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Hearts of Oak striker Abedenago Tetteh is unhappy with the local perception that players return to the Ghana Premier League (GPL) from stints abroad to relaunch ailing careers.

The former Bechem United hit-man joined the Phobians as a free agent in May after spells in Ethiopia, Sudan and India.

He joined Hearts alongside centre-back Nuru Sulley who is similarly making a comeback to the domestic scene after some time in Libya, Egypt, Turkey, and Iraq.

“After ending my stint abroad, I decided to come back home. Other players may decide to stay," Tetteh told Nzema FM.

"We don’t come to the country to relaunch our career because it is the same football [going on outside] that goes on here.

“We play proper football in Ghana, so we normally come to play football but not to relaunch our careers.

"It is the same Ghanaians that claim the league lacks quality players and if we decide to come back, you will hear people saying we are coming [back home] to do relaunching.

“I think such claims have prevented most of the players from returning to the country."

Tetteh joined Hearts on a three-year deal.

After a fine season with Bechem United, Tetteh left Ghana for Sudan in 2016, signing for Al-Hilal Omdurman.

In 2017, the 29-year-old made a switch to Ethiopian outfit Jimma Aba Buna, from where he moved back to Sudan in sealing a deal with El-Hilal SC El-Obeid.

He last played in India where he featured for Real Kashmir and Trau in separate stints.

"Hearts are part of the numerous clubs that contacted me but I chose them because I wanted to feel at home. I followed my heart. It is a dream come true to sign for Hearts of Oak. All my family members are fans of Hearts. My father is even called Phobia," Tetteh said after joining Hearts in May.

"I will urge the supporters to continue to pray for the whole team but not for individual players. We are hoping and praying for Covid-19 to end so that we can continue our football season.”

During his previous spell in Ghana, Tetteh's good showing earned him a call-up to the Black Stars.

Hearts, African champions in 2000, are the second most successful club in the history of the GPL, having won 19 titles.

Former Ghana international Ali Jarrah believes Black Stars coach CK Akonnor has enough quality personnel at his disposal to end the nation's long wait for an Africa Cup of Nations title.

Ghana, who have four successes to their name, have been unable to add to their haul since last ruling the continent in 1982.

After a disappointing showing at the 2019 tournament in Egypt, the West Africans have replaced coach James Kwasi Appiah with Akonnor, who assumed duty in January.

"CK needs support. The materials are there and through support, we can break that jinx," Jarrah, an U17 World Cup winner, told Citi TV.

"CK Akonnor was appointed because he is capable so we should allow him to pick his best team, make his own decisions.

"The players must play for CK and not the country. They should see him as a former captain and I tell you we can win the Afcon."

Jarrah then shed light on the secret to Ghana's success at the 1991 U17 World Cup in Italy.

"We were an all-round team and we also started the preparations two years before the tournament, so we knew ourselves very well," the former goalkeeper said.

"In our final qualifying game against Morocco, the game was forfeited due to the Gulf War that happened then.

"When we got there, we were not used to the weather as it was cold, it was only Yaw Preko, Odartey Lamptey and the guys who were already playing in Europe who were comfortable with it. So when the game was cancelled due to the war, everyone jubilated.

"The group was fortunate because right after that, we went to Germany for camping. We were there for over three months. So we acclimatised, studied the weather, played a lot of games and were also high in confidence.

"Odartey Lamptey, Yaw Preko all had European experiences of what the tournament felt like. The likes of Mohammed Gargo, Daniel Addo, Willie Brown and Ernest Opoku were extraordinary players.

"The calibre of players we had gave us so much confidence.

Ghana beat Spain 1-0 in the U17 World Cup final, courtesy of an Emmanuel Duah strike. 

Bruno Fernandes' start at Manchester United has shocked Nemanja Matic, who did not expect the Portugal international to adapt to life at Old Trafford so quickly.

United are unbeaten in 18 games across all competitions having been boosted by the arrival of Fernandes from Sporting in January after a lengthy transfer saga.

The midfielder has more than lived up to the hype, scoring seven goals and adding a further seven assists in just 11 Premier League outings.

Fernandes was short of his brilliant best in Monday's dramatic 2-2 home draw with Southampton, but still laid on an assist for Anthony Martial.

His immediate importance to United has been acknowledged by midfield colleague Matic, who knew United were getting a capable player from the Primeira Liga, but did not expect him to shine so quickly.

"Obviously he is a player with a lot of quality," Matic told Stats Perform News. "I have to say that he was the best player in Sporting, one of the biggest Portuguese clubs. 

"To play and be the best player of Sporting is not easy, because there is a lot of pressure on you, there is a big expectation from the supporters to play for that club. I know because I played for Benfica, so the pressure is high and when you play on that level there then you are ready for the Premier League. 

"I didn't expect him to adapt that quick, I knew that he will be good for us but he adapted from the first minute that he stepped on the pitch - he was great.

"I like him because he wants to take responsibility, he always looks to receive the ball, he always finds good space to receive the ball and to hurt the opponent. It is always good to play with him." 

Matic continued: "If we take risks from the back and lose the ball we are in trouble, for him and in his position he needs to take the risks because we bought him because of that.

"He is doing well, he takes the risk and it is very important that when he takes the risk 50 per cent of the time he is successful. He is a player with quality, and of course when he takes a risk I am not afraid that he is going to do bad, most of the time he is going to do it correctly."

