"Drop Yikpe, release Yikpe," were the chants heard from hundreds of fans who were protesting outside the 27-time league champions' dressing room after Sunday's game.

"I take the point gained in our match, but I am not happy at all with some performance," an agitated fan said.

"Who signed [David] Molinga and Yikpe? Especially the latter, we were told he was a good striker who performed well for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Gor Mahia, so what happened to him here [at Yanga]?

"A striker who has scored just two goals [in all competitions], what does that tell you? The fans are hurt, we are hurting not the management. Is this the new Yanga we had been promised?"

Coach Luc Eymael did not hesitate to criticize his attackers for misfiring.

"I am disappointed with all my strikers,” Eymael told Goal after the match.

"We created chances after chances, but we don’t finish the chances we create, if we don’t score that is a big problem, 30 crosses and we cannot find the back of the net? I think that is a big problem.

"Our biggest problem currently is we are not scoring, that is the biggest problem we have, it is that simple, we are not scoring goals despite creating chances and something must be done urgently before we play our next match.

"I cannot change the players [strikers] now, I can only ask them to rectify the mistakes in training like we keep doing, we must think about scoring and the strikers must stand up now and be counted, they should get their scoring boots back, I don’t need to shout at them but they should know what they are supposed to do."

Ederson has credited Pep Guardiola with making him a better goalkeeper and says the Manchester City boss "sees football in another way" to others.

Brazil international Ederson has spent three seasons working under the Catalan coach, playing a key part in two Premier League title successes and four domestic cup triumphs.

The 26-year-old is well known for his ability to command the box and start attacks from deep, but he was at fault for both goals in March's derby defeat to Manchester United.

However, Ederson insists that taking risks is something that is expected of him under Guardiola, who he credits for taking his game to the next level.

"The role of a goalkeeper in Pep's team is like the 11th outfield player on the pitch, in terms of the build-up, the pressing," he told Sky Sports. 

"I think it's more difficult. There is a bigger responsibility because you can't afford to make any mistakes. If you do, it probably ends in an opposition goal.

"Pep is a great manager who sees football in another way. He lives football and breathes football. The way he thinks about the game is completely different to other managers. 

"He has helped me a lot, but not only me, the rest of my team-mates too.

"You can tell he implanted a style of play in all of us and in the club, so we don't need much time to practice our football style because we have been playing it for a long time now."

Ederson has been compared to Barcelona legend Ronald Koeman in terms of his ball-playing ability from the back, something that the former Benfica stopper believes comes naturally to him.

"I don't practice it that much, maybe two or three times a week," he said. "It's a natural skill that I have, to hit long balls, so I don't need to practice it every day.

"I think futsal helped me a lot when I was 11 or 12 years old. It helped me to think quicker and look for the passing lines. I think I managed to move those lessons to 11-a-side."

Ederson has previously suggested that he is interested in playing outfield in the future, but he does not expect that to happen during his time at the Etihad Stadium.

"When I play with my friends, I always play as a midfielder," he added. "I could do it, but not here at City. 

"We already have lots of good midfielders in the team. It's only jokes, but if one day there is an opportunity, who knows?"

At this juncture, only the top two Malaysian tiers are expected to be resumed, in September, following the movement control order period (MCO) caused by the global Covid-19 outbreak.

Although competitions organiser Malaysian Football League's (MFL) directives on the status of Malaysia's top three tiers are clear, with the 2020 M3 League abandoned, the status of the fourth tier and below is rather nebulous.

The 2020 M3's cancellation was done due to the projected costs of holding matches post-MCO, which are expected to be prohibitive, as well as the government's still-enforced ban on public gatherings, with most M3 teams playing at open grounds that make keeping spectators away impossible.

In the M3 cancellation statement it issued earlier this month, MFL merely recommended that the M4 tier, comprising amateur and state leagues run across the country by state FAs and private organisers, be cancelled as well for the same reasons.

