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Tanzania Mainland League champions Simba SC have defeated fellow top-tier side KMC FC 3-1 in a friendly game staged at Mo Simba in Bunju, Dar es Salaam.

Captain John Bocco scored a brace with Ibrahim Ajibu getting the third for the hosts while the visitors scored what turned out to be the consolation courtesy of Charles Ilanfya.

The two teams had already met twice in the top-tier, with the 20-time league champions claiming an identical 2-0 scoreline. having beaten Yanga SC 3-0, the Municipal side was motivated and on high spirits. 

Avenging the two defeats in the league were on top of their agenda against the Msimbazi based side who are targeting their third title in a row.

It took the visitors half an hour to open the scoring through Ilanfya who finished a fine move which was poorly defended by the Sven Vandebroeck-led charges. It was a goal which silenced hundreds of fans who had turned out to support Wekundu wa Msimbazi.

However, Simba fans were up on their feet again cheering louder as John Bocco scored the equaliser four minutes later. The two teams headed to the break on level terms.

Taifa Stars striker Bocco completed his brace with a quarter of an hour to go after getting the better of the defenders before Ajibu's fine strike sealed the win in the 88th minute.

Earlier in the day, the league leaders defeated Transit Camp 4-2 in the same venue.

The Democratic Republic of Congo forward Deo Kanda was the first to strike for the Wekundu wa Msimbazi in the third minute.

Gerson Fraga scored the second for Sven Vandenbroeck's charges in the 15th minute before Tairone Santos added the third goal of the encounter two minutes after Fraga's strike.

Simba did not add a fourth goal until after the first half ended but they also could not keep Transit Camp at bay, as their opponents reduced the deficit in the first minute of added time courtesy of Hamadi Habibu.

In the 46th minute, Meddie Kagere added his name onto the scoresheet as he stretched Simba's lead further. Transit Camp answered back in the 64th minute from Nisile Kisimba's strike but their resurgence did not deny Simba a convincing win.

This was Transit Camp's second friendly match against a top club in the country after they had fought to a 0-0 draw against Azam FC a day ago.

The win for the Tanzanian 20-time league champions was witnessed by a large group of fans who followed proceedings from the terraces.

Teams are in a race to raise the level of fitness of their players before the league resumes on June 13 after it had been suspended in mid-March due to the restrictions the government had applied to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Simba will face Ruvu Shooting on June 14 at home as they restart their title defence. The Wekundu wa Msimbazi enjoy a good lead at the top and coach Vandenbroeck had urged them to ensure they bag the first 12 points to win the title in earnest.

With three of their four foreign players already in Tanzania, Simba are assured of an almost full squad for the matches, which also includes the FA Cup quarter-final tie against Azam.

Sharaf Shiboub is the only foreign player yet to report for duty.

U.S. men's national team veteran Fabian Johnson will become a free agent at the end of the Bundesliga season.

Borussia Monchengladbach announced that the midfielder, who can also play defense, will leave the club following the expiration of his contract.

Johnson has been with the German side since 2014, having made the move from Hoffenheim.

The 32-year-old, who has also played for 1860 Munich and Wolfsburg, has spent his entire professional career in Germany.

Johnson made a total of 140 appearances for Borussia Monchengladbach during his six-year stay, scoring 15 total goals.

Borussia Monchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl confirmed Johnson's upcoming departure on Monday while also announcing that veteran Tobias Strobl is also set to depart.

"Tobias Strobl has informed us that he would like to join FC Augsburg at the end of the season," Eberl said. "We have also reached an agreement together with Fabian Johnson to let his contract run out."

Johnson originally sealed his move to Monchengladbach just prior to the 2014 World Cup, where he shone as a member of Jurgen Klinsmann's USMNT setup.

During the USMNT's run in Brazil, Johnson started each of the team's three group stage matches while also being named as a starter in the eventual round-of-16 loss to Belgium.

Johnson has earned a total of 57 caps for the U.S., having been a part of the 2015 Gold Cup and 2016 Copa America squads.

However, he has not been called up since 2017, although USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter said in 2019 that he was open to having Johnson return to the national team.

Since Johnson's USMNT breakthrough in 2011, he has been linked with moves to MLS, most notably a reported move to FC Cincinnati ahead of the club's first MLS season.

A deal never came to fruition and, should Johnson look to come to MLS as a free agent, the winger/defender would be subject to the league's allocation order.

Before departing, Johnson, who has made six appearances this season, will finish off the campaign with Gladbach, who sit fourth in the Bundesliga.

The club's next match will be a difficult one, though, as they'll visit Bayern Munich on Sunday.

Former Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy has explained why too many coaches fail at Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns. 

According to McCarthy, coaches have to make it clear as soon as they get appointed that they should be in charge of the playing personnel. 

