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Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier is set to reclaim his seat unopposed after no candidate offered to contest against him in the coming polls.

The long-serving official was among aspirants who presented their papers by deadline day on Friday at 17:00 and according to a source who spoke to Goal on condition of anonymity, there was no other candidate who offered to challenge him for the chairmanship post.

The Kenyan champions will also have a new secretary-general after Sam Ochola became the only contestant for the post of the polls set to be held on August 8.

“We have received all the papers from candidates keen to contest and the chairman is set to return unopposed because no one offered to challenge him,” the source told Goal on Friday.

In the other posts, Sally Bolo will square it off with Francis Wasuna for the vice-chairman seat while the treasurer’s post has attracted Dolfina Onduto and Chrisphine Okoth.

Goal understands, former organising secretary Judith Nyangi, who was keen to vie for the treasurer position, will not be in the ballot box after she failed to hand in her papers.

K’Ogalo are set to conduct the polls using an electronic online voting system after the government extended the curfew of sporting activities and social gatherings for another 30 days on Monday.

Only four positions will be contested during the polls that will be done under the club’s new constitution, which was changed to comply with the Sports Act 2013, which directs that only three officials are mandated to run the affairs of the club.

In an earlier interview, Rachier confirmed his interest to keep his seat has the blessing of his family.

In 2019, Rachier said he would be leaving the club but after a change of mind, the veteran administrator revealed he talked with his family members and sought permission to contest the August 8 elections.

The Electoral Board secretary Kennedy Mbara confirmed on Friday they will not rescind the decision to demand a degree as one of the rules for all the aspirants keen to contest for various seats.

“We will make sure we verify the papers accordingly and maybe by Saturday, we will release the names of those who have passed the rules and are eligible to vie,” Mbara told reporters.

Gor Mahia were declared the 2019-20 Kenyan Premier League champions and will now represent the country in the Caf Champions League next season.

Former Ghana U17 coach Samuel Paa Kwasi Fabin believes Mohammed Kudus' transfer to Dutch side Ajax bodes well for the Black Stars.

The 19-year-old completed a move from Danish outfit Nordsjaelland in a five-year deal reportedly worth €9 million on Thursday.

He becomes the latest Ghanaian player to join the Ajax family after the likes of Samuel Kuffour, Anthony Obodai, Kwame Quansah and Emmanuel Boakye.

"It is a good thing to see him sign for Ajax and becoming the most expensive youngster in Ghana and I hope more youngsters will come up so we can have a strong Black Stars," Fabin, who coached Kudus at national U17 level, told Ghsportsnews.

"I’m happy because it doesn’t happen more often. I keep saying that talent without effort is useless and he has been able to put in a lot of efforts to get that price tag. [A pricetag of] €9 million is a big money for an African youngster.

"I’m hopeful he will justify the amount Ajax splashed on him.

"Ajax is a team that gives the opportunity to youngsters like Kudus and I believe it is a good move. If he is able to develop well, the big guns will come calling."

Kudus first starred for Ghana at the 2017 U17 World Cup in India where the Black Starlets reached the quarter-final.

Two years on, he played at the 2019 Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Niger.

Last November, the attacking midfielder received his first call-up to Ghana's senior side for a 2021 Afcon qualifying double-header against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe.

It would be a debut to remember for the Accra-born as he netted shortly after coming on as a second-half substitute to ensure a 2-0 home triumph over South Africa.

He made his second appearance in 1-0 away victory over Sao Tome four days later.

"I discovered him at Right to Dream Academy, he is one of the boys I picked from Right to Dream," Fabin said.

"He was in Denmark when I was preparing the team for the world cup and he was part of my plans. He had to join the team at the latter part for the World Cup right after his tournament in Europe."

Kudus joined Nordsjaelland from the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana in 2018.

He made 25 league appearances and scored 11 times for the Danish outfit this season. 

Nigerian U17 captain Samson Tijani has joined Austrian champions RB Salzburg on a five-year contract, the club confirmed.

Tijani, who led the Golden Eaglets to the 2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Tanzania and the Fifa U-17 World Cup in Brazil, joins Die Mozartstadter from Lagos-based outfit Collins Edwin Sports Club.

The 18-year-old’s contract is expected to run until May 31, 2025 and he joins a host of African stars in Jesse Marsch's team, which include Ghana's Majeed Ashimeru, Cameroon's Jerome Onguene, Mali duo Sekou Koita and Mohamed Camara, and Zambia duo Patson Daka and Enock Mwepu.