For the time being, the Malaysian government has yet to lift restrictions on contact sports being played at any level, although no-contact training can already be held by teams that satisfy four key health and safety requirements.

But the Selangor state league is just standing by for the restrictions to be lifted so it can resume, said the Selangor FA (FAS) secretary-general Johan Kamal Hamidon.

"Although it is not one of the official M4 competitions, our state league important in terms of development. For example, every team needs to field at least one U-21 player in each match. But in general terms, the sport needs to continue to be relevant in the community and we have an obligation to ensure that the community has a competitive avenue, as long as it is not against the rules.
 
"We at FAS have told the competing teams that we'd like to continue this year's competitions upon the government's approval, although we may not resume them if the restrictions and SOP (standard operating procedures) are too stringent. For now, we're just keeping our options open until a more concrete directive is issued.

"If the update is positive and the costs of continuing the league are not too high, there is enough time for the competitions to continue. It won't take longer than two months for the league to be wrapped up, so we have until October to make a decision. But if things cannot proceed, I believe these teams will be alright because they don't pay their players at the professional level," he told Goal in a telephone conversation on Monday.

Johan Kamal. Photo by Zulhilmi Zainal

With the country's U-21 competition, the President Cup, and U-19 league, the Youth Cup alsao abandoned this season by the Malaysian FA (FAM), Johan also revealed a plan to organise competitions for Selangor's youth players.

"Again, this all depends on the government's decision on contact sports and the costs, but we may organise a league for our youth players.

"We may invite good teams to take part in it, maybe M3 teams, because we want our youth players to have game time. We'll see how it goes," he explains.

Johan also revealed that there is a possibility that the Malaysian league may be resumed earlier than its tentative September plan. However, the plan to play only the remaining seven fixtures of the two tiers' 'first half' remains, while the plan to organise a truncated Malaysia Cup may change.

"I was told by MFL that the league may continue in mid-August instead because they want to fit the international calendar, while on our side we are happy that the players won't be overexerted by playing in too many matches in a short period of time," he divulged.

"We would be happy if the league is resumed earlier, because that means we can avoid injury risks to the players."

Liverpool passed up the opportunity to move for Timo Werner because Jurgen Klopp does not like to have “lots of superstars in the team”, says Reds legend John Barnes.

A move to Anfield appeared to be on the cards for the Germany international forward at one stage. With Werner having opened the door for fellow countryman Klopp to make a move, Merseyside looked like being his most logical landing spot in the Premier League.

The 24-year-old is, however, set to trade life at RB Leipzig for Chelsea, with the Blues confirming that they have reached a deal for the prolific frontman.

Questions have been asked of whether Liverpool will live to regret their decision not to bolster their attacking ranks with another proven performer. Barnes, though, is among those who feel that the Reds have made the right call and that Klopp’s decision-making must be respected.

He believes that the arrival of Werner, as competition for the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, could have impacted squad “harmony” and proved “problematic” for a team edging their way towards a first Premier League title.

The Liverpool legend told Sky Sports when quizzed on the Werner snub: “Well once again you're talking about the harmony within the team. You're talking about a world-class player who demands to play every week and if he's not going to play every week, is that going to upset the spirit in the camp?

“I don't know if Timo Werner was given assurances or he feels he can play for Chelsea every week rather than coming here, but you've got to be careful and I know Jurgen doesn't like to have a big squad and lots of superstars in the team.

“Keeping them happy can be quite problematic and we’ve seen every now and again, like the Barcelona game when they didn’t have [Roberto] Firmino or Salah and [Divock] Origi can come in and did the job.”

Liverpool have been linked with a number of alternative options when it comes to finding more firepower, with Wolves winger Adama Traore and Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho among those said to be in their sights.

Klopp also showed in a 0-0 Merseyside derby draw with Everton, in what was the Reds’ first game back after a coronavirus-enforced break, that he already has the ability to shuffle his pack in the final third – with January signing Takumi Minamino starting in place of the rested Salah at Goodison Park.