However, McCarthy admits that giving the coach too much freedom may be catastrophic, saying teamwork is what makes the team tick. 

"It's about making it clear [at the Big Three]. When you come in as a coach, you’ve got to let your bosses and club owners know the intentions and what you want to achieve and the way you want to work. It’s not about the coach making every single decision for the club; it’s about working together," said McCarthy to the South African Football Journalists’ Association. 

"At the end of the day, everyone wants the same success [and] when the team does well, the club gets the recognition. I know the big problem at these clubs is that coaches, the majority of the time, don’t bring in the players. They don’t get to choose the players they bring in. They find the players there and they’ve got to make them better," he explained. 

Speaking from his home in Scotland, the 42-year-old mentor said team managers and club chairmen should work together for what is best for the team. 

"What clubs at home need to understand is that the coach is the one who is in charge of the team; he knows what the team needs to progress to be better when they go out there.

"The football managers and chairmen need to work with the coach on the kind of players that come in and make a difference to the team and are better than what the club already has," continued McCarthy.

"If they can establish that, you will see that there will be more success for a club that implements that first," he said.  

"I don’t think coaches should have 100 per cent free reign - that’s abusing the system, especially because there are so many you hear take backhanders. That’s why there needs to be working together," added McCarthy. 

Asante Kotoko skipper Felix Annan has thrown his club's hat in the ring as debates over Ghana's possible representatives for next season's Caf inter-club competitions continue.

Talks about the West African candidates for the 2020-21 Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup have become rife due to the unlikelihood of the completion of the current season due to coronavirus disruption.

The 2019-20 Ghana Premier League and FA Cup have been on hold since March 15 when a ban on public gatherings came into force and it is presently uncertain when football will return.

“Per what I know about Caf rules, we [Kotoko] are still eligible to play in the champions league," Annan told Skyy Power FM.

“The Caf rules state that if a season is not completed or cancelled or suspended because of a problem, the previous champions are to represent the country.

“So if the league is suspended or cancelled, I think we are still eligible to play in the champions league."

The league champions will represent Ghana in the Champions League while the FA Cup winners take a place in the Confederation Cup.

Winners of the Ghana Tier One Special Competition which replaced the Premier League last season, Kotoko participated in the Champions League this season but the adventure ended early as they were knocked out by Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia in the first round.

Ashanti Gold, who won the Ghana Tier Two Special Competition - which replaced the FA Cup last year - and played in this term's Confederation Cup, have also expressed interest in playing in Africa next season.

Football in Ghana, meanwhile, remains suspended until at least July 31. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has said it would not take a final decision on the future of football in the country until June 30.

“Frankly speaking, as at now and as per what the president said that all contact sports activities are suspended until at least July 31, it will be difficult for us to continue the season,” Annan added.

“Even if authorities are able to place measures so that the restriction will be lifted on July 31, clubs will need like one month or six weeks to prepare.

“So we are entering into August-September, so when are we going to finish all these 16 remaining games, [before] we start the next season?

“In my estimation, I think we are not in the right frame to start the league now."

Hearts of Oak, who won the Champions League in 2000 and the Confederation Cup in 2004, have also expressed interest in the 2020-21 continental action. 

Germany boss Joachim Low has revealed that he planned to use Bayern Munich star Leon Goretzka as a right-back.

The 25-year-old has been in eye-catching form with the Bundesliga leaders since the resumption of play following the coronavirus crisis by scoring two goals and laying on three more as FCB have extended their advantage over second-placed Borussia Dortmund to seven points.

While the former Schalke man has been impressing with his acumen in the final third, Low admits that he has toyed with using the midfielder at the opposite end of the field.

“It was always my idea to use him as a full-back because he can also be this type of player,” the 60-year-old said in an interview with Kicker.

Low, though, revealed why he has been reticent to use Goretzka, who has 11 goals in 25 international appearances, in that role.

“He’s never played this role,” he said. “Games and training are necessary for this. Why his dynamism, his feeling for the ball and his understanding of the game, he would be an option.”

The coach, meanwhile, believes that his evolution is likely to lead him to playing in a more advanced role, for example as a No.10.

“He is a player with a combination of a lot of dynamism, very good technique and good positional ability,” he said. “From the central position he exudes – and this is what sets him apart – a goal scoring threat because he keeps pushing forward. He knows how to score with his right and left foot, as well as his head. That’s why I think we’ll see him in a more attacking central role in the coming years.”

But the player is not simply excellent technically; Low has been left impressed with the midfielder’s attitude.

“He’s very critical and is aware of trends and what’s going on around him,” he said. “He’s very good to talk to for young players. He’s someone who thinks outside the box and it’s interesting to talk to him. He’s also got a very acute sense of justice.”

Goretzka has featured 28 times for FCB in all competitions this season and has scored seven goals, while delivering nine assists.