While Fernandes has impressed Matic, he stressed the whole team deserved credit for United's impressive revival under Ole Gunnnar Solskjaer this season.

"If I mention him then I have to say the rest of the squad is also great," added Matic, who signed a new contract with United this month. "At the moment everyone is playing well, everyone is ready and the games we played these last few months is teamwork.

"I think everyone on the pitch is doing great. Everyone on the pitch knows their job, so hopefully we can continue like that."

Chelsea youngster Reece James has backed Wilfried Zaha and David McGoldrick's decisions to speak out over the racist abuse they received over the weekend, stating that Premier League players are right to take such matters public.

Crystal Palace striker Zaha and Sheffield United forward McGoldrick were the targets of racial slurs and imagery on social media across the last round of matchdays in the top-flight.

Both players later took to their social media accounts to condemn the abuse, prompting strong support from clubs and sparking police investigations into both incidents, with West Midlands Police arresting a 12-year-old boy in connection with the former incident.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea's encounter with Norwich on Tuesday, Blues starlet James agreed that Zaha and McGoldrick made the right choice in electing to come forward with the matter, 

“I think if you are a player that has faces racial abuse you should come out and say it,” the 20-year-old told talkSPORT. “As a Premier League football player, you’re in the lights a lot.

“A lot of people have a lot to say when you’re doing well and when you’re not doing so well. You should definitely come out and talk about it.”

Elsewhere, James reaffirmed Frank Lampard's side's Champions League aspirations as remaining unchanged, even with Manchester City's European ban for Financial Fair Play breaches overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

If City had remained barred from continental action, a fifth-place finish in the Premier League would have feasibly been enough for Chelsea to qualify - but they will now have to ensure a top-four finish to achieve their ambition, with Leicester City and Manchester United trailing them by just a point with three games to go.

“I think if they are in or out of it, either way I think the focus is the same,” the full-back added. “We can’t let someone else’s position dictate our goal. Either way, our aim was to win the rest of our games and finish in style.

“We need to give our all in the next few days. Everyone knows the aims and goals of this club and we need to give our everything for the fans. We have to revert back to working hard and being more clinical and taking our chances when we get them."

Semi Ajayi’s West Bromwich Albion are inching closer to a return to the Premier League despite their 0-0 draw with Fulham on Tuesday.

Scott Parker’s men went into the game in dire need of a win at the Hawthorns to stay in contention for a top-two finish, but they could only muster a point against the Baggies.

After missing Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers, Egypt international Ahmed Hegazi returned to Slaven Bilic’s starting XI, while Grady Diangana replaced Kyle Bartley.

Fulham had the first chance after 21 minutes with Ivan Cavaleiro going close, however, his back-post header from Anthony Knockaert’s cross was cleared off the line by Hegazi.

Just like the opening 45 minutes, the second-half started on a fast note. The Baggies had a brief scare in the 50th minute but Ajayi was forced to clear a goal-bound Aleksandar Mitrovic header.

Albion were close to taking the lead after Dara O'Shea found Diangana, but the midfielder saw his shot deflected painfully wide of the right upright.

Ajayi missed a beautiful chance to give his team the lead after heading over the crossbar Matheus Pereira’s corner kick.

Just like Egypt’s Hegazi, Super Eagles regular Ajayi was on parade from start to finish, while DR Congo's Neeskens Kebano came in for Ivan Cavaleiro but was unable to help the Cottagers get the much-needed victory.

Fulham will now face Sheffield Wednesday and a red-hot Wigan Athletic side who smashed Hull City 8-0 but are potentially facing a 12-point deduction for entering administration.

Victory over Huddersfield Town and Queens Park Rangers will see West Brom return to the English top-flight after a two-year absence.

Since their 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers, manager Bilic has remained positive about his team’s promotion chances to the English top-flight.

“If anything we should be more confident after the Blackburn game then before it – and I told the players that in the dressing room,” he told the club website.

“Yes, we were angry and disappointed about the result. But only the result. We are playing good, really good – we are scoring goals, making chances, being compact, being intense.

“I said after the Derby game that I would have felt the same about the performance if we had not scored their second goal and the match had finished 1-1. That can happen in football.”

AmaZulu FC attacking midfielder Charlie Hlalele is hoping to feature for the team when the current season resumes.

The 24-year-old player is working on his fitness having been out for 13 months with an Achilles tendon injury.

Hlalele, who is a former Orlando Pirates reserve team player, reflected on his time on the sidelines.

“I sustained an injury two weeks prior to the start of the [2019/20] season and it took me quite a long-long time to recover,” Hlalele told the club's official website.

“It was a painful process, but I had to take it one day at a time. I had to do my rehab, my strength, and always tried to stay positive and disciplined.

“Everyone knows, to be on the sidelines for so many months is not easy."

Hlalele's last competitive appearance for Usuthu was in May 2019 in an away encounter against Bloemfontein Celtic, who emerged 3-1 winners at Sisa Dukashe Stadium.

The diminutive attacker will be looking to help relegation-threatened AmaZulu retain their status in the South African top-flight when football resumes in the country.

Usuthu are placed 15th on the league standings at the time the current season was been suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s just that I need to work on my full fitness," Hlalele said as he looks to impress his former coach at AmaZulu's reserve team, Ayanda Dlamini.