“I am so grateful to sign for Red Bull Salzburg,” Tijani said.

“I hope the fans will support us and be with us in this journey, which will not be easy.”

Tijani will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Borussia Dortmund talisman Erling Haaland as well Liverpool duo Naby Keita and Sadio Mane who developed their game in Salzburg.

The defensive midfielder helped the Golden Eaglets to a fourth-place finish at the U17 Afcon last April where they bowed to Angola in the third-place playoff.

During Nigeria's U17 World Cup campaign in Brazil, he played every minute of the country's games and produced a man-of-the-match performance in their first group outing by scoring a brace in their 4-2 victory against Hungary.

Manu Garba's side were eliminated from the World Cup in the Round of 16 after a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands.

Tijani is the latest player from the Golden Eaglets to move to Europe with teammate Peter Olawale set to decide on his future when the ban on international flights in Nigeria is lifted ahead of his 18th birthday on July 26.

Former AFC Leopards patron Musalia Mudavadi has called on the government to come up with mechanisms to help players against crooked agents.

Mudavadi said sportspeople can be exploited by their handlers and end up not benefiting from their talent at the end of their careers.

“We should look at what kind of support we should give to these young people willing to earn from their talents,” Mudavadi told KTN News.

“They also need protection because there is a situation that if it is not well done the young sportspeople can seriously be exploited by the so-called managers or handlers.

“We have seen some crafty fellows who get in and before the young man or woman knows what has happened they have been made to sign a complicated contractual arrangement.

"Then you get to see all their sweat is actually feeding somebody else and not them.

“These are issues that we should look at, for example having a special legal team formed or supported by the government which can then help young people enter into contracts that they have actually consented to.

“The lawyers can also be trained enough to ensure they are safeguarding the interests of the sportspeople diligently.”

The former Deputy Prime Minister also explained the need to improve football management in the country and make it more professional.

“We need to find a law which allows professionalisation of soccer in Kenya so that there is a clear way to pay players and that there is a revenue stream,” he added.

“Majority of the young men and women, and maybe not talking about athletics, the other fields literally depend on the goodwill of the fans.” 

The Kenyan leader had earlier called on administrators to come up with strategies that will help the players earn more so that they can enjoy a financially stable future.

“You know with sports there is a shelf life where one is good at a certain bracket and up to a certain point you need to give way,” Mudavadi recommended.

“So, we need to have programmes that will help the youth come up with a sustainable venture once they give way to others and settle after a sporting career.

“Investments in sports are something we have not taken seriously before. The level of commitment is not as it should be.

“We need to find a way of bringing in investors in our soccer so that we can have a sustainable way of buying players and give them a livelihood for the duration that he is working for that club.”

The Kenyan football fraternity has had to deal with a lack of or delayed payments for players mostly because of a lack of sponsorship.

FIFA 21 will hit screens in October 2020 and avid gamers can already pre-order their copy online so that they will get their hands on it as soon as it drops.

EA Sports released a teaser trailer to give a glimpse of what's in store on the latest instalment of the franchise and we know that there will be three editions available to buy.

They are: standard, Champions and Ultimate.

Contents

What is the FIFA 21 Champions Edition?

The Champions Edition of FIFA 21 is a special version of the game that includes exclusive extras, such as Ultimate Team items.

It is one of three editions of FIFA 21, along with the standard edition and the Ultimate Edition.

The edition takes its name from the Champions League, with EA Sports acquiring the rights to UEFA competitions in 2018, from FIFA 19 on.

While the basic game is the same across the three editions, each one has its own cover star and bespoke imagery.

How much does the FIFA 21 Champions Edition cost to buy?

FIFA 21 Champions Edition can be pre-ordered for £79.99 in the UK or $79.99 in the US.

Early Access subscribers can get it at a discounted price of £71.99 in the UK or $71.99 in the US - 10 per cent off.

The Champions Edition is £20 more expensive than the standard edition in the UK, which costs £59.99 and $20 dearer than the standard edition in the US, which costs $59.99.

When and how can I pre-order FIFA 21 Champions Edition?

You can pre-order the FIFA 21 Champions Edition right now.

Click on the relevant console for more details on pre-ordering.

What features does the FIFA 21 Champions Edition have?

If you purchase the Champions Edition of FIFA 21, you will receive the following perks:

Champions Edition features

In comparison to the offers available when you purchase the standard edition, the Champions Edition allows you to play the game a bit earlier - on October 6 instead of October 9.