Former Watford star Tommy Smith believes Ismaila Sarr can move to the next level in his career after already showing glimpses of his potential in the Premier League.

The Senegal international joined the Hornets last summer as the club’s record signing following his consistent showings for Rennes during his two-year stay with the French side, where he featured in 59 league games and scored 13 goals.  

The winger, however, struggled to adapt to the English top-flight on his arrival at Vicarage Road but has been in superb form since December.

The forward has scored five goals and contributed four assists in 19 Premier League appearances, including his man-of-the-match display against Liverpool in February, where he scored two goals as his side ended the Reds’ unbeaten run.

Smith is delighted with the performances of the 22-year-old since he acclimatized to the league and praised the Hornets for securing his signature.

“He looks like an incredible talent. He took a little while to get used to the pace of the league and strength of the players and looked like he lacked a little bit of belief, which is understandable,” Smith told the club website.

“He's now got that belief and he looks like he can go on to the next level. It's another brilliant scouting find by Watford and he'll look even better in the next 12 to 18 months.”

Andre Gray, who arrived at Watford from Burnley in 2017, is also in awe of the potential of the Senegalese forward and believes he can reach the peak of his career.

“He was very shy and doesn't speak the language properly yet, but he's looked the part since he got his goal at Southampton,” Gray said.

“The gaffer now makes life simpler for him and every time he gets the ball, it's just the encouragement to go, go, go. He is so quick – he's the quickest player I've played with and can just knock it and go.

“He's so fit as well and can go both ways [up and down] and he's unplayable on his day, as we saw against Liverpool.

“He's a threat to everyone and if you watch the games, you see the full-backs he faces and they step off him every time he gets the ball, but even then he manages to get past them. He relieves so much pressure and enables us to counter-attack. He can be whatever he wants to be.”

Sarr will hope to continue his blistering performances when the Premier League resumes on June 17, having been suspended since mid-March.

The winger was part of Senegal’s squad that finished as runner-up in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, behind Algeria.

He will be expected to play a key role for the Teranga Lions when the 2021 Afcon qualifiers, which have been in hiatus due to Covid-19 restart.

Adel Amrouche has sensationally claimed he does not want to see Kenya miss out of the 2022 Africa World Cup qualifiers.

The former Harambee Stars coach is currently embroiled in a tussle with Football Kenya Federation (FKF) who were ordered by the world governing body Fifa to pay him Sh109million for alleged wrongful dismissal.

While FKF has maintained they don’t have money to pay the coach, who won the case in the arbitration court based in Zurich, the country will thus face a host of sanctions with the main one being banned from taking part in the qualifiers for Qatar 2022.

Goal exclusively reported two weeks ago FKF and Amrouche had reached an agreement with Fifa on how the money he is owed will be settled and thus Kenya will take part in the qualifiers.

Amrouche has now told Goal the reason why he doesn't want to see Kenya banned from the qualifiers, because of the respect he has for Kenyan supporters and also he did not want to kill the dream of Kenyan players from playing in the World Cup final.

“I don’t want to be that person who kills the dreams of our players,” Amrouche told Goal exclusively from Botswana, where he is handling the national team.

“Most of the players in the Kenyan squad are my former players and friends and it will hurt me most if they miss out on playing in the qualifiers just because my case against FKF brings the sanctions from Fifa.

“I also have respect for Kenyan supporters, they are good people, I enjoyed their support when I was the coach back in Kenya, I enjoyed their hospitality and will be offended to see them miss to watch and support their team during the qualifiers.”

Asked on whether he has now forgiven FKF in regards to the fine, Amrouche said: “No, we are still fighting but I would not want Fifa to ban Kenya.

“I am going to make an arrangement with my lawyer and will give you more details on what we have decided in regards to the issue, maybe by next week, I will have a good answer.

“Now there is nothing happening, but I am deeply thinking about the issue, I hope it will be sorted and my players will have the chance to play in the qualifiers.”

Kenya under Francis Kimanzi have been drawn to face Uganda, Mali and Rwanda in the qualifiers set to kick-off in October.

Lyon returned to training on Monday, with the Champions League hopefuls having been at ease since the middle of March due to the coronavirus crisis.

Although the Ligue 1 season was confirmed to be over at the end of April, leaving OL controversially seventh in the standings and, therefore, without a European spot for next season, they are working with the second leg of their European tie against Juventus in mind.

With regards that fixture, the Rhone side have been boosted by the return of Memphis Depay and Jeff Reine-Adelaide, both of whom trained having missed out since December because of long-term knee injuries sustained in a clash against Rennes.

The attacking midfielders had been two of Lyon’s outstanding players this season, with the Netherlands international, whose contract is up in the summer of 2021, particularly eye-catching as he scored nine times in 13 Ligue 1 matches, plus five in five in the Champions League.

