Looking for Soccer News?

Zambian midfielder Clatous Chama has taken to Twitter to appreciate his fans and family for helping him have a successful season.

The 29-year-old bagged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award and the Midfielder of the Year Award in the 2019/20 Tanzania Mainland League Awards Gala held on Friday, August 7 in Dar es Salaam.

The creative midfielder helped Wekundu wa Msimbazi win a treble this season; Community Shield, a league title and the FA Cup.

"What a night!" Chama tweeted after stealing the day in Friday night's event.

"I thank God first and foremost for his abundant glory, my family for pushing me to become a responsible father and husband, and most importantly to my fellow players who pass the ball to me and to whom I pass the ball to. 

"And finally to you my lovely fans, my lovely club Simba SC and to everyone who makes football the most beautiful game of them all."

The Chipolopolo international has revealed the feeling after bagging two awards for his good season.

"Emerging both Midfielder of the Year and league's MVP in a single night was overwhelming and I would like to thank you all," Chama continued.

"I love you all."

Chama will now hope to help the 21-time league champions perform better in the Caf Champions League. Last season, the team failed to hit the group stages after going all the way to the quarter-finals in the previous season.
 
Taifa Stars and Simba SC custodian Aishi Manula won the Goalkeeper of the Season Award, having kept 18 clean sheets.

The best defender award went to Azam FC's Ugandan Nicholas Wadada, with Novatus Dismas of Biashara United winning the Best Young Player Award.

Belgian coach Sven Vandenbroeck was named the best coach having helped the Msimbazi-based side to a double. The 40-year-old led the team to their third league title in as many seasons with six games to spare. He went on to win the FA Cup after a 2-1 win against Namungo FC.

His assistant coach Suleiman Matola was there to receive the award on Belgium's behalf.

The league's top-scorer Rwandan Meddie Kagere missed the gala but was represented by Wekundu wa Msimbazi team manager Patrick Rweyemamu, who took the award on behalf of the striker.

The former Gor Mahia striker scored 22 goals in the completed season, one less than the previous season.

Toni Kroos says he won't watch the rest of the Champions League after Real Madrid's elimination, but has refused to blame Raphael Varane for the club's early exit.

Madrid travelled to Etihad Stadium on Friday night looking to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit, after being stunned by City at the Bernabeu back in February.

Zinedine Zidane's side got off to the worst possible start, as Varane was caught dawdling on the ball in his own box by Gabriel Jesus, who nipped in and set up Raheem Sterling to tap into an empty net with only nine minutes on the clock.

The Blancos got themselves back into the game when Karim Benzema headed home a Rodrygo cross just before the half-hour mark, but they were unable to build any momentum after the equaliser.

City pushed hardest for the winning goal, and were eventually rewarded midway through the second half when Jesus capitalised on another Varane error to divert the ball into the net past flailing Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Pep Guardiola's men ultimately progressed to the quarter-finals 4-2 on aggregate, with Varane taking full responsibility for the La Liga champions' defeat in his post-match interview.

Kroos admitted that Madrid were well below their best against the Premier League outfit, but refused to blame his team-mate for the final result.

"We didn't play a good first half and helped them with the goals," the German midfielder told reporters. "After that, it will, of course, be difficult to turn the game around.

"Rapha played an outstanding season. There are no accusations."

The Madrid playmaker went on to insist that he won't be following the competition into the latter rounds, with his mind already on a summer holiday after a long season.

Kroos added: "I want to win every title that is possible. So at the moment, I'm disappointed. Then I'm looking forward to a holiday. I probably won't watch the rest of the competition."

City can now look forward to a last-eight tie against Lyon, who knocked out Juventus on away goals despite being beaten 2-1 at the Allianz Stadium, with the tournament set to reach its conclusion in a straight knockout format in Lisbon.

Baroka FC are set to take on Bloemfontein Celtic in the Nedbank Cup semi-final match at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

Bakgaga will be making their second appearance in the last four of the South African FA Cup having been eliminated at this stage by SuperSport United in 2016.