"If I am lucky enough, I can win my spot in the team, the squad, or even in the starting line up in one of the remaining matches."

Dlamini was promoted to first-team caretaker coach after Slovakian tactician Jozef Vukusic was placed on special leave by the club last March with Usuthu struggling in the league.

Last season, Hlalele made three appearances in the league for the Durban-based side under then-coach Cavin Johnson, who was replaced by Vukusic in September 2019.

AmaZulu have six league matches left which are against Baroka FC, Bidvest Wits, Bloemfontein Celtic, Black Leopards, Stellenbosch as well as Highlands Park.

The suspended season is expected to be completed in a Biologically Safe Environment (BSE) in Gauteng next month.

Former Manchester United goalkeeping coach Emilio Alvarez has revealed that he left the club following a fallout with David De Gea over the player's future, after the shotstopper put pen to paper on a new deal at Old Trafford.

The 48-year-old has played down suggestions that he was released from his role at Carrington, instead revealing that his exit came down to personal and professional differences with the Spaniard between the sticks.

De Gea extended his stay with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side last September , signing a new four-year contract that will keep him in Manchester until 2023, potentially taking him up to a dozen years with the Red Devils.

Alvarez was brought onboard at United under previous manager Jose Mourinho, having previously mentored De Gea at Atletico Madrid - but the former has now opened up on his United exit, stating that De Gea's decision to agree fresh terms behind his back was what forced his exit.

"It's not true that Manchester United relieved me of my duties," he told AS . "In fact, once De Gea renewed, United put an offer on the table for me. It was me who asked to meet with the club so I could tell them I wanted to leave the club.

"It was at this meeting they asked me to renew. I told them I was going but not because I wanted to leave United. I wanted to stop coaching De Gea.

"Aside from being his mentor at Atletico Madrid, where I backed him strongly, I was the person who convinced him to sign for United. I was his right-hand man in Manchester.

"I came to United thanks to the great work of Jorge Mendes and because Mourinho wanted to sign me to help David develop and to keep him at the club. At that moment, he wanted to leave United.

"After almost three years with lots of work and meetings with United to renew him and to make him the best paid player in the world, I learned that he had renewed behind my back. Honestly, it felt like a lack of loyalty.

"During negotiations, he also had a falling out with the person who had carried out all the talks in order for him to be paid what he was paid. At the last minute, someone else meddled. I insisted that I didn't like that because it seemed disloyal.

"I asked David why he didn't say anything to me and he said that he was told not to say anything to anybody. This had an impact on me. The way I understand my profession is that you can't help someone develop if you do not have total confidence with them and that's why I decided to leave United."

Wigan's eight-goal triumph over Hull City moved the club closer to Championship survival while setting or equalling numerous records in the process.

Hull were hit seven times in the first half of an eventual 8-0 win for Wigan, who recently appealed against their 12-point deduction imposed by the EFL for entering administration.

The Latics opened the scoring within the opening minute, with Kal Naismith firing the first of what turned out to be many goals.

After a relatively quiet 26-minute stretch, Wigan exploded into life, scoring six goals between the 27th minute and the half-time whistle.

Kieffer Moore and Kieran Dowell each provided two of those goals, with Jamal Lowe and Joe Williams also adding strikes before the break.

With that amazing first half, Wigan became the first side in the English top four tiers to score seven or more goals in one half of football since Watford, who did so against Blackpool in 2015.

Lowe, meanwhile, was involved in four of those goals, the same amount he had scored or assisted in his prior 31 appearances.

Wigan went on to add another in the second half, with Dowell completing his hat-trick in the 65th minute.

Prior to Tuesday, Wigan had not scored eight goals in a league match in club history.

The Latics also became the first team to score eight or more goals at home in a single match in the English second tier since Manchester City did so in a 10-1 win over Huddersfield in November 1987. Additionally, Hull had not conceded eight goals in a league match since November 1911 in a match against Wolves.

Perhaps there was one silver lining for Hull, as the Tigers did avoid conceding nine, which would have been the worst defensive effort in club history.

Next up for Wigan is a visit to Charlton on Saturday before a return home to face Fulham.

As the club looks to avoid relegation, the Latics can take solace in knowing that only one team - the 1957-58 Northampton side that featured in the Division Three South - have ever been relegated in the same season in which they've won a league game by eight or more goals.

Hull, meanwhile, will face fellow bottom three side Luton Town in their penultimate game as the club currently sits in one of the relegation spots. 

Amanda Mthandi was shocked after completing her move to Spanish side Badajoz, noting that she never in her wildest dreams expected to seal a professional contract.

The Primera National outfit announced the signing of Mthandi from South African side University of Johannesburg ladies on Monday.

The 24-year-old is Bea Galan's team's second signing this summer as they gear up for the new season, having finished third with 42 points to miss the promotion playoffs last term.

On sealing her professional transfer to Badajoz, the South Africa international was full of joy but hungry to impress in the European nation.

“This came as a complete surprise to me. I started talking to the club a couple of weeks ago but then nothing materialised," Mthandi told Safa.net.

"I was surprised when talks resumed last week, and before I knew it, they sent me documents to sign. I was busy with my assignment which is due soon.

"I had to put it aside and focus on these documents. And now, boom! I have signed for Badajoz. I am so elated and overwhelmed.”