Lyon hold a 1-0 advantage before the second leg in Turin, having dominated the opening fixture against Maurizio Sarri’s side and taken the initiative thanks to a goal from Lucas Tousart, who is due to join Hertha Berlin this summer.

Rudy Garcia’s side are the first French side back working since the virus ended the Ligue 1 campaign, with Lyon returning to the training pitch a full week before any of their top-flight rivals.

Although PSG will also play in the Champions League, albeit at a later date as they have already booked their passage through to the quarter-finals thanks to a 3-2 aggregate success over Borussia Dortmund, their return is slated for June 22 – the date Bordeaux, Montpellier, Rennes and Monaco will all go back.

For many Ligue 1 sides, the pre-season will be a particularly long one, with France’s top flight not scheduled for any action until the weekend of August 23, when the 2020-21 campaign will begin.

Meanwhile, the French transfer window opened on Monday, with deals permitted between domestic clubs in a bid to ease the financial anxieties of any sides straining under the pressure imposed by a lack of action in the last three months.

KCCA defender John Revita has finally undergone successful surgery on his knee after about five months since getting injured.

The Uganda Cranes international picked up the injury against URA FC in January as the holders went down 1-2 in the Ugandan Premier League 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 has received medical attention and the healing process has begun.

"Just in, John Revita has undergone successful knee surgery and he is doing fine. Quick recovery, John," the club communicated on Monday through their official social media outlets.

The defender was part of the Johnathan McKinstry 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 competition has not been confirmed yet.

The Cranes defender joined the Taxmen from rivals Express FC at the start of the current season, replacing captain Timothy Awany, who left the club to join Israel Premier League side Ashdod FC.

Peter Magambo, Hassan Musana, Filbert Obenchan, Musa Ramathan, and Samuel Kato are some of the defenders who could have filled in for the centre back in competitive matches.

However, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) opted to cancel the league owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Vipers SC, who were leading the table with 54 points, were crowned with KCCA, who were hot on the heels of the Venoms finishing second. SC Villa finished third on 46 points.

The league was annulled with five rounds remaining.

The former champions had not played in the second round against Villa (away), Busoga United (home), Wakiso Giants (away), Onduparaka (away) and BUL (home).  

Chelsea youngster Tino Anjorin has signed a five-year contract extension, the Premier League club have confirmed.

The 18-year-old midfielder has been with the west London outfit since the age of six and has made two appearances for Frank Lampard's side this season.

The England Under-19 international made his senior debut in the Carabao Cup third round against Grimsby, coming on midway through the second half as the Blues trounced the League Two side 7-1.

Anjorin then came on to replace Willian in the second half of Chelsea's 4-0 win over Everton in the Premier League in March.

Anjorin had reached the agreement to commit to another five years with the Stamford Bridge side in April, and the club have now confirmed he will stay put.  

"It’s a brilliant feeling. I’ve been at the club since I was six years old so to get to this stage and then be offered another five-year contract on top of that is amazing," Anjorin told the club's official website.

"I had no hesitation but to take it straight away because to play for the club I always dreamed of playing for is really special for me."

As one of eight academy players to be given a chance in the first team under Lampard, Anjorin feels at home among the Chelsea stars.

"It’s been a really crucial season for young players here. Frank, Jody Morris and Joe Edwards have taken us on board and really committed themselves to bringing young players through," he added.

"Hopefully I can try to carry on being a part of that as long as I keep working hard and impressing the coaches."

He is hungry for more top-flight action after feeling the support of the Chelsea fans.

"You feel like everyone is behind you. When I was about to come on, I remember just hearing this massive roar which was completely unexpected.

"I thought it would be quiet because nobody knew who I was but I think they knew I was from the Academy so the support was brilliant. It put a smile on my face for the rest of the day!

"Against Everton, I’ll never forget the fans singing my name because it just felt so amazing.

"I was on the pitch playing and then I just heard them chanting ‘Tino, Tino, Tino’. It was unbelievable to hear that."

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has celebrated with former internationals Dickson Etuhu, Efan Ekoku and Carl Ikeme on their birthdays.

Kano-born Etuhu clocks 38 years while former Super Eagles goalkeeper Ikeme and Ekoku are celebrating their 34th and 53rd birthdays respectively.

Etuhu played 12 Premier League games for Manchester City before his departure from the Etihad Stadium outfit in 2002, having joined the side in 2000.

He then moved to Preston North End and spent four years with the club where he featured in 134 league games before joining Norwich City in 2006.

The midfielder played for Sunderland before he signed for Fulham, where he enjoyed great success, inspiring the side to finish as runner-up in the Europa League during the 2009-2010 season.

Before his retirement from professional football, he featured for Blackburn Rovers, AIK and IFK Rossjoholm. 

On the international scene, the midfielder had 33 caps for the Super Eagles and was part of Lars Lagerback's squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The NFF has taken to social media to send a congratulatory message to the defensive midfielder as he reaches a new age. 