Dylan Kerr is hoping to emulate Wedson Nyirenda, who is the only coach to have guided Baroka to a major cup final having done so in 2018 and Bakgaga defeated Orlando Pirates to clinch the Telkom Knockout Cup.

Their opponents, Celtic won the Nedbank Cup when it was known as the Mainstay Cup in 1985 after defeating African Wanderers and it remains their last appearance in the final of the competition.

Phunya Sele Sele have a new coach in John Maduka, who replaced Lehlohonolo Seema last month and his first task will be to lead the team to its first major cup final since 2017 when Siwelele lost to Bidvest Wits in the Telkom Knockout.

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

The match will be screened live on SuperSport TV in South Africa.

Baroka coach Kerr has reported a clean bill of health ahead of the cup clash, but the team will be without Prince Nxumalo, Kamogelo Mogaswa, Ranga Chivaviro, Mogau Khwinana and Tebogo Sodi as they were released by the club two months ago.

The Limpopo-based side has since promoted Bernard Bobete, Nimrod Mpe, Tshego Molapo and Job Maphutha from their reserve team, before signing Lungelo Nguse from ABC Motsepe (Eastern Cape) side Bizana Pondo Chiefs.

Bakgaga will pin their hopes on their inspirational captain Elvis Chipezeze and free-kick specialist Gerard Phiri Jr, who have played an important role in helping the team reach the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Celtic have not reported any injuries in their camp and they are yet to part ways with players since the current season was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the Free State giants have promoted Mokene Mereko, who impressed while playing for the team's reserved team in the Multichoice Diski Challenge (MDC) this term and the striker is expected to compete with the likes of Ndumiso Mabena, Victor Letsoalo and Harris Tchilimbou.

Swelele will look to promising attacker Tumelo Njoti, who has been in good form in this season's Nedbank Cup having netted twice in two appearances and he could be key to a win over Baroka.

Match Preview

Baroka secured their place in the last four after defeating their Limpopo rivals Black Leopards and Polokwane City and ABC Motsepe (Northern Cape) club Hungry Lions.

While Celtic secured wins over KwaZulu-Natal sides AmaZulu FC and Maritzburg United, before eliminating National First Division (NFD) outfit TS Sporting in the quarter-finals.

This will be the first-ever cup meeting between Baroka and Celtic with the two teams having met eight times in PSL matches.

Celtic have the upper hand having recorded three wins compared to Baroka's one, while four games ended in draws. 

Police FC have unveiled Muwadda Mawejje ahead of the new Ugandan Premier League (UPL) season.

The right-footed Mawejje is joining ‘the Cops’ a few weeks after the club also signed veteran Uganda Cranes midfielder Tony Mawejje on a two-year contract.

Mawejje, who has also featured for former champions KCCA FC, SC Villa, and Wakiso Giants, has also penned a two-year deal to sign for the ambitious club, who have promised to go for titles in the coming season.

On signing the deal, Muwadda told the club’s social media pages: “I feel good to have joined Police as it will improve on my career development. I'm ready to do my best, compete favourably, and achieve the club's objectives.

“As a winger, I will focus on goals and creating opportunities with my teammates as we target on playing for the national team and professional football.”

Police CEO Fahad Lumu, who was present during the signing ceremony, said: “Muwadda is an experienced and talented player, he comes with a winning mentality and experience needed in a team.

“We hope to get the best out of him since he has proven his ability at various stages and we would like to welcome him to “the Cops’ Family.”

Muwadda now becomes the fifth signing for the club after Mawejje, goalkeepers Tom Ikara and Sammon Oloka, defender Hassan Mohamood as well as left-back Eric Ssenjobe.

The club has also managed to renew contracts for midfielder Yusuf Ssozi, right back Denis Rukundo, winger Odong, left-back Musa Matovu, midfielders Bashir Kabuye and Mubarak Nsubuga.

Police chairman Asan Kasingye has stated they will make sure they leave a mark in the league come the new season.

“We no longer just want to compete; we need to win trophies. We are former champions and it's time to think big,” Kasingye told reporters.

“Football is a big enterprise in the world that doesn’t entertain mediocrity. We need to do the right thing like other clubs.”