Mthandi has also been part of Desiree Ellis' Banyana Banyana set-up, featuring at the 2018 Africa Women's Cup of Nations in Ghana and later starred in their maiden Women's World Cup outing in 2019.

She is the latest Banyana star to move to Spain after Ode Fulutudilu and Jermaine Seoposenwe's stints at Malaga and Real Betis, before Nothando Vilakazi, who joined Logrono last week.

'Speedy' as she is fondly called, has her national set-up and fans to thank for the landing of her maiden professional contract abroad.

“Honestly, I am super grateful for all the love, support and warmth you guys have given me," she continued. 

"I must say I have the world’s best team with me. The share of this victory goes to each one of you because we are a team. As much as we win and lose together, we also achieve and celebrate together. 

"I honestly couldn’t ask for better teammates, you made the work a lot easier for me on the field and that is why today I am making this move – it was not an individual effort but a team effort.

“I am honoured to call myself a Banyana Banyana player, and will forever carry the spirit of this wonderful team where I am going. 

"From the bottom of my heart, a huge thank you to all my fellow players, our coaches, physiotherapists, our drivers, video analysts, conditioning coaches, team security, media officers, team doctors as well as our kit manager. 

"I am grateful beyond words and can’t wait to start this new journey.”

Elmina Sharks boss Yaw Acheampong has confidence in Ashanti Gold's chances of giving a good account of themselves in the Caf Confederation Cup next season.

The Miners are set to defend Ghana's colours in the continental championship for the second straight time, having secured a ticket in the boardroom following Ghana's premature termination of the 2019-20 football season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On their last African campaign, the Miners were eliminated in the first round.

“I think the club can make a case in Africa with better preparations," Acheampong said, as reported by Footballghana.

"Now the players are embarking on individual training due to the Covid-19 and that is not enough for them. Let see if government will ease restrictions so they can do group training.

“I will entreat them to prepare well. They have some talented players like Amos Addae and other good players who have tested Africa.

"So if management are able to beef up the squad, they can do well having had experience in the ongoing season."

AshGold won the Ghana Special Competition Knockout last year to gain a ticket to the 2019-20 Confederation Cup.

Ghana's inability to complete the 2019-20 football season due to the Covid-19 disturbances means the West African nation had to fall back on this season's continental representatives for next term’s African competitions.

"We want to do better than what AshGold last time did in the Confederations Cup," AshGold's Italian coach Roberto Landi, currently caught up in his home country due to coronavirus-induced travel restrictions, told Oyerepa FM.

"We will do our best but hope Covid-19 does not affect us.

"I wish I was in Ghana to monitor their training. We will add new players especially those who will give revenue to club."

The Miners, four-time Ghana Premier League champions, were bundled out of Africa on their last campaign by Moroccan fold RS Berkane. The Obuasi-based outfit first played in the Confederation Cup in 2011 when they crashed out in the first round as well.

Asante Kotoko got the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Committee's nod to represent the nation in the Caf Champions League.

If anyone was thinking Liverpool would take their foot off the gas after claiming the Premier League title, Saturday’s meeting with Burnley at Anfield dispelled that notion.

Despite only playing out a 1-1 stalemate, the statistics made for interesting reading: Jurgen Klopp’s side had the majority of possession (70-30 percent), as well as shots (29-6). For those who retain an interest in Expected Goals, the Reds edged xG 2.18 to 0.45, indicating that while the Clarets secured the point, the final score should have read a comfortable victory for the world champions.

Sean Dyche had Nick Pope’s heroics to thank for his side’s draw, with the England goalkeeper making no fewer than eight saves in a man of the match performance at the home of the newly-crowned Prem winners.

Interestingly, half of those saves came from Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s top league scorer this season and contender for this year’s Golden Boot, alongside Jamie Vardy (23), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (20) and teammate Sadio Mane (16), who’s an outsider for the prize.

Before gameweek 35’s meeting between both sides at Anfield, there’d been a suggestion that Klopp’s team had prioritised the Egypt star’s goal tally in the final weeks, given the current African Footballer of the Year’s deficit from Vardy and co. putting him at a disadvantage.

Indeed, Saturday’s statistics proved this somewhat. Salah had a staggering six attempts on the day, fascinatingly the total number Burnley mustered, while Mane had just two shots for the entirety of the game.

The Senegal international, however, created an astonishing five chances to the two-time African POTY’s three.

Also, both forward’s heat maps corroborate the recent perception that while there remains a mathematical chance for Mane to claim the Golden Boot for a second time, he understands the seven-goal gap to Vardy (who scored his 23rd against Bournemouth on Sunday) may be a bridge too far.

Salah was largely stationed in central areas against the plucky Clarets, while his West African teammate spent more time outside the box, maintaining a bias for an inside-left position.

Given he couldn’t increase his 16-goal tally at the weekend, which leaves him trailing the Leicester City man by a bucket-load of goals, that leaves Salah and Aubameyang as the African pair with a realistic chance of supplanting the ageless English forward.

Both attackers face off at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, seeking to be among the goals after firing blanks as their sides failed to win at the weekend.

Auba couldn’t prevent his Arsenal side from a somewhat unexpected North London derby defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, with Mikel Arteta’s men falling to a 2-1 loss.

The final result could have been different had the Gabon frontman not been denied by the woodwork after a rasping left-footed effort from inside the box early in the second-half following a well-disguised pass from Alexander Lacazette.