It also includes more Rare Gold Packs (12 compared with three) for FUT, as well as Career Mode Homegrown Talent, which does not form part of the standard offer.

While the Champions Edition has more to it than the standard edition, it is not as comprehensive in its offering as the Ultimate Edition:

As well as offering a early access and FUT items, the Champions Edition also features a different cover star. 

In FIFA 20, the Champions Edition cover star was Virgil van Dijk, who had helped Liverpool win the Champions League in 2018-19. 

It is likely that the FIFA 21 Champions Edition cover star will be drawn from the club that wins the 2019-20 Champions League.

How do the FIFA 21 editions compare?

You can see a breakdown of what each edition offers in the table above.

Posta Rangers chairman John Tonui has welcomed the move by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to sign a new Kenyan Premier League (KPL) sponsorship deal.

FKF secured the KSh1.2 billion sponsorship partnership with BetKing which will run for the next five seasons.

“We have been paying salaries before but this deal will help us start giving our players allowances and bonuses,” Tonui told Goal just a day after the record-breaking sponsorship pact for the top-tier was confirmed.

“It will also improve the livelihoods of players, coaches, referees and those directly involved in the game. Players will be motivated going forward hence the level of competition will shoot up.”

Meanwhile, football administrators Caleb Malweyi and Gabriel Mghendi also lauded the new partnership that Mwendwa revealed earlier this week.

Malweyi, who is the FKF Nairobi West Branch chairman, said the development will now encourage players who faced a tough 2019/20 season.

“This is a great milestone. Now the players can fully focus on their performance on the pitch,” the administrator said.

Mghendi, the FKF South Coast Branch chairman, said the FKF-BetKing partnership will help improve the level of competition within the KPL level of competition.

“The sponsorship will improve the quality in the league,” said the South Coast official.

“Earlier, some clubs had started going under because of lack of funds. Now with the funding, we can expect better competition.”

Mwendwa, who is seeking a second term in office for the next four years, detailed how he is keen to help the KPL clubs.

“We are ready to help the clubs to start pre-season training and what we are now waiting for is for the government to allow sporting activities and social gatherings to return, we now have enough money to help the teams which struggled last season to plan themselves accordingly,” Mwendwa said in an earlier interview with Goal.

Clubs will be entitled to at least KSh8 million annually from the new sponsorship kitty and the FKF and BetKing partnership will officially be launched in September.

With the arrival of BetKing, the KPL will now change the name to the BetKing Premier League.

The FKF is set to run the competition as it has confirmed the KPL’s contract will not be renewed when it shall end in July.

Leeds United's return to the Premier League after a 16-year absence has been confirmed with two fixtures of the 2019-20 season left to spare.

Marcelo Bielsa's men beat Barnsley 1-0 at Elland Road on Thursday to move to within just a single point of promotion, with Michael Sollbauer's first-half effort proving to be the difference between the two sides.

The result also ensured that the Whites would be assured of a place in the top-flight if West Brom were to drop points away at Huddersfield on Friday, and sure enough, the prayers of supporters across Yorkshire were answered.

The Baggies were beaten 2-1 at the John Smith's Stadium, with Chris Willock opening the scoring for the hosts before Dara O'Shea hit an equaliser just before half-time.

West Brom toiled to find a winner in the second period, but it was the Terriers who struck late on through Arsenal loanee Emile Smith Rowe, meaning Leeds will officially compete in the Premier League for the first time since 2003-04 next season.

After Leeds latest victory Bielsa insisted he would not be tuning in to watch West Brom or Brentford, who could have also handed his side promotion if they failed to beat Stoke on Saturday.

Asked if he would follow their Championship rivals' games, Bielsa said: "No, we always think that what we are able to get depends on us. We are thinking of the next match.

"Until the situation is mathematically resolved, we cannot talk about promotion."

The Argentine head coach can now rest safely in the knowledge that Leeds are guaranteed to finish at least second in the table, with fixtures against Derby and Charlton set to bring their campaign to a close over the next week.

The Whites will also pick up the Championship trophy if they win just one of their remaining games before preparations begin for their return to English football's top tier.

Bielsa's side finished third in the standings last term before losing their play-off semi-final against Derby County, and their latest promotion bid looked like it might go off the rails in similar fashion after a 2-0 defeat away at Cardiff in their first game back following last month's restart.

However, Leeds bounced back to win five of their next six outings, including an impressive 5-0 victory over Stoke, taking their tally of victories for the season to 26, more than any other side in the division.