Kasingye added it was the right time for the team to secure sponsors because Police are a big organisation and many people want to be a part of it.

Mamelodi Sundowns will be the home team in a Nedbank Cup semi-final match against Bidvest Wits in Soweto.  

The Brazilians are chasing a domestic treble this season having already bagged the Telkom Knockout Cup title in December 2019. 

Securing a place in the final would mean Pitso Mosimane is on track to achieve the record that is still held by Orlando Pirates - winning three domestic trophies in a single campaign. 

But they will have to work hard to achieve that as Wits, who have been sold to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila owner Masala Mulaudzi, will want to bow out in style as they will not exist beyond the current season.  

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

The match will be live on SABC 1 and SuperSport TV.

Both teams will miss their key players for this encounter due to either injury, suspension or lockdown regulations.

As confirmed by Wits coach Gavin Hunt, Elias Pelembe hasn't been able to travel from Mozambique due to the flight restrictions imposed by the government due to the coronavirus pandemic coupled with the lockdown. 

Ricardo Goss, Brendon Petersen and Thabang Monare are also not available for this crucial encounter. 

Goss, who is on his way to the Brazilians, is currently serving a five-match ban for pushing a match official while Petersen and Monare are struggling with injuries. 

This means Brighton Mhlongo is likely to crack the nod between the sticks against Sundowns. 

Hunt will put his faith on the likes of Deon Hotto, Gift Motupa and Thulani Hlatshwayo for this match - the trio has played a huge role in getting Wits where they are in this competition. 

Meanwhile, Pitso Mosimane has already lamented the absence of the likes of Mauricio Affonso, Thapelo Morena and Anele Ngcongca. 

Affonso is still stuck in Uruguay as he cannot travel back into the country due to lockdown regulations. 

Furthermore, Gaston Sirino will watch from the stands as his teammates take to the field after being slapped with a two-match ban for assaulting Clayton Daniels and Dean Furman in September 2019. 

All eyes, however, will be on Mosimane to see if he will use Andile Jali and Phakamani Mahlambi after it was reported last week that the duo had been suspended by the club for coming to training smelling of alcohol. 

Nonetheless, Mosimane still has the likes of Themba Zwane and Sibusiso Vilakazi as his weapons upfront while Denis Onyango and Ricardo Nascimento have a huge responsibility to ensure that Wits don't score on the night.  

Match Preview

Sundowns and Wits will be meeting for the second time in a Cup match since 2016 when Hunt's men hammered the Brazilians in the MTN8 final. 

In fact, the two sides have never met in any Cup match but the MTN8 final since 2007, with Wits yet to lose to Sundowns.    

Mosimane and Hunt have faced each other 17 times as coaches since 2007.

The Sundowns coach has won seven, drawn five and lost the other against Hunt - and that's the record he will hope to keep after Saturday's game. 

The Brazilians are yet to concede in this year's competition after beating SuperSport United 1-0, Vaal University 2-0 and recording a 1-0 win over Highlands Park in the quarter-finals. 

Wits have conceded three goals in three matches thus far, and all three came against Orlando Pirates in the Last 32. 

They went on to beat Chippa United 2-0 and hammered Real Kings 4-0 to set up a semi-final date with the Tshwane giants. 

Antonio Rudiger has talked up the talents of Callum Hudson-Odoi, while insisting his Chelsea team-mate will want to prove a point against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Hudson-Odoi has found regular playing time at Stamford Bridge hard to come by under Frank Lampard this season.

The 19-year-old has featured in 29 games across all competitions, but only 13 of those have come as a starter and he has had to be content with a bit-part role since returning from lockdown in June.

Willian and Christian Pulisic have served as Chelsea's first-choice wingers in the final portion of the domestic campaign, which saw Frank Lampard's side secure a fourth-place Premier League finish and Champions League qualification.

Hudson-Odoi now finds himself in the same position he was in when Maurizio Sarri occupied the hot seat at Stamford Bridge and he was entertaining interest from Bayern amid a lack of first-team opportunities.

The teenager's stock has dropped considerably since then but Rudiger has pointed out that he is still very much in the early stages of his career development.