Ekoku, meanwhile, was born in Manchester and starred for Sutton United, Bournemouth, Norwich City, Wimbledon and Sheffield Wednesday, among others before he quit professional football in 2004.

The former striker was inducted into the Norwich Hall of Fame in 2012 and was part of the Super Eagles team that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ikeme, on the other hand, spent his entire career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, featuring for the side between 2003-2018 and played 191 league games for Wolves.

The goalkeeper had a short spell with the Super Eagles after making his international debut on September 2015 against Tanzania in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification game.

He made three appearances during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers before he abruptly retired from professional football after he suffered an acute leukaemia but has since recovered from illness.

Ghana international Joseph Attamah Larweh will be happy to see compatriot Thomas Teye Partey make a transfer move to Arsenal in the summer.

Currently on the books of Atletico Madrid, Partey has become the subject of transfer speculation following a run of fine performances for the side in the Spanish capital.

Aside from Arsenal, there is also Manchester United, Chelsea, Juventus, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and PSG linked with the Ghanaian.

“I will be happy if he goes to Arsenal," Attamah, who plays for Turkish side Fatih Karagumruk on loan from Istanbul Basaksehir, told Citi Sports.

“He has done it all at Atletico and is well known as one of their best players.

“He has to move forward to a different league to prove his worth there as well.

“He needs to let people know that he is capable of succeeding in other places and not just Spain."

Since completing a loan move to Almeria in 2014-15, Partey has made a combined 118 La Liga appearances involving 80 starts. He has registered a total of 11 goals and seven assists.

He helped Los Rojiblancos win the Europa League and the Uefa Super Cup in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Attamah's comments come on the back of similar remarks by compatriot and international teammate Kasim Nuhu Adams.

“Atletico Madrid is a very good club so he is playing one of the biggest clubs in the world and Arsenal is also one of the biggest,” Adams told TV3 in a recent live Instagram chat.

“For me, it is his decision because playing at Atletico Madrid is the same as playing in Arsenal.

"The two teams always make the same category in the league, fighting for the third and fourth place to play in the Champions League.

"But as we all know the Premiership is the best league in the world so if he joins Arsenal, I will be happy for him.”

Partey, who joined Atletico as a youth team player, spent the 2013-14 season on loan at then second division outfit Real Mallorca.

The 26-year-old, together with Attamah and Adams, represented Ghana at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Egypt.

Cape Town City chairman John Comitis "has no doubt" midfielder Thabo Nodada will end up playing in Europe but says they are yet to receive offers for the midfielder.

Nodada recently pointed toward Belgium as his most preferred destination amid reports linking him with Kaizer Chiefs.

Transfer talk around the player comes on the backdrop of a good run so far this season in which he has managed five Premier Soccer League (PSL) goals coming from midfield in 20 appearances.

Nodada's form has seen City high on alert to be approached "within a very short period of time."

“Thabo has been fully fit all season. He is extremely talented and we have no doubt that within a very short period of time, we will be getting a lot of requests and inquiries about him,” Comitis told IOL.

“If the timing is right and that works between him and us, he will move. I have no doubt he is going to end up there [in Europe]. That’s what he wants. There’s no doubt that we will continue to give players an opportunity to develop their talent overseas.

“We have a very good technical team. We select our players exclusively with certain characteristics on and off the field.”

In recent seasons, City have exported a number of players to Europe including Zimbabwe international forward Matthew Rusike who moved to Norway, while Gift Links is now playing in Denmark and Ayanda Patosi is on loan at Iranian side Foolad.

Kaizer Chiefs attacker Lebogang Manyama left City to play in the Turkish Super Lig before returning home.

The Citizens have equally imported some European players like Austrian midfielder Roland Putsche, Dutch goalkeeper Leeuwenburgh, Greek defender Ioannis Potouridis and former Fulham midfielder Christofer David.

With the South African government relaxing the coronavirus lockdown regulations to allow sports teams to resume training, Comitis says they are waiting for the PSL's word before they start training as a group.

"We are not back at training. Players are doing exercises. There are programmes for them to follow. We are waiting for the Premier Soccer League to give us the green light to go back," said Comitis.

City have been fighting against relegation for the better part of this season and are currently on 10th spot with seven points above basement side Black Leopards.

Arsenal loanee Henrikh Mkhitaryan has admitted that he "would like to be at Roma for another few years", but also says he will be "ready to play" if Mikel Arteta calls him back to the Emirates Stadium.

Mkhitaryan joined Roma on a season-long loan in September, with no option or obligation to buy included in the final deal.

The 31-year-old has been hampered by a string of niggling injuries at Stadio Olimpico, but has still been able to contribute six goals and three assists to the Giallorossi's cause in 17 appearances.