Nigeria's Semi Ajayi and Egypt's Ahmed Hegazi could not stop West Bromwich from bowing to a 2-1 loss against Huddersfield Town in Friday's Championship encounter.

The defeat at the John Smith's Stadium was a massive blow to West Brom's automatic promotion hopes as they are just a point above Said Benrahma’s Brentford in second place, who have a game in hand.

Dara O'Shea's equaliser was not enough to save Slaven Bilic's men as goals from Arsenal loanees Chris Willock and Emile Smith Rowe steered Huddersfield Town to a vital win and out of the relegation waters.

Ajayi and Hegazi partnered each other at the centre of West Brom's defence and they were in action for the 90 minutes.

Ajayi completed three tackles and a clearance during the game while his Egyptian teammate completed two tackles and registered five clearances - the highest in Bilic's team.

Meanwhile, Benin forward Steve Mounie came on as a 63rd-minute substitute for Fraizer Campbell and DR Congo's Elias Kachunga replaced Willock in the 80th minute, as the Terriers bagged their first win in five outings.

The result sealed Leeds United's promotion to the Premier League after a 16-year absence while West Brom remain second in the league table with 82 points after 45 matches, a point ahead of Brentford who visit Stoke City on Saturday.

Huddersfield Town boosted their survival chances with the victory and they climbed to 17th in the log with 51 points after 45 outings.

West Brom will shift their focus to Wednesday's home game when they battle QPR at the Hawthorns in their final league match of the season.

Ajayi has played 41 games in the second division this term with five goals to his name while Hegazi has scored a goal in 15 matches so far.

Rio Ferdinand says Anthony Martial's confidence "needed rebuilding" after Jose Mourinho's exit, and that the Manchester United striker is finally back to his best under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United forked out £54 million ($68m) to bring Martial to Old Trafford from Monaco back in 2015, despite the fact he was still a relatively unknown quantity on the European stage.

The Frenchman showed exactly why the Red Devils invested so heavily in his talent during a stunning first season in Manchester, during which he scored 17 goals to finish as the club's top scorer.

Unfortunately, Martial's development hit a snag when Mourinho was drafted in to replace Louis van Gaal in the dugout in the summer of 2016, as the Portuguese brought in Swedish frontman Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer. 

Martial played second fiddle to Ibrahimovic before also being forced to serve in a backup role behind Romelu Lukaku, who joined United from Everton the following year.

It wasn't until Mourinho was sacked in December 2018 that the 24-year-old was trusted to lead the line again on a consistent basis, which has led to him rediscovering his best form in 2019-20.

Lukaku departed for Inter at the end of last season after Solskjaer opted to make Martial his first-choice number nine, and he has rewarded his manager's faith by hitting 22 goals in 42 appearances.

His latest effort came in a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Thursday, with Ferdinand singling the France international out for praise post-match. 

The ex-United defender told BT Sport: "I think Anthony Martial was probably the main one, for me, that needed rebuilding.

"Jose Mourinho brings in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, takes his number nine shirt. What that does for a player's confidence I cannot tell you. It absolutely zaps the confidence out of you.

"He’s a poacher, a six-yard box player, scoring the scruffy goals, if you like. But he can also bring other people into the game.

"The intensity with which he plays, the skill, the guile that he’s got. This is what I love about him. He’s doing everything you’d want from a number nine right now."

Ferdinand added on the progress Martial has made since being taken under Solskjaer's wing: "This is what we saw when he first burst onto the scene for Man United as a teenager. He came in scoring absolute world-beater goals, taking people on and driving at people.

"The dribbling, that’s world-class football what you’re seeing there. What I love about him is his intensity has changed, his whole body language has changed, there’s a new positivity about him.

"He’s somebody that is enjoying having the belief of the current manager. That’s what you need.

"No matter what level you are as a player, you need the backing and the belief from your manager to be able to put what you have on show."

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential candidate Sam Nyamweya has questioned the legal mandate the current regime has in terms of negotiating deals affecting football in the country, especially the top tier.

On Thursday, the incumbent Nick Mwendwa announced a KSh1.3 billion sponsorship with Nigerian betting firm BetKing. In the deal, the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clubs are set to receive at least KSh8 million every season for the next five years. 

However, the administrator is not enticed with the sweetness of the deal and says the outgoing office is taking advantage of the desperate teams.

"News of the takeover of KPL by FKF and the supposed sponsorship of Ksh1.2 billion shillings five-year sponsorship is an oxymoron," Nyamweya said in a signed statement obtained by Goal.