The England international is in line for a rare appearance against Bayern in the Champions  League last-16 second-leg tie on Saturday, and the pressure will be off at Allianz Arena as Chelsea look to overturn a 3-0 aggregate deficit.

"First of all Callum is a young guy and has loads of talent. In a game like this, not just because it's Bayern Munich and there were a lot of talks and everything, he wants this type of game," Rudiger told a pre-match press conference.

"That's why you play football. For him, of course, he wants to prove a point."

Asked if the Blues are determined to produce an improved display against Bayern in Germany after being dismantled at the Bridge in February, Rudiger responded: "This is what we want to do.

"The way they beat us in the first game, like I said before we'll go out to show some pride.

"Also the situation that they have to more to lose than us - sometimes that can be an advantage."

The Chelsea defender added on the small window to prepare for the 2020-21 season that the squad will have once their European journey ends: "It’s the same for everyone. We just need to adapt to it.

"It is not much of a holiday we are going to have. Then you have time until the first game of the Premier League.

"I don’t know when the first game is. We will have time to improve things."

Francis Wasuna has been re-elected as Gor Mahia Vice Chairman to deputise the long-serving Ambrose Rachier who was unopposed. 

In the election process conducted virtually on Saturday, August 8, the incumbent received 226 votes which translated to 58% of total votes while his only challenger Sally Bolo managed to get 163 votes, which is 42% of the total. 

The proceeding was marred by skirmishes as Sally, who was the former K'Ogalo treasurer, turned physical as the provisional results trickling in showed she had no chance of winning.

The candidate was forced out to ensure normalcy resumes and the process was finally completed and Wasuna announced the winner.

Dolphina Odhiambo defeated Chrispine Okoth to win the Treasurer position. The former managed to get 286 votes, translating to 74% while Okoth managed just 103 votes, 26% of the total votes.

Apart from Rachier, Sam Ocholla was also elected as the club's Secretary-General unopposed, taking over from Ronald Ngala who, reportedly, did not qualify for the post.

"The elections were not properly planned and I had advised my fellow aspirants to wait until everything is organised well before the process, but they did not listen to me," former club's Organising Secretary Judith Nyangi told Goal.

"We will definitely go to court over the same, and I believe the results will be nullified and we shall go to the ballot again. We just want free and fair elections, a credible process."

Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) had threatened to nullify Gor Mahia's elections if they were done unlawfully.

The SDT, in a letter signed by Elynah Sifuna Shiveka who is the deputy chairperson and obtained by Goal, said the exercise must be conducted in strict adherence to the law if the results have to be recognised thereafter.

Ben Mathews Agunda, David Osewe Odero, Alfred Odhiambo Otieno, Gilbert Otieno Wandera, George Ochieng Gombe, Meshack Odera and Edder Jalang'o are the Gor Mahia members who have asked the tribunal to stop the elections which they claim is set to be done against the demands of the Sports Registrar.

"Upon reading the chamber notice filed under a certificate of urgency and all the accompanying documents dated August 4 and filed on August 5, the tribunal hereby directs and orders as follows," read the opening paragraph of the SDT’s letter.

"That no interim orders are issued in regard to prayer no. 3 of the chamber summons dated 4th of August 2020 and filed at the tribunal on 5th August, 2020.

"The activity of the first respondent scheduled for 8 August 2020 shall be declared null and void in case it was unprocedural and unlawfully done.

"The claimants shall serve all the respondents with the application and these directions on or before Monday 10th August 2020."

New Napoli signing Victor Osimhen has opened up about his time at German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.

The forward signed for the Parthenopeans last month in a club-record fee of €70 million which could rise to €80 million with bonuses, to become Nigeria's most expensive player.

The young striker, however, endured a testing time at his first European club Wolfsburg which he joined following his eye-catching performances at the 2015 U17 World Cup in Chile.

The 21-year-old forward starred at the tournament, winning the Golden Boot and Silver Ball awards after helping Nigeria clinch the title.  

Osimhen made 12 league appearances for the club but didn't score a goal. The forward feels Wolves did not give him the needed support but also revealed other challenges he encountered that limited his productivity.