Roma boss Paulo Fonseca has publicly expressed his desire to see Mkhitaryan 's services retained beyond the end of the 2019-20 campaign, telling Sky Sports back in February: "He is a player who makes great decisions on the pitch and I would also like to keep Mkhi in our team."

However, Arsenal head coach Arteta has also opened the door for the Armenia international to return to north London, insisting the midfielder "is the kind of player who can fit in any team when he is at his best".

Mkhitaryan claims he would not complain if he was forced to remain on the Gunners' books, but concedes he would rather secure a permanent move to Roma if the two clubs can reach an agreement over the summer.

"Of course I would like to be at Roma next season, not only next season [but] for another few years," Mkhitaryan said on the Futbol with Grant Wahl   podcast.

"But I still have a contract with Arsenal and it’s not up to me. It’s up to Arsenal and Roma if they will agree on terms of the transfer fee.

"So my thinking is to train hard, to play hard, to look forward to what’s going to happen.

"Of course, if I’m not going to stay at Roma I have to go back to Arsenal. I’m not complaining, football life changes so quickly so you have to be ready to play wherever you are.

"If not in Rome, I’m going to go back and play for Arsenal, if not, I’m going to stay here and play for Rome."

Cristiano Ronaldo is “competitive in everything”, says former Sporting team-mate Rodrigo Tello, with the Juventus superstar's relentless drive for perfection compared to that of Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.

Netflix’s airing of ‘The Last Dance’ documentary, focusing on one of the most iconic NBA teams of all-time, has sparked plenty of debate regarding the mindset required to become the very best.

Jordan has never shied away from the fact that he strived for continuous improvement over the course of his distinguished career, with the same determination demanded from those around him.

Ronaldo has been treading a similar path in football circles, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner considered to be an ideal example of what can be achieved when natural ability meets dedication.

Tello witnessed those qualities at close quarters when an all-time great was starting out in Portugal, with it clear even from a young age that a man who has gone on to become a global phenomenon would not settle for anything less than perfection.

“I had the opportunity to be a team-mate of a phenomenal footballer like him,” Tello, who spent six years at Sporting between 2001 and 2007, told Record.

“Cristiano Ronaldo’s mentality was totally different from that of a 17-year-old boy. We played foosball and he was the best, we played billiards and he was the best, we did the weights and he was the one who lifted the most. He reminded me of Michael Jordan, a competitive person in everything. He did personalised training, even on match day.”

Ronaldo’s stock has soared since he started out in Lisbon, with spells at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus seeing him scale heights that few can dare to dream of reaching.

He is showing no sign of slowing down either despite now being 35 years of age.

Those who helped to put Ronaldo on a path to the top continue to take great pride in his achievements and form part of a fan club that now stretches to millions around the world.

Tello added on a colleague who has become an icon: “I had a good relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo. On my birthday, my wife surprised me and offered me a Juventus jersey signed by Ronaldo. I have no idea how she got it!”

Kai Havertz will not be risked for Bayer Leverkusen's DFB-Pokal semi-final against Saarbrucken, Peter Bosz confirmed on Monday.

In-demand attacking midfielder Havertz sat out Saturday's 4-2 defeat at the hands of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich due to a muscular issue.

The Germany international has been a key figure for Leverkusen in 2019-20, scoring 15 goals and supplying eight assists in 38 appearances in all competitions.

However, Havertz, who has been linked with Bayern, Liverpool, Manchester United and Barcelona, will play no part away at fourth-tier Saarbrucken on Tuesday as a precaution, with Leverkusen chasing Champions League qualification in the Bundesliga.

Asked about the 20-year-old's fitness, Bosz told a pre-match media conference: "The match is too early for him. He's not going to be in the squad.

"The question was if he's able to play. The answer is yes he would be able, but we would take a risk and we don't want to do that. We hope that he's getting better und be able to play [against Schalke] on Sunday. We have to wait."

Leverkusen are one game away from reaching the final for just the fourth time in their history, their most recent appearance having come in 2009 and their only success in the competition occurring in 1993.

"It shows how big the importance is to win titles that we're talking about it again at the moment," said Bosz. "1993 is a long time ago. Because of that the players, coaches and the whole club wants to win titles again. The DFB-Pokal is a possibility."

Exequiel Palacios has made just four appearances since his January arrival from River Plate in a deal worth a reported €15 million (£13m/$17m) and Bosz was unwilling to divulge the reason for the 21-year-old's lack of involvement.

"I won't talk about a single player and tell you what's missing for the starting 11. Of course, I have my reasons for that. I always speak with my players about that," said the former Borussia Dortmund boss.

"So I'm going to do it the same way with him. He already showed that he's a very good player and we will see him in the future in the Bundesliga again.