"The desperate times by the KPL clubs should not be used as an excuse to perpetrate illegality, the need for securing the much-needed sponsorship notwithstanding.

"This deal is shrouded in controversy, secrecy and illegalities, simply the deal between FKF and BetKing and or its holding company is not adding up."

Nyamweya has gone ahead to state that the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) ruled the FKF National Executive Committee's term ended on February 10 and without it, there is no way the Federation can secure such a deal.

"By dint of the Tribunal ruling of 17th March 2020, the president of FKF remains in office as a ceremonial president with no powers or capacity to enter into any contractual obligation for and on behalf of FKF," the aspirant added.

"There exists a valid contract between FKF and KPL on the management of the top tier league which is set to be reviewed once the current contract lapses on or about September 24 2020."

Nyamweya has further insisted the KPL has exclusive rights regarding the top tier, and also have the first priority in renewing the contract with the Federation before the same can be extended to another party.

"It, therefore, goes without saying that such a decision to revert the rights of the top tier league to the Federation and or donating the same to another entity requires the approval of a General Meeting where all members are present and represented," Nyamweya concluded.  

"The said General Meeting can only be constituted once FKF holds an all-inclusive, free and fair election and constitutes the organs requisite for holding a General Meeting of FKF.

"In view of the aforementioned and the illegalities therein the purported termination of the rights to manage the top tier league by KPL, the sponsorship contract between BetKing its parent or holding company is a nullity and cannot be enforced."

Allan Saint-Maximin has been warned off a move to Manchester at either United or City, with Chris Waddle telling the highly-rated Newcastle winger that it would be “pointless” for him to give up being a key man on Tyneside for bench duty elsewhere.

The 23-year-old Frenchman has thrived at St James’ Park during his debut campaign in England.

He was snapped up from Nice in the summer of 2019 and has caught the eye with his direct running and creativity in the final third of the field.

With there plenty of potential to still be unlocked in his game, it has been suggested that Saint-Maximin could take another step up the footballing ladder at some stage in the near future.

Premier League rivals have been keeping a close eye on his development at Newcastle, while Paris Saint-Germain have also seen a move mooted, but Waddle believes staying put would be the best decision for a forward who needs regular game time.

The former Magpies star told the Racing Post: “While you can have too many flair players in a team, I love to see players who do something different and I like Allan Saint-Maximin.

“His performances have been eye-catching even if he would surely love to play further up the pitch as he did at Nice before he moved to Newcastle.

“Sometimes he may be guilty of displaying his skills in dangerous areas but Steve Bruce seems to take that into account and they get on well.

“He's 23 and his name is starting to be linked with other clubs. I see Manchester United have been mentioned and maybe there's a bit too much agent talk going on, but I don't think now is the time for him to be worrying about that.

“He could get a move to somewhere like Manchester City and he might have the chance to play in a more advanced position but his chances would be severely limited.

“That would be pointless. You have to play. I'll say it time and again.

“What would be the point of starting a couple of FA Cup matches and making 20 appearances as a substitute?

“He's in a much better place at Newcastle and I would urge him not to make the move too soon. 

“It's fine when you are 36 and you just want to be part of something or you are looking after your bank balance. He's got most of his career ahead of him, so this is no time to waste it on the bench.”

Saint-Maximin has taken in 28 appearances for Newcastle this season, with four goals and seven assists contributed across those outings.

Watford winger Ismaila Sarr has stated his side would approach their Premier League game against West Ham United on Friday like a ‘final’.

After a poor start to the season, where they failed to secure victory in their opening 11 games, including suffering a heavy 8-0 defeat against Manchester City, the Hornets dropped to the relegation zone.

In their quest for a turnaround, Nigel Pearson was appointed as manager in December 2019 and has since been trying to salvage the season for them.

Having won their last two games, against Newcastle United and Norwich City, the Hornets are one place and three points above the relegation zone.

Sarr, who joined the club last summer for a record fee of £30 million, has revealed his side will leave no stone unturned in their quest to secure victory against West Ham as well as win their remaining games.

"I think we were seven points adrift at the bottom when Nigel arrived. We had started very badly," Sarr told Sky Sports.

“It's a big achievement to get the situation to where it is now, and restart for next season with better ambitions, but we are all really focused to help the team keep ourselves up this season.

"He's changed a lot of things. First of all, the mentality and also the balance between defence and attack. Personally, for me, he's changed a lot, I now am playing regularly and he's given me his confidence, so I try to do my job in the best way to satisfy this confidence.