“The weather, the language, the food [affected me]. It was my first time in Europe, I was just 18-years-old and I didn't have enough time to acclimatize. They didn't believe in me very much,” Osimhen told Sport1.

Wolfsburg managing director Jorg Schmadtke admitted the club was not tolerant enough with the Super Eagles striker.

“The most important lesson is that you have to be patient with some transfers. You can't say: We'll sign you up, provide board and lodging, and then it'll work. The importance of patience is sometimes underestimated,” Schmadtke told Sportbuzzer.

In an effort to reignite his career, the striker moved to Belgium to team up with Sporting Charleroi on loan and was immediately a hit with the First Division A club.

Osimhen scored 20 goals in 36 games during his temporary stay and was rewarded with a permanent deal but his sparkling form caught the attention of Ligue 1 club Lille, who secured his signature a few months after the forward committed to the Zebras.

“I think that the love and acceptance that I experienced in Charleroi helped me a lot. I had just come out of a difficult situation and my self-confidence was at its lowest point,” Osimhen added.

Despite coming in to fill the vacuum created by the departure of one of Lille’s best players Nicola Pepe, the striker seemed not to feel the pressure as he immediately hit the ground running.

The Nigeria international bagged 18 goals and provided six assists in 38 appearances across all competitions which earned him a move to Napoli.  

Osimhen will hope to continue his impressive goalscoring performances in Europe, this time with the Parthenopeans in the 2020-21 season.

The forward remains a key component of the Super Eagles and has four goals in nine appearances for the West Africans since he made his debut against Togo in 2017.

Maurizio Sarri believes Juventus are "cursed" in the Champions League after their exit at the hands of Lyon on Friday.

Cristiano Ronaldo's brace helped Juve to a 2-1 win in Turin, but they fell in the last-16 tie on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw.

Memphis Depay had given Lyon the lead in the second leg before Ronaldo's double, with Juve's wait for a first Champions League title since 1996 to go on.

Sarri, who is under increasing pressure at the helm, said the Serie A champions were cursed in the competition.

"We are out of a competition where we won six out of eight games we played, we drew one and lost one. That means that in eight matches we got 19 points," he told a news conference.

"If there were a Champions League table we would be first or second. Instead, we are out. That's why I feel incredibly sad. It makes me understand that in this competition Juventus are cursed.

"If I weren't so bitter, I would get out of this match with a smile on my face, because I saw the lads in good shape again, they gave all they had, they fought until the end, they put their heart and soul into the match. I appreciated it."

Lyon and Juventus were both awarded controversial penalties during the second leg, with Depay and Ronaldo converting.

Sarri felt the spot-kick given to Lyon was "crazy" as he rued the first-leg away loss.

"We played a good match. In a match where we had to come from behind, we found ourselves one goal down because of a crazy penalty, because in my opinion it shouldn't even have arrived to the box because I think there was a clear enough foul on [Gonzalo] Higuain. And the penalty itself I think it is debatable," he said.

"The referee was clearly unfit for a situation like this, because for us to concede that goal was like to concede two goals. We were good because we stayed into the game and turned the match around, but we spent a lot of energy.

"We had two or three chances to score towards the end with headers from Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuain and I think [Leonardo] Bonucci, so I think we were close to the qualification.

"If we have to have a regret it has to be for our performance in the first half at Lyon. At these levels, it is something you pay for."

Juventus President Andrea Agnelli has insisted that his star player Cristiano Ronaldo will stay with the club next season after his side were shockingly eliminated from the Champions League by Lyon on Friday.

After Lyon defeated Juve 1-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie back in February, the Ligue 1 side opened the scoring in Friday's second leg in Turin when Memphis Depay converted from the spot.

But Juventus would come roaring back and it was no surprise to see Ronaldo at the forefront. The Portuguese forward scored from the spot in the first half before netting a screamer from distance in the second half to level the tie at 2-2. 

Ronaldo's second goal was his 37th of the campaign and saw him break the club record for most goals in a single season — a mark that had stood since 1933-34.

But the Serie A champions could not find another goal and were eliminated from the Champions League on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate result.