Both prolific attackers face-off in North London knowing full well they’re running out of games to catch or usurp the leading scorer.

For Aubameyang, he could win the award for the second season running, thus joining Michael Owen, Robin van Persie, Harry Kane and Salah (if they aren’t tied) as forwards who have retained the honour after maiden wins. Indeed, another Golden Boot for the prolific Arsenal captain will see him equal another African great Didier Drogba, who ended top scorer in 2007 and 2010 with Chelsea.

As for Salah, claiming the achievement for a third season on the trot will put him among an elite group of players to have reached the feat in Premier League history. Alan Shearer (94/95 to 96/97) and Thierry Henry (03/04 to 05/06) are the only frontmen from previous seasons to have won the award for three successive campaigns.

If the Anfield favourite is successful, he’d equal Shearer’s total number of top scorer titles (three) and will have Henry’s record of four in his sights. The Frenchman won that quartet of awards between 2001 and 2006, and claiming this year’s tussle will put the 2018 PFA Player of the Year in a position of supplanting the Arsenal great in record time.

However, the North African has a tougher run of games on paper compared to Auba, whose final two fixtures are against Aston Villa and Watford. Liverpool play host to Chelsea on their penultimate game of the campaign, before travelling to Newcastle United on the final day.

History, though, suggests Salah shouldn’t be worried by the opposition. He’s scored against his old side in successive seasons at Anfield and has netted four times in five games against the Magpies, including two at St James' Park in the last two seasons. Frank Lampard’s men are leaky defensively anyway, with the concession of 49 goals the highest in the top half of the table, so the signs are auspicious for Liverpool’s top scorer.

Still, Auba may be the slight favourite given Villa and the Hornets are statistically two of the weakest sides defensively in the top flight. Both have conceded 65 and 54 respectively, which puts them in the top six leakiest rearguards in the division.

This will be music to the ears of the Gunners’ skipper, who’s scored 70 percent of his 20 strikes against teams in the bottom half. He netted a brace against Watford in mid-September before following that with a free-kick vs Dean Smith’s side a week later, making him a slight favourite to score more in the final two games of the season.

Arsenal are still chasing a place in the Europa League and Aubameyang’s goals will play a part in Arteta’s troops securing a European berth at the end of the campaign.

As for Salah, having ended top scorer for two years running, he wouldn’t want to surrender the crown to Vardy (who faces Sheffield United, Spurs and Manchester United) or Auba as he seeks to put himself on the same pedestal as Prem greats like Shearer and Henry.

In truth, whoever claims this year’s Golden Boot among the triumvirate eventually isn’t expected to have it easy as this year’s tussle, like last season’s, could well go down to the wire.

Harry Kane has backed Jose Mourinho to help Tottenham Hotspur deliver on their potential next season, hailing the Portuguese coach as one of "the best managers in the world".

The England skipper has endured another silverware-less season in North London, just a year after the club went close to unexpected European glory in the Champions League final against Liverpool in Madrid last season.

The subsequent term has seen a major managerial change, with Mourinho replacing Mauricio Pochettino at the helm, and a pandemic-enforced hiatus - but Spurs are now into the home straight of their campaign as they seek to make a final charge for the Europa League.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss has only mustered a 43.75 per cent win ratio so far after 32 games in charge - his lowest figure at any club to date - but speaking ahead of his side's trip to Newcastle this week, Kane has given the 57-year-old his full support, comparing his approach favourably to that of his predecessor.

"They're definitely two different styles of manager, but it's been great," the striker told  BT Sport . "Obviously we've had a long period where I was out injured doing rehab, having to watch the team from the sidelines and we've had a long time to get to know each other with Covid-19.

"We've built up a good relationship and we talk very often.

"He wants to win, he's here to win. Obviously there are no trophies to play for this season but next season that's his aim. Everything is about winning and he's made that clear.

"There have been times where we haven't played well but we've won the game and at the end of the day three points is the most important thing. 

"I think he's looking forward, going into next season, having a bit more time to work with the boys in pre-season and getting to know them more. He's great to work under and it's another opportunity for me to learn off one of the best managers in the world, so I'm taking it all in and learning as fast as I can."

Olivier Giroud's third goal in four matches was enough for Chelsea to claim a 1-0 win over already-relegated Norwich City, giving them a four-point advantage of Manchester United in fifth.

Champions League qualification appeared to be on the rocks after third-placed Chelsea lost 3-0 to Sheffield United last time out, but after Leicester City and United dropped points too, Frank Lampard's men have consolidated their place in the driving seat.

That is not to say they were in great shape throughout at Stamford Bridge – there were times in the first half where the Blues looked like they might disappoint again, but Giroud finally punished slack defending in stoppage time.

Clear-cut chances were more of a rarity after the break, but against a Norwich side that has scored just 26 times this season, Chelsea never looked in danger of being pegged back and Giroud's header was enough.

Chelsea were dominant throughout the first half but were less than convincing in front of goal.

Giroud, starting ahead of Tammy Abraham, was guilty of spurning two excellent chances with mishit finishes, with the hosts appearing to grow frustrated as the first period progressed.

Christian Pulisic went close as well, though Tim Krul's reaction save saw him tip the American's fierce strike on to the crossbar in the 36th minute.