"Going to West Ham will be a very difficult, very tough game, we know that, but we are focused on the game altogether to play like a team, improve our quality on the pitch, and we know that it is very much going to be like a final. We've prepared for it like that, in the best way.

"Coming into the game after back-to-back wins are very important because since the restart we had been in trouble, but these games have given us a lot of confidence to fight until the end of the season to stay in the Premier League.

"The mood in the dressing room is better, obviously we needed to win these two games and it's not easy to do that when the pressure is on but to get two in a row, six points, is very difficult."

Sarr has scored six goals and provided five assists in 27 appearances across all competitions since joining the side from French side Rennes.

The fleet-footed forward was part of Senegal’s squad that finished as runner-up at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson admits he and Arsenal rival Kieran Tierney are “sick to death” of the comparisons that continue to be made between the pair in their battle for Scotland’s starting berth.

Two prominent Premier League performers are looking to occupy the same position for their country.

Robertson, who is now a title winner in England at Anfield, is the regular choice to slot in on the left of Scotland’s defence as he now dons the captain’s armband.

Many, though, feel that former Celtic star Tierney would be a better choice in that role after rediscovering form and fitness on the back of a £25 million ($31m) move to Arsenal.

Robertson can appreciate why such a debate has been sparked, with Steve Clarke faced with a welcome selection headache, but the 26-year-old Glaswegian is growing rather tired of it.

He told the Lockdown Tactics Podcast: "I've spoken to KT about it before.

"Me and him are probably sick to death of everyone comparing us. One good performance from each of us and it's one of us is better than the other. It's just two players playing at a good level.

"It gets a bit tough when everyone in Scotland starts comparing you. Steve Clarke will have his own ideas and whatever he does it's for the best of the team. Whether that's playing one of us or two of us, we both have to deal with that."

While Robertson hit the ground running on the back of his move from Hull City to Liverpool in 2017, seeing him quickly earn a billing as one of the finest left-backs in world football, Tierney had to overcome a number of hurdles after linking up with Arsenal.

"KT is a fantastic player, I watch him a lot and he's excellent at what he does," Robertson said of a domestic and international rival.

"He's had a troubled time with injuries but now he's back, he looks special."

Tierney is looking to thrive under the brightest of spotlights in north London, with his combative approach earning widespread praise, and Robertson knows all about the challenges a compatriot faces.

He added on the expectation he faces for club and country: "Playing for Liverpool there's a lot of pressure on your shoulders as it is, but wearing the armband for your country is probably bigger.

"Some of my performances in a Scotland shirt the last couple of years haven't been good enough.

"I spoke to Darren Fletcher about it. At times when you play for Manchester United or Liverpool, even though you're a left-back they maybe expect you to win the game from that position. It's not possible."

Arsenal should be finding a role for Mesut Ozil, says Tony Adams, with a club legend claiming that the World Cup winner is Dennis Bergkamp-esque in his ability to “open up doors”.

Questions continue to be asked of how long mercurial German playmaker Ozil will stick around in north London.

The 31-year-old is approaching the end of his seventh season in England, with 254 appearances for the Gunners having been taken in.

Ozil has contributed plenty to the collective cause, including 44 goals and 77 assists, but has not always convinced with his laid-back approach and tendency to go missing in big games.

A lucrative contract extension was still earned in January 2018, but Arsenal have struggled to get full value for money form that deal.

That continues to see exit talk generated, as Ozil enters the final 12 months of his current terms, and Mikel Arteta has helped to keep the rumour mill ticking over by omitting his former team-mate from his plans.

Adams can understand why the enigmatic talent divides opinion, but he feels anybody with match-altering ability should be embraced by Arsenal as they continue to struggle for consistency.

The iconic former Gunners captain told talkSPORT of Ozil: “As a coach those kind of players can really make or break you.

“If you don’t get the results and you have a player like that on the sidelines that you’re not using, everyone’s going to point to it.

“If you’re getting results and no-one’s looking they’re going to say: ‘Get him out of the club, he’s not needed’.

“He’s a talent. The guy can win games. He’s a bit like Dennis Bergkamp, a World Cup winner and can open up doors.

“There would be a place in my team if they toughened up behind him to be honest with you.

“That is the job of the coach to get the best out of his squad of players – not to avoid it and say: ‘No good, don’t want you.’

“The board should say to him: ‘These are your players – go and work with them.’ He’s paid so much money.”

Another of those who has failed to convince of late is Brazilian defender David Luiz, with costly errors continuing to blight his game.