It was another disappointing result in Europe for Ronaldo, whose first Champions League campaign with Juve ended in the quarter-finals against Ajax last season.

There has been some speculation that the 35-year-old could be interested in moving on with the season now over, but Agnelli was quick to shoot down that idea after his side's elimination on Friday.

"He's going to stay with us," Agnelli told Sky Sport of Ronaldo. "I'm sure that Cristiano will play for Juventus next season. He's a pillar of this team."

Ronaldo himself appeared to confirm his club president's words on Sunday in a post on Instagram.

"Happy to win the last two of the nine consecutive Serie A titles for Juventus!" Ronaldo wrote.

"It seems easy but it isn't! Year after year with talent, dedication and hard work you can achieve your goals and be better than before! Let's go for my third."

Though Juve's season ended in European disappointment, they did manage to win Serie A for a ninth straight season.

Ronaldo scored 31 goals in Serie A this term, 10 more than he tallied in his debut campaign of 2018-19. His contract with Juventus runs through June 2022.

Maurizio Sarri says talk about his future as Juventus coach is 'offensive' after the Serie A champions were dumped out of the Champions League at the round-of-16 stage by Ligue 1 side Lyon.

Needing to overcome a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in France six months ago prior to the coronavirus-forced break, Juve managed to win the home tie 2-1 but were eliminated on away goals.

Speculation has been growing that Sarri's position at the Old Lady is under threat despite winning the Serie A title last month - by an eventual one-point margin ahead of Inter.

However, the Italian tactician railed at the suggestion that he could be sacked imminently, insisting Juventus' directors will make their decision on his future based on the entire campaign.

Sarri also added that while he wasn't personally affronted by the rumours of his demise, they were insulting towards the officials charged with deciding his fate.

"I don’t think directors of a top level club will make a decision based on one match," Sarri said to Sky.

"They are going to evaluate the whole season. I find this kind of question offensive, but not towards me, it’s offensive towards the directors.

"I have a contract, I’ll respect it and I don’t expect anything."

Juventus star Paulo Dybala came into the match with an injury cloud surrounding his left thigh and he only lasted 14 minutes after coming on as a substitute and again succumbing to the muscle strain.

Sarri admitted the decision to introduce Dybala with 20 minutes to play was a risk but insisted that he would also have been criticised if the Argentine playmaker wasn't used.

"If I had come here without using Dybala, then I would’ve been asked why I hadn’t risked him," Sarri said. "If not tonight, then when?

"It was a risk, but Douglas Costa was out and Cuadrado had some muscular problems, he was alerting the bench that he was struggling, so we had to use the substitution slot for both Danilo and Dybala."

Sarri was dismissed as Chelsea's coach at the end of last season despite leading the London side to the Europa League title and a third-place finish in the Premier League.

Rudi Garcia called Lyon's loss to Juventus on Friday "the happiest defeat of my career" as his side earned a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Memphis Depay's early penalty ultimately earned an away-goals victory for Lyon, despite Cristiano Ronaldo's double in Turin meaning the last-16 tie ended 2-2.

Manchester City, who overcame Real Madrid in Friday's other fixture, await the Ligue 1 side in the last eight on August 15 in Lisbon, and the result left former Roma coach Garcia revelling in his team's success.

"It's one of the most satisfying moments of my career and getting past Juventus really is an exploit," Garcia told Sky Italia.

"The penalty we conceded just before half-time hurt us, Juve hadn't been that dangerous until then and it gave them confidence.

"Ronaldo then scored that real Champions League level goal, but we stayed calm and that was what I appreciated the most about my team. We didn't panic, we kept plugging away and everyone contributed to keeping the ball.

"It was tough for Juve to do better without Paulo Dybala, but we proved that we have a strong defence, as we also held out Paris Saint-Germain for 120 minutes in the cup last week.

"I know this stadium, I came here with Roma, so I know how tough it is to win here. Let's just say this is the happiest defeat of my career!"

Garcia was not a universally accepted appointment at Lyon, with the Frenchman having coached rivals Marseille between 2016 and 2019.