Giroud eventually made the breakthrough just before half-time, however, nodding in Pulisic's cross from six yards.

The second half was an even cagier affair, with little happening at either end before Cesar Azpilicueta's speculative long-range effort with his left foot flew just over.

Krul then thwarted Pulisic from close range 15 minutes from time, though Chelsea were not made to rue that error, as they saw out the triumph.

What does it mean? Chelsea get the job done

It was not as comprehensive as most would have predicted – and expected. But, at this stage of the season, getting three points is all that matters and it keeps the Blues on course to finish third.

Given their final two matches of the season are away to Liverpool and at home to Wolves, anything other than a win here would have surely been critical.

Willian a willing creator

It is fair to say Willian is doing his chances of earning a new contract beyond the end of the season no harm with recent performances. He may not have finished the game with any goals or assists, but he was a creative threat – he laid on seven key passes, more than anyone else on the pitch.

Drmic anonymous

It was always likely to be a thankless task leading the line for Norwich, but Josip Drmic did not exactly help himself – the Switzerland international offered precious little after getting the nod ahead of Teemu Pukki and Adam Idah.

Key Opta Facts

- Pulisic has registered 11 goals involvements in the Premier League this season (eight goals, three assists), the most by a United States player since Clint Dempsey in 2012-13 (also 11).
- Since his Premier League debut in August 2012, Giroud has scored 31 headed goals in the competition, five more than any other player in that time.
- Giroud has scored in three successive Premier League starts for the first time since January 2017, when he netted in six consecutive games as a starter for Arsenal.
- Chelsea have won five consecutive home Premier League games for the first time since December 2017.
- Norwich have now lost 25 Premier League games this season – the most defeats they have ever suffered in a league campaign.

What's next?

A trip to Wembley awaits Chelsea on Sunday as they face Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals, before then returning to Premier League action at champions Liverpool. As for Norwich, they play their final home match of the season against Burnley on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta is adamant that the world’s top players will still want to play for Arsenal even if they don’t qualify for Europe next season.

Sunday’s north London derby defeat at Spurs has left the Gunners on the verge of missing out on European football next season for the first time in 25 years.

Arteta’s side now sit four points below seventh-placed Sheffield United with only nine points left up for grabs, and with Liverpool to come on Wednesday night, Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for Europe via the Premier League could be over before the weekend if they lose to the champions and the Blades win at Leicester 24 hours later.

There is still a route into the Europa League via the FA Cup, but with Arsenal facing Manchester City in the semi-final at Wembley on Saturday, that is also looking like an unlikely option.

It has led to concerns from fans that the club will not be able to land their top targets - such as Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey - in the transfer window, but Arteta insists that is not the case.

“Yes,” he said, when asked if Arsenal would still be able to attract top players. “Because we've an incredible history, an incredible structure, in a beautiful city and a style of play that attracts players. I'm telling you now because when I am closer to the market now when I speak to people, a lot of players want to play for Arsenal.”

Next season will be Arsenal’s fourth without Champions League football and financially their absence from Europe’s elite club competition is taking a heavy toll.

Arteta says he still views Arsenal as a Champions League club and that he is ‘not expecting’ players to be sold this summer if they miss out on Europe, although he added: “In football everything is possible.”

The Gunners host Liverpool on Wednesday night before taking on Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday. They then complete their campaign with games against Aston Villa and Watford next week.

Arteta says his only focus right now is doing what he can with the players he has available to ensure his side finishes the season as well as possible. Only then will his focus switch to the transfer window.

“What I need to do first of all is do my work as good as possible, improve this team and the players individually as much as possible and get the maximum out of that,” said the Spaniard.

“Then what we need to do at the end of the season is see the direction we want to take, agree on the ambition of the football club and realise that where we are the demands are going to be huge.

“It doesn't matter what we do, that's never going to be change because it's linked to our history and our success, and move from there."

Luis Suarez has conceded La Liga to Real Madrid, admitting that it will be "almost impossible" for Barcelona to catch their fiercest rivals.

Real Madrid currently sit four points ahead of Barcelona with two games remaining in the season, with Zinedine Zidane's side facing fifth-place Villarreal and 18th-place Leganes to close the campaign.

Barcelona, meanwhile, are set to close their season against Osasuna and Alaves, who sit 11th and 17th, respectively.

The Catalan side's title hopes all but evaporated during an 11-day span in June, with Barca sputtering to draws with Sevilla, Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid.

Those opened the door for Real Madrid to surge into the lead, and Suarez says it was those results that all but ended Barca's title hopes.

"If you have to be honest, the league is almost impossible," Suarez told Sport. “It is clear that the game against Sevilla is a game that makes things very difficult for you. We had options to get ahead. That day was important but in Vigo it was key. We lost our great opportunity.

"If we had beaten Celta, we would have been better off against Atletico. The blow was in Vigo, the goal in the last minute from Aspas. It hurt. Now we have to finish well and go for the Champions League."

Suarez added that Barcelona must take the blame for their failings, as the club will miss out on the Liga title for only the third time in eight years.

"In La Liga, you have to be self-critical: we let it escape ourselves," he told Mundo Deportivo. "We are aware that we depended on ourselves and not look for any excuse.

"Now, for our pride and for the prestige of Barca, we have to win the two remaining games and then focus squarely on the only title we can fight for, which is the Champions League.