Adams concedes that the South American is a nightmare for any coach, with the legendary former centre-half admitting that he would find it tough to play alongside a lively character.

Having once been told by Pat Rice that he could make any partnership work, Adams said: “He told me that anybody could play with me. But even I’d struggle with Luiz!”

Frank Lampard is aware of the threat posed by Manchester United's in-form front three and has called for his Chelsea side to be confident in their ability to handle them in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final clash.

Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford both reached 17 Premier League goals for the 2019-20 season as they netted against Crystal Palace on Thursday, while Mason Greenwood has also emerged as a significant goalscoring threat.

And Lampard has identified the attacking prowess of the trio, accepting that stopping them, and midfielder Bruno Fernandes, will be vital to his side's chances of winning at Wembley.

He told reporters: "We know they are playing well, they've got a very, very potent front three, probably the most potent front three in the country, in terms of pure numbers and goals.

"And obviously Fernandes has made a huge difference coming in in January. So you see the strength that has brought to their team with individual quality.

"But we know that. So we have to be confident ourselves, deal with their threats, and worry about us as well."

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has expressed his frustration at the fact that the Red Devils have less time to prepare for Sunday's fixture, with their Premier League win at Palace being played two days after Chelsea's victory over Norwich City.

Lampard doesn't agree, however, insisting that with both sides having played twice this week, it is a level playing field.

He added: "No, I don’t think we do [have an advantage]. We played Saturday/Tuesday this week, they played Monday/Thursday so we have both played two games this week as it stands.

"We are in a period where we are playing games very regularly and it becomes; play, recover, play again and recover and you work with the squad as it is.

"It’s an age-old question for a lot of managers. You can probably dig out times where I have mentioned it, but at the same time it isn’t about having an advantage or not. Sometimes it is in your favour playing regularly and keeping ticking over, so no I don’t see it."

The Blues boss also ruled N'Golo Kante out of the match as he continues to recover from injury. He said: "Kante won't be fit for the match, he's still not right. So he's out.

"Other than that we have a few people with a few little niggles that I'll monitor over the next 24 hours or so, and then we'll be ready to go."

Quess Corp has officially ended their joint venture with East Bengal on Friday by executing a termination of the Share Subscription and Shareholder’s Agreement executed between Quess East Bengal FC (QEBFC), East Bengal Club and the Company.

This development follows months of speculation as to how the partnership between Quess and East Bengal would end. It also means that the sporting rights, needed to field a team in any recognised competition, has been handed back to the Red and Golds.

In a letter addressed to the Department of Corporate Services of the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, Quess Corp states, “Please note that the Board of Directors has considered, approved and noted execution of termination of the Share Subscription and Shareholder’s Agreement (“Agreement”) dated July 5, 2018, executed between Quess East Bengal FC Private Limited (“QEBFC”), East Bengal Club (“Club”) and the Company.”

The Bengaluru-based business service providing company had formed a joint venture (QEBFC) with East Bengal in July 2018, acquiring 70 per cent stake in the newly formed company to promote and operate the sporting teams, particularly cricket and football, on behalf of the club. This meant that the sporting rights of the club belonged to QEBFC and could not be transferred back to the club without the express permission of the Quess officials in the QEBFC board.

But with the termination of the contract, the company has decided to return the sporting rights back to East Bengal.

Quess Chairman Ajit Isaac has sent a letter addressing senior East Bengal official Debabrata (Nitu) Sarkar where he conveyed his regards and best wishes to the club for their upcoming endeavours.

The letter read, “My best wishes to you for the future and we will always be your well-wisher as the club moves into a new chapter."

The Red and Golds have been trying to get back their sporting rights from their investors for a while now. Without the sporting rights, the club would have neither been able to complete the club licensing process nor take part in any competition. 

With that particular issue sorted, the Kolkata-based club can start planning for the upcoming season.

Jose Mourinho has told his Tottenham stars they can boss next season's Europa League, but they must be in it to win it.

The Portuguese finds himself in the unfamiliar position of facing a major challenge just to earn a place in a competition which is overshadowed by the Champions League, however he insists his Spurs players belong at Champions League level and is confident they would be among the favourites to win the Europa League, providing their name is in the draw.

Mourinho may need his Tottenham side to beat Leicester City and Crystal Palace in their remaining two Premier League games to earn qualification.

The match against Leicester on Sunday comes with added spice, given the visitors to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are battling to keep a grip on a top-four place.