He guided Lyon to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 in 2019-20, with France's top-flight ended early due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I realize the achievement that we did. I know where we are today, because I've been here a few times with AS Roma," he told RMC Sports. "Playing against Juve is not only the best club in Italy, but also a team that wanted to win the Champions League.

"They also have an alien in their team. We saw him again tonight. Despite that, we were very good in the first half.

The penalty awarded to them is totally unjustified. In the second half, we suffered more until Dembele and Reine-Adelaide came in and gave us a second wind. But that's also the victory of a group.

"I'm happy for my players, for my president and for Juni. We wanted to be in Lisbon and we are there. I am proud for our supporters and for Lyon.

"What did I tell my players? That there was a game to prepare for next Saturday. It will come quickly. It will continue. We must not stop there. We will remain outsiders and that suits us well."

Under-pressure Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri says he was pleased with his team's performance despite their elimination at the hands of Lyon in the Champions League round-of-16.

The Old Lady won the second leg 2-1 at Juventus Stadium on Friday evening but crashed out the tie on away goals with the first leg in France ending in a 1-0 win to the Ligue 1 side prior to the coronavirus break.

Memphis Depay scored the all-important away goal for Lyon from the spot after a controversial penalty was awarded in the 12th minute.

Despite Cristiano Ronaldo's best efforts to get Juve back into the match - converting a own spot kick just before half-time and scoring a long-range stunner in the second stanza - Sarri's side couldn't get another goal to ensure qualification and a quarter-final against Man City.

Even though his team achieved Juve's worst finish in the competition since 2015-16, Sarri was happy with the efforts by his players.

"I thought we put in a great performance this evening," Sarri said to Sky. "The team has revitalised itself over the last few days, and if they weren’t devastated in their confidence by the elimination, I’d be very satisfied with their performance.

"If I take away the huge disappointment at the elimination, then I am very happy with the team this evening, as they showed character and gave their all. If we hadn’t been eliminated, I’d return home happy tonight."

Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic, who played his last game for the club before joining Barcelona for next season, hinted that he was unhappy with a lack of playing time under Sarri and revealed the Italian's management of the side has been much better to the period when he was coaching at Napoli.

“The last few months haven’t gone the way we wanted to, for reasons I still haven’t been able to understand. I wanted to play more, that’s for sure,” he told Sky Sport.

“Considering the way the coach played at Napoli, where everyone was involved and fully committed to that project. We played a different type of football, I am not the only one to say that, it’s obvious. It takes time to develop that.

“Winning is not simple. We made it look simple in recent years, but it’s becoming a fight with many other teams. This club must continue to do extraordinary things, and much more in Europe.

“This club will aim to win. We have a great squad, but in order to go all the way, we need everyone at our disposal and that hasn’t been the case often enough due to various injuries.”

Zinedine Zidane moved to stamp out any speculation over his future on Friday, insisting he will be the Real Madrid coach next season.

Madrid's 2019-20 campaign finally came to an end at the Etihad Stadium with a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League – Los Blancos exiting the competition at the last-16 stage with a 4-2 aggregate loss.

The club do have the league title to show for the campaign, and it is their first La Liga crown since 2017.

When asked after the game if he planned to be in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2020-21, Zidane gave a defiant response.

"Well, I'm here, I'm Madrid's coach until something happens which is out of the ordinary. I'm here, of course," he told a news conference.

"You don't have to think anything. I am the coach of Madrid, and that's it. 

"There are no more questions to ask in this regard. Now we are all going to rest and we will return to have a great season."

Raphael Varane's error gifted Raheem Sterling an early opener in Manchester, though Karim Benzema's excellent header gave Madrid hope midway through the first half.

However, their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals were dealt a fatal blow in the 68th minute – Gabriel Jesus pouncing on a second Varane calamity to seal the win for City.

Zidane, though, is adamant his team must be proud of their achievements this term.

"We need to be proud. I'm certainly very proud of what we've achieved," he added.

"We can't, when we lose, be happy. The players aren't happy, for sure. But what we can be proud of is that we have had a great season.

"The key today was to give everything on the pitch and that’s what we did, we were just missing a little something, I don't know what.

"I think we've still got to be happy with the season. We will see what will happen next season. For now, we rest a little."