The launch of the next FIFA game - FIFA 21 - is anticipated some time in 2020 and, as EA Sports boffins continue working on the finer details, eager gamers will already have it on their wishlist.

Of course, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the entire world and industries everywhere have been impacted, including football, so it remains to be seen exactly how the new game will be affected, if at all.

As we wait to learn what will transpire, Goal takes a look at things such as the next FIFA release date, how much it will cost, consoles it will be playable on and more. 

Contents

When is FIFA 21 released?

FIFA 21 will be released in the last week of September 2020, but only if EA Sports' plans are not disrupted by the coronavirus.

The new edition of FIFA normally hits shelves on the last Friday of September, which means FIFA 21 could be available to buy on September 25.

EA appeared to confirm that FIFA 21 would indeed be released around September this year with the game's inclusion as a launch title for the second quarter of the financial year in its financial report, but timing is subject to change.

Early access is usually granted to those who pre-order the game, meaning they are able to play in advance of that date - usually three or four days, so that could be September 21 or 22.

However, no official date has been set yet and it seems highly possible that production schedules for the game will be impacted in some way by the global coronavirus pandemic.

With E3 cancelled for 2020, EA Sports was set to announce its upcoming roster of titles during a digital event called EA Play Live 2020 on June 5.

This announcement has now been pushed back to June 18 due to the current political climate in the United States and the protests around racial discrimination.

"With the important conversations taking place and important voices being heard around the world right now, we're moving our time to come together in play," EA wrote on Twitter. 

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What is the price of FIFA 21?

The price of FIFA 21 has not been confirmed yet, but in previous years the standard edition of the FIFA franchise cost around £60 in the UK and $60 in the US.

EA Sports has, in recent years, launched a number of different editions - such as Champions Edition and Ultimate Edition - which cost slightly more than the standard edition.

FIFA 20 Champions Edition cost £79.99 or $79.99, while FIFA 20 Ultimate Edition was priced at £89.99 or $99.99.

Extra perks for FIFA Ultimate Team players such as gold packs, special FUT kits and Icons is the reason for the difference between the price of the editions included some.

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Which consoles will FIFA 21 be out on?

FIFA 21 will be available to play on PS4, Xbox One and PC. It is unclear what the status of the game is when it comes to the next generation consoles PS5 and Xbox Series X.

PS5 and Xbox Series X have been earmarked for a launch date somewhere in time for the holiday period in the US, which means they may land between October and December 2020.

Given the proximity of those dates, it would seem logical for EA Sports to work in tandem with Sony and Microsoft to ensure that the new release is available to play straight away.

Google Stadia, which was launched in 2019, did not have FIFA 20, but it is possible that a push will be made to make a game like FIFA 21 available. 

A 'Legacy edition' of FIFA 20 was made available on the Nintendo Switch, which was a disappointment for many, and it is not clear what the status of FIFA 21 will be on the console.

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When can I pre-order FIFA 21?

Gamers should be able to pre-order FIFA 21 a number of months before the release date, potentially when EA Sports promotes the title in the summer.

There are usually a few inducements for gamers to pre-order the game, such as cheaper prices, early access and Ultimate Team perks.

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What new features will FIFA 21 have?

While we wait for confirmation of new features, Goal takes a look at some of the possible additions to the next edition of FIFA.

Career Mode improvements

Issues with Career Mode blighted the launch of FIFA 20 and fans of this part of the game are eager for improvements to be implemented in that regard.

Other things that have appeared on the Career Mode wishlists of FIFA players on forums include more realistic transfer business, greater integration of youth players and a stadium editor.

Gameplay augmentation such as crowds booing former players who joined rivals and a greater variety of managerial reactions have also been suggested.

New Icons

Each new FIFA title sees new Icons joining the roster of heroes from seasons gone by and FIFA 21 should be no different.

Some of the more popular potential new Icons are David Beckham, Franz Beckenbauer, Oliver Kahn and Francesco Totti.

Volta

The street football addition of Volta in FIFA 20 was a popular aspect of the last edition of the series, giving lovers of FIFA Street a dose of nostalgia. 

It has a story mode, its own soundtrack and more, but there is always room for improvement, in areas such as expanding to provide more venues, incorporating more complicated skills and so on.

VAR

The introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is the biggest change to football in the modern era, with contentious decisions and moments now up for review.

Despite first being rolled out in 2017, VAR has not been a feature in FIFA games, mainly due to the fact that the referee in the game is a computer, so not prone to human error.

Nevertheless, it is very much a massive part of the game now and EA will be wise to add some aesthetic VAR touches to the gameplay.

More official leagues & clubs

One area which FIFA cannot be faulted much for is that of official licensing and the game has long featured a vast array of clubs from across the world.

However, in FIFA 20 Juventus are known as Piemonte Calcio and Barcelona are without a home as there is no Camp Nou. Those particular quirks will continue thanks to Konami boasting exclusive rights.