Seventh position, which Spurs occupy, could yet prove to be enough for a Europa League spot.

Mourinho said: "In quite a funny way I am telling the players, two more victories to win the Europa League.

"I know it's not like that, the competition is long with good teams. Some teams go from Champions League to Europa League which makes it really difficult, but it's just a feeling to motivate the boys.

"Our level is Champions League. The players have played a Champions League final. That's the level of our club.

"I'm just trying to motivate the troops, because it's important to keep that motivation. It's not possible that Wolves, Sheffield United and Arsenal have more motivation than us. To play Europa League is good – you can play and develop players. I think we have to try."

He added: "Football is not about what you deserve, it's about what we get. We need to win these two matches."

Mourinho had hoped to guide Spurs into the Champions League, which he has won previously with Porto and Inter, after succeeding Mauricio Pochettino in November.

However, a spate of injuries, affecting the likes of Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris, and mediocre form made that too much to hope for. Dele Alli will miss the Leicester game due to injury, Mourinho confirmed.

The former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United boss is reconciled to the reality Tottenham will not be competing at the top level in Europe next season.

"It's not possible now, mathematically it's impossible. We know that for us now it will be a fight until the end to get a Europa League position," Mourinho said.

"We are sure that without the problems we had during all of the season, we would be of course in a much different situation. But that was our season, since Hugo's big injury at Brighton, then everything that happened.

"I arrived mid-season, impossible to be better than what it is. We need points to finish in the position that gives us Europa League next season."

Tottenham have won three Premier League home games in a row and a fourth would be a huge boon, as well as a record at their new home.

"More important than that is the points that we need," Mourinho said. "Like when we play Arsenal, important to win the derby, the only thing that matters is the points that we need. I just think that we need these points."

Mikel Arteta is not dwelling on Arsenal's dismal recent record against Manchester City ahead of Saturday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Arteta took the reins at Emirates Stadium shortly after Pep Guardiola's side sauntered to a 3-0 win in north London last December.

That was City's seventh win in nine attempts against the Gunners during Arteta's stint as Pep Guardiola's number two, and the tale of misery continued as Arsenal went down to another 3-0 loss at the Etihad Stadium in their first game after the Premier League restart.

Indeed, City have won every match between the sides since losing at this stage of the FA Cup three years ago.

However, Arsenal head to the national stadium buoyed by victory over champions Liverpool – who boasted a similarly imposing head-to-head record before a 2-1 midweek reverse – and Arteta insists lingering on past failures is no way to approach their remaining shot at silverware this season

"It's a different [City] team, we are a different team as well," he said, having twice lifted the FA Cup under Arsene Wenger in his playing days. "I know their strength and I know the flexibility they have, the things they are going to try, but even then it is difficult to stop.

"I want to focus on what we will try to do. If I worry about them, it's not the message I want to send to the players.

"[The message is] what we have to try to do to win the game, to give us the best chance to compete against them over the 90 minutes to give them difficulties. That's the same as every game.

"If I look at the trends before we played Liverpool, in the last two calendar years they had, you get depressed.

"What I need now is energy, trust in my players, belief. It is the FA Cup, we have a lot of experience here, we have a history related to that. Let's got for it."

City have won six of the past eight major honours on offer in English football and speculation remains over the next move of the man who has masterminded this run.

Guardiola has one more year to run on his contract, which will mean his City tenure overtakes his previous longest stint in charge of a club – four years between 2008 and 2012 with Barcelona.

Arteta is unsure whether his former colleague will make good on suggestions he is open to an extended stay, even in light of the Court of Arbitration for Sport lifting City's two-season ban from UEFA competitions earlier this week, but he believes the 49-year-old's happiness in Manchester is beyond doubt.

"I don’t know. He's been there four years which for him is quite a long time already, and look at the success he's had," Arteta said.

"He feels really happy there. He is surrounded with great people across the club and feels the players, the identity and the style belong to him as well. He feels really close to the fans. I see him as really happy but I don't know. That's a question for him."

The futures of a number of key names at Arsenal have been a matter of conjecture since the resumption.

Arteta restated his confidence that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is prepared to sign a new contract and confirmed talks with Real Madrid over making Dani Ceballos' loan switch a permanent one remain ongoing.

Mesut Ozil is training with the first-team squad ahead of the semi-final, with the head coach refusing to be drawn on his continued exile.

"Pure football reasons," he replied over the decision to proceed without Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi for a number of weeks. "My decision is always that. My only ambition is to put the best squad and best players who give us the best balance on and off the field."