"If those of us on the team can perform at the level of why we are in this club, we can beat anyone. A failure in a match can be expensive That is why we have to be very vigilant and we need everyone to be able to get the Champions League."

Reports have continued that Barca are pushing to sign a forward that will replace Suarez, with the club heavily linked with Lautaro Martinez.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu recently stated that any push to sign the Argentine is on hold until season's end, but, should that deal go through, Suarez would welcome the Inter star with open arms.

"He is a great player. He has been playing at a very high level at Inter," Suarez said. "It is not easy to get to Italy from Argentina and demonstrate everything he has done in a complicated football league like Serie A. He is young and if he comes to Barca, we will trying to help him adapt and to help him feel comfortable."

South Africa women's head coach Desiree Ellis has encouraged her Banyana Banyana forward Amanda Mthandi to continue learning and grow at Spanish club Badajoz.

Mthandi has continued to impress under Ellis' watch, inspiring Banyana to a runners-up finish at the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana and shone at the Women's World Cup in 2019.

The highly-rated 24-year-old penned a one-year contract plus an option of an extension with the Spanish outfit, bringing to an end her journey at South African side University of Johannesburg ladies.

And the 57-year-old tactician has backed Mthandi to excel with Bea Galan's team in the Primera National outfit, while sharing her excitement over the recent moves abroad by Banyana players.

“Congratulations Amanda, you have worked really hard for this opportunity and have shown the willingness to learn and grow," Ellis told Safa.net.

"This is another chance to continue learning and grow even further. All the best on this new and exciting journey. 

"As this is your first professional contract and far away from home, there may be challenges – like weather, food, style of play, being all alone – but I believe you have it in you to succeed despite that. 

"Just remember why you are there and that you carry the dreams of many South Africans back home. 

"It is quite exciting to see so many Banyana Banyana players moving to overseas clubs, this gives us confidence that the future of this team is very bright.

"I have always said that this country has a lot of talent and most of that talent should be based abroad.

"But it is encouraging that more and more are moving overseas – this can only benefit the squad tremendously.”

Wycombe Wanderers striker Adebayo Akinfenwa's televised plea for talks with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp have proved successful to a certain extent – he has bagged himself an invite to the club's Premier League trophy parade.

Akinfenwa, a long-time Liverpool fan, was part of the Wycombe side that achieved promotion to the Championship for the first time in their 133-year history thanks to Monday's 2-1 League One play-off final victory over Oxford United.

A Wycombe cult hero, Akinfenwa's contract is due to expire at the end of the season, but in a memorable post-match interview he on reflected a difficult journey from being "technically unemployed" four years ago to winning promotion to England's second tier.

In his speech, he said the only person who could "hit me up on WhatsApp this time is Klopp" so they could celebrate their successes together, and the German duly obliged with a congratulatory video message.

Klopp then went one better on Tuesday, extending Akinfenwa an invitation to the club's Premier League trophy parade, when such an event can go ahead.

"When it's possible, in the future one day," Klopp said when asked if the two will meet. "I don't know when exactly, but he is invited for the parade, 100 per cent.

"I saw, before the video, when he was sitting in the team meeting in a Liverpool kit, which I thought was really funny. I watched the game [and] yes, he responded – he sent a video back. It's private [what he said], at least a few things in life should stay private. It was nice, he was obviously really happy."

Klopp said stories in football such as that of Akinfenwa - who could play in England's second tier for the first time at 38 years old - were part of why he loves the sport so much.

He said: “I just enjoy these kind of stories. I like it because, how you know, as a player I was in similar situations, that’s how it is. 

“Football meant everything to me before somebody thought, ‘It’s worth giving him some money for it’ and that never changed. That’s why I always will love this game because you can fulfil your own dreams, it just depends on the dreams. 

“For some teams it’s a bit earlier, for other teams they have to wait a little bit longer but if you work hard then there is still a chance for you and still a possibility for you. I hope this game stays like it is - and I'm not worried about that, this game will always have these kinds of chances. 

“It’s just exactly how it should be: if you work really hard, you can make it.”

Akinfenwa responded to Klopp's invite with a delighted post on Twitter: "This is getting silly now, I’m smiling like a grown kid."

Gor Mahia coach Steven Polack has claimed he is not aware of whether captain Kenneth Muguna has asked to leave the club or not.

The former Western Stima midfielder is among the players who have been linked with a move away from the Kenyan champions ahead of the new season.

Muguna, who won the 2017 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Player of the Year Award before joining K’Ogalo, took to his social media pages on Monday with a strong message indicating he may not be at the club for next season.

“A new challenge, maybe,” Muguna, who has 18 months left on his contract, wrote on his Twitter handle.

Goal has now established Muguna has handed in a transfer request to leave the club and that he has been granted permission to seek employment elsewhere.

However, the British coach has denied having knowledge of the future of the player, insisting he is not aware of the latest developments about the player's future.

“You are asking about Muguna, what about him?” Polack posed a question to Goal on Tuesday.

“I have not been told that the player wants to leave, I have not heard anything, I don’t think he wants to leave, he has not talked to me…and no club official has told me that [Muguna] wants to leave.

“I only heard about this several months ago and it cooled down, maybe they have again started the same rumours, anyway I don’t know anything about Muguna, we are just relaxing at home now that we cannot play football and waiting for the way forward on when football will return.”

In an earlier interview, Polack told Goal he had already identified players he will sign for the club ahead of the new season.