There is arguably something of a licence race occurring between the two brands, so it will be interesting to see what happens.

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There are a number of potential candidates who could appear on the cover of FIFA 21.

Eden Hazard and Virgil van Dijk were the cover stars for FIFA 20's standard edition and Champions edition respectively. It is possible that EA will continue with this duo for FIFA 21, considering their popularity and profile in the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo had been the sole cover star of FIFA 18 and FIFA 19, but it is unlikely that the Portugal icon will return to grace the front of the game, in part due to Juventus' exclusive partnership with EA's rivals Konami, which is set to last for another two years. A similar situation between Barcelona and Konami could mean that Lionel Messi will not be on the cover of FIFA 21.

The likes of Neymar, Kevin De Bruyne and Paulo Dybala have appeared as FIFA cover stars in recent years and there are plenty of other alternatives besides.

Up-and-coming stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Jadon Sancho and Erling Braut Haaland could be in contention, while other more established performers like Mohamed Salah, Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann are always in the conversation.

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Hakim Ziyech has been warned that facing Premier League defences can be akin to hitting a “wall”, with Anwar El Ghazi telling the Chelsea new boy to ready himself for a physical battle.

The Blues have parted with €40 million (£33m/$43m) in order to bring the highly-rated Morocco international onto their books.

Big things are expected of Ziyech at Stamford Bridge, with many backing him to hit the ground running in English football.

El Ghazi, a former team-mate of the 27-year-old at Ajax, is among those expecting the tricky winger to slot seamlessly into the fold when he arrives in west London.

The Aston Villa forward has, however, pointed out that a markedly different challenge is about to present itself to a man who proved adept at tearing apart Eredivisie defences.

El Ghazi told Voetbal Primeur: “You have to think about your muscles with so many games.

“I thought I was big and heavy, but sometimes you run into player and you think: is that a wall? But Ziyech is going to do well at Chelsea, 100%.”

El Ghazi has already joked in a farewell video to Ziyech at Ajax that the Blues-bound star needs to get himself to the gym.

Expanding on that claim, the Villans winger added: “It was a joke anyway.

“Ziyech has his qualities and he shouldn’t have to be physical. He’s agile and can move well, because he’s so thin.

“Going to the gym doesn’t mean going to Basic Fit [Dutch gym chain] to become a powerhouse.

“You can also work your core, train your abs, pull ups. It doesn’t make you a bodybuilder. Being in the gym doesn’t just mean pumping and pumping.”

Whatever Ziyech has done to this point has clearly been working, with his stock having risen considerably over recent years.

He was one of several star turns for Ajax during a memorable 2018-19 campaign which delivered a Dutch title triumph and stunning run through to the Champions League semi-finals.

Ziyech contributed 21 goals to the collective cause last season, with a further six efforts – to go with 13 assists – offered this time around before Chelsea came calling.

He has now got his big-money move, allowing him to follow in the footsteps of former team-mates Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt who linked up with Barcelona and Juventus respectively in the last summer transfer window.

Mikel Arteta has not “put a foot wrong” since taking charge of Arsenal, says David O’Leary, but the Spaniard has been warned that he has a “hard job” on his hands and will ultimately be judged on transfer business.

The Gunners have delivered a mixed bag on the recruitment front over recent years.

Purse strings at Emirates Stadium were relaxed during the summer of 2019, but club-record signing Nicolas Pepe and experienced Brazilian defender David Luiz are yet to convince.

Teenage frontman Gabriel Martinelli has impressed, but Arsenal have flopped as a collective to sit eighth in the Premier League table ahead of the resumption in 2019-20 competition.

Arteta is considered to have offered cause for optimism since being handed the reins in December, but his side remains a work in progress.

O’Leary believes pieces are being put in place for long-term success off the field, but concedes that any manager will ultimately be judged by performances on it.

The Gunners legend told talkSPORT of Arteta: “I don’t think he’s put a foot wrong off the field.

“There are things that he’s done that nobody knows about. But what you can say, what he’s come in behind the scenes and done has just been absolutely fantastic.

“The way he’s handled himself, the way he’s handled himself through this crisis and the things he’s done without seeking publicity, the things he’s implemented structurally at the club, I don’t think he’s put a foot wrong.

“I think he has a hard task, without a doubt, he’s come in and taken a hard job on. He needs players.

“The squad he has he will make better. Will that push them towards being a top-four club? No, I don’t see that.

“I think where he is going to be judged is on recruitment. It’s easier said than done, but you’ve got to get players out.

“That’s hard to do and he’ll be judged on that, but he’ll also be certainly judged on the personnel he brings in.”

Arsenal are yet to give up on their top-four ambitions in the current campaign, but will likely need a faultless run through their remaining 10 fixtures in order to surge up the standings and book themselves a place in next season’s Champions League.