Manchester City will take on Lyon in the quater-final after the French side got past Juventus on away goals via a 2-2 aggregate result. 

Rafael van der Vaart hopes Harry Kane remains at Tottenham, allowing the England international to continue working with a "great coach" in Jose Mourinho.

The striker returned from a hamstring injury suffered at the start of 2020 to help Spurs finish in sixth place in the Premier League, securing the north London club a spot in next season's Europa League as a result.

Kane, 27, scored five goals in his final three outings to finish the campaign with 24 in all competitions, though he had sparked speculation over his future earlier in the year when admitting he would not stay at his boyhood club "for the sake of it".

However, Van der Vaart - who spent two years with Spurs - believes Kane does not have to leave in his pursuit to win trophies.

"I really hope that he's going to stay," Van der Vaart - an ambassador for the UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour - told Stats Perform News.

"I hope he's going to stay. Spurs have a great coach.

"It's a club that want to be a championship winner, and the Champions League. They can also pay the money.

"For me, the best thing is for Harry to stay."

While Van der Vaart wants Kane to continue in familiar surroundings, he is delighted to see a famous former Netherlands team-mate return to his roots.

Former Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben announced in July his decision to come out of retirement and sign a deal with Groningen – the club where the winger started his illustrious career.

"It's great. I really love it, because I think it's important for the Dutch league," Van der Vaart said of Robben's return.

"Robben is a great guy. He is so professional. He is still so fit. I always thought, 'Why did he stop?', because football is the best thing you can do.

"He stopped at Bayern Munich, but now it's so important that he's starting again and to go back home, to his former club.

"It's going to be different. He's always played for teams when, 80 per cent of the time, they were better than the opponent, but now you go to Groningen and maybe it's 50-50. That is a different way of playing."

Van der Vaart was speaking as part of this year's Europa League Trophy Tour, which has been collecting football boots from fans for Syrian refugees based in Jordan.

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci claimed that his team-mates would not dwell too long on Friday's Champions League exit, as the club's first priority was to retain Serie A. 

The Italian giants picked up the Scudetto for the ninth consecutive season in July, beating out Inter, Lazio and Atalanta at the summit. 

Despite that success, though, the warning signs for Maurizio Sarri's men were there, after suffering four defeats and winning just three of their last nine league games following the restart. 

A double from Cristiano Ronaldo led them to a comeback victory over Lyon following Memphis Depay's early penalty, but the French side advanced on away goals after drawing 2-2 on aggregate. 

Elimination comes as a huge blow to Juventus, who failed to advance past the quarter-final stage for the third successive season in spite of signing all-time Champions League record goalscorer Ronaldo in 2018, but Bonucci insists that the league was their real objective for 2019-20. 

“We are upset. We knew that a game like this could happen, where they would sit back and wait for us to come with the ball," the defender explained to reporters after the game. 

"We conceded from a penalty after a few minutes but after that we did well to believe in [coming back]. Tonight we gave everything we had, it’s a shame.

“We showed that we had the physical condition to do it, Lyon only had one shot on target. However, our main objective was to win the league.

Bonucci went on to admit that the 1-0 defeat suffered to Lyon in the first leg back in March proved decisive, while defending his team-mates' effort in Turin.

“We probably could have done better in the away leg, these games are player over 180 minutes. It’s a shame, because we gave everything," he added.

Barcelona-bound midfielder Miralem Pjanic disagreed with Bonucci, stating that going out to Lyon was unacceptable for a club of Juve's stature.

“It’s hugely disappointing for us, as we really wanted to get through to the next phase and continue this competition,” Pjanic told Sky Sport Italia.

“It was a bad start with that penalty, but we stayed in the game and kept pushing throughout. It’s really disappointing and difficult to accept, certainly.

“We mustn’t diminish the achievement of winning the ninth Scudetto, but this club can and should aim much higher. I have no doubts this group will resume even stronger next season, as I know full well the mentality and strength within the side.

“Our first leg performance was not good enough and in the Champions League these ties are decided over two legs. We went out to a Lyon side that really should’ve been within our grasp.”