K’Ogalo will be taking part in the Caf Champions League after being declared champions for the 2019-20 campaign after the league was ended owing to the coronavirus pandemic, and will also chase the league and domestic Cup titles.

“We are talking to players, we are talking to a few players and let us see what will happen, but I am not going to give out their names because our rivals will jump for their services,” Polack told Goal also on Tuesday.

“We talking to players in the Kenyan league, we are talking to a lot of Kenyan players and I will not give you the names or positions, just know we are in talks with several players and the talks are very positive for now.

“Let people know, and we have to do it a little more professional, about the transfers because if you start saying the names then everything might fail before they even sign, so we are not going to give names.

"We will let people know when the deals are done and I want to set the bar, we want to get them all signed first and then we unveil them in one press conference.”

Pep Guardiola believes now is not the time to discuss a new contract at Manchester City – although he insists he would have remained at the club had they been demoted to League Two.

That was a fairly outlandish consequence the City manager alluded to, in the event of UEFA's two-season ban for Financial Fair Play breaches being upheld.

However Monday's verdict by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to quash that punishment prompted talk of Guardiola being offered fresh terms to run beyond June 2021.

City still have an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal and a Champions League showdown with Real Madrid on the horizon, while 2020-21 will represent the first time Guardiola has taken charge of a fifth season with one club.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's Premier League match against Bournemouth, he would rather focus upon matters on the pitch, free of the burden of looming UEFA sanctions.

"Nothing has changed my opinion, maybe I will be able to stay here longer," Guardiola said when asked whether he would commit to a contract extension.

"As a club, as an organisation, the people cannot understand how difficult a time it was for all the club, being under suspicion for something we have not done. Hopefully people can stop talking about this – or they can go to court and prove it like we have done.

"Now is not the time [to talk about contracts] we have one incredible month ahead of us. I have one more year, for a manager it is a long, long time.

"The decisions we thought to do before the sentence were quite similar. I was happy before and now. We have time to talk about this.

"Now is the normal situation like every season, if the situation was uncertain I don't know what would have happened.

"My personal situation was clear. I said a month ago I would stay and it didn't matter if we were in the Champions League, or like a lot of people here in England suggested, League Two. I would have stayed here. About the future, we have an incredible four or five weeks ahead of us with the games against Arsenal and Madrid."

Star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne did not express a similar enthusiasm for English football's fourth tier and suggested a two-year European ban would have forced him to consider his City career.

The 29-year-old's agent, Patrick De Koster, said he welcomed the CAS verdict, although talk of a new deal at the Etihad Stadium for De Bruyne – who is contracted until 2023 in any case – might be premature at this stage

"After the CAS verdict, we Facetimed for a moment and Kevin was very happy, very satisfied," De Koster told HBVL. “If you are banned from the Champions League at that age, you should think again.

"We'll see. He now has a three-year contract in Manchester, is settled with his family and is feeling good. They have also always been very good with him. Moreover, the number of clubs that can pay him [his salary] is not that big.

"He sees participation in the Champions League next season mainly as a bonus, but that decision doesn't mean more to him. It is not the case that we will now sign a new contract in Manchester tomorrow."

Former Barcelona star Andrea Orlandi has advised Spanish club Villarreal on the best position of Samuel Chukwueze.

The Super Eagles forward made a substitute appearance in the Yellow Submarine’s 2-1 defeat to Real Sociedad in Monday’s La Liga game at the Estadio de la Ceramica.

Chukwueze was brought on for Fernando Nino in the 46th minute and was initially deployed as centre-forward, where his side was short of men due to suspension and injury problems.

The winger struggled in the position, failing to get sufficient space to help his playing style before switching to his familiar wide role where he shone.

Willian Jose opened the scoring moments before the hour mark for Real Sociedad before Diego Llorente doubled the visitors’ lead.

Chukwueze then set up Santi Cazorla to reduce the deficit with five minutes left to play, which proved too late as the Whites and Blues held their nerve to claim maximum points.

Orlandi feels the Nigeria international should not have played as centre-forward, stating the wing role is his best position.

"Cazorla is a very intelligent footballer, he knows he doesn't have the legs he used to have so he uses his brain, even more, it is as useful as it was, fantastic player," Orlandi said on La Liga TV.

"It all comes from Samuel Chukwueze playing on the right, he came on for Fernando Nino, disappointing performance from the youngster.

"Chukwueze was playing as a striker in the first 35 minutes of the second half, he couldn't find the spaces, he needs spaces to run, he needs to play on the wing.

"He played there in the last fifteen minutes and he caused problems for Real Sociedad but it was a little bit too late for Villarreal."

The defeat to Real Sociedad ended the chance of the Yellow Submarine to qualify for next season’s Champions League, since they are left with two games and are nine points behind fourth-placed Sevilla.

Chukwueze has been a consistent performer for the Yellow Submarine this season, featuring in 39 games across all competitions, scoring four goals and providing five assists.

The Super Eagles forward joined Villarreal’s youth setup in 2017 following his eye-catching display for the Golden Eaglets at the 2015 U17 World in Chile.

The forward was promoted to the Yellow Submarine’s senior side in 2018 and has been impressing for the Spanish side.

Chukwueze will hope to help Villarreal secure a positive result when they take on league leaders Real Madrid on Thursday.