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KCB head coach Zedekiah Otieno believes his charges are now Kenyan Premier League (KPL) competitors and not mere participants.

The Bankers struggled in the 2018/19 season which contributed to the exit of coach Frank Ouna from the club.

Thereafter Otieno was appointed to head the club and went on to help them perform better in the top tier, and they were fifth on the table before it was suspended owing to the Covid-19 outbreak.

"I am impressed with our performance in the cancelled season," Otieno told Goal on Sunday.

"When I took over at the club, we were participants, but we have managed to change it and are now competitors in the KPL.

"There were places where we could not get points, but before the league was stopped, we had managed to do so.

"Remember, we were among the teams that beat Kakamega Homeboyz as well, it shows remarkable improvement."

The 51-year-old has also opined on the ongoing tussle which was brought about by the league annulment by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the subsequent crowning of Gor Mahia.

"Nobody saw Covid-19 happening and Gor Mahia were rewarded because they were leading, the table," Otieno added.

"Next time, teams should learn to start the season and give their best consistently. We cannot know what the future holds, it is a lesson for us as well. Some teams are complaining about the same but it should not be the case, our eyes should be set for next season."

The former defender has also hinted at plans he has for the club in the 2020/21 season.

"Strengthening the team is normal across the world and KCB are not an exception. We will strengthen the team and ensure we have a better competitive edge," the former defender continued.

"We have set our targets and have identified certain players who we will be trying to bring on board."

The Bankers have been linked with moves for Gor Mahia duo Charles Momanyi and Boniface Omondi, as well as Bandari FC forward Darius Msagha.

Momanyi's contract with K'Ogalo will expire in the next two months or so and he has already expressed his desire to leave if the financial problems at the club are not addressed. 

Yanga SC forward David Molinga has confirmed he will not be part of the team for the 2020/21 season.

The Congolese striker has been under immense pressure from the fans who feel he is struggling to lead Wananchi's attacking front.

The striker believes he answered his doubters with a brace as Yanga came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Namungo a fortnight ago.

"I am leaving after the completion of the current campaign, [Yanga] can sign better strikers than me," Molinga said as quoted by Mwanaspoti.

"The fans should also stop shouting to players and giving abusive remarks as they did against me.

"The goals I scored against Namungo were enough to silence those fans who have been mocking me. I was amazed to see them asking for forgiveness from me.

"However, I want to state that I have no problem with them and I have unconditionally forgiven them. But the words they uttered hurt me, they wronged me."

The forward went on to state he has not been given enough time to prove his worth.

"I needed to play consistently, and by doing so I would score 15 or more goals," Molinga continued.

"Others have been given more playing time but they have not matched me in terms of goals. Now imagine, if I was given let us say five matches in a row, how many goals would I have?"

Molinga has also revealed his feelings after scoring twice against fourth-placed Namungo to earn his team a point.

"I was overexcited and my emotions got the better of me which is why I did not celebrate with my colleagues. It was also a message to the fans when I pointed at the back of my jersey, I wanted them to know Molinga does not fluke," he added.

"My actions were targeting those fans who were not satisfied with my services. ironically, I found them waiting for me outside our changing room with congratulatory messages, but I felt they were not honest."

Earlier reports suggested the Jangwani-based side are contemplating extending Molinga's stay beyond this season.

Liverpool can't go into "autopilot" after winning the Premier League, says James Milner, who expects Manchester City to "come back firing".

The Reds were confirmed as the new champions of England on Thursday after City succumbed to a 2-1 loss against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The result left Pep Guardiola's men 23 points adrift of the leaders, who bounced back from a narrow defeat in last season's title race to emerge as the new dominant force in the top-flight.

City will give Liverpool's players a guard of honour when the two teams meet at Etihad Stadium on Thursday, and Jurgen Klopp could see his side set a new points record if they pick up at least 15 points from their remaining seven fixtures.

Milner, who won his first two Premier League crowns while on City's books, is expecting a strong response from the Manchester outfit next season and has called on the entire Reds squad to be ready to step up to the challenge.

The Liverpool midfielder told The Times: “It’s about getting that balance right between enjoying it and getting ready to go again.

“You see how difficult it is for any team to defend the title. City managed it last season, when they got 98 points, but they tried twice before and failed.

“Those two times I was there we were never at the races – and that was everybody. That's something I've learned from. This team has proved we can react well and go again after a disappointment.

“We came back from losing the Champions League final and we've come back from finishing second with 97 points, but it’s a new challenge to go again when you’ve been successful.

“Can we deal with that? Can we keep showing that hunger and keep playing in the same way?

“Being as good next year as we have been this year won't be enough because City will raise their game and so will Manchester United and other clubs.

“All these teams are pushing for the top and when you're right at the very top everyone wants to take it away from you.

“We are now there to be shot at – and we have to be big enough to deal with that. We have to keep pushing.

“I don't think this team would ever go into autopilot. I don’t think we have those sort of characters or attitude but that's the challenge now.

“It doesn’t mean we’re automatically going to win it again, we know how good Man City and other teams are.

“We know this will hurt Man City so they’ll come back firing – but it’s down to us to try and go again.”

Milner went on to insist that Liverpool are fully focused on finishing the 2019-20 campaign strongly with a view to setting a new points mark, adding: “It's definite motivation. Not so much the record, I think it is just the responsibility of pulling on a Liverpool shirt and going out with that responsibility to win a game.

“That is what is expected of us and you are always pushing to be the best you can. And how many chances do you get to reach that amount of points, it is incredible.

“You wouldn’t want to look back and think 'Oh, we won the title but the last seven games we were poor, we didn’t get at it'.

“And obviously with not knowing how long we will get off once we complete the season, these next games are sort of preparation for going into next season as well.

“It's so important that we keep getting up to speed and back up to that level, so we will be pushing as hard as we can to finish the season strongly.

“That's why it's so important to finish with as many points as we can but also take that stepping stone for next season.”

Manchester United only need "one more signing" to challenge for the title again, according to Phil Neville.

United have been starved of success at the very highest level since the departure of legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.

The Red Devils haven't come close to winning the Premier League or European Cup in the last seven years, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all moving above them in English football's pecking order.

However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has invested smartly in the transfer market over the past year in a bid to revive past glories, and results have improved significantly in the second half of the 2019-20 campaign.

Daniel James, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka were all brought in last summer, before United forked out €55 million (£50m/$62m) to sign Bruno Fernandes from Sporting in January.

Odion Igahlo also arrived at Old Trafford on loan in the winter market, and Solskjaer has watched his new squad gel over the course of a 14 match unbeaten run which stretches back to February.

The Red Devils are now pushing hard for a return to the Champions League, with FA Cup and Europa League honours still up for grabs, but they still find themselves a long way behind Liverpool and City in the top-flight standings.

Neville thinks that gap can be closed significantly if Solskjaer adds one more key player to his ranks, as long as Paul Pogba ignores links to Real Madrid and remains at Old Trafford beyond the summer.

The ex-United midfielder told Premier League Daily how close Solskjaer is to completing a rebuild in Manchester: "I think one more signing.

"You think about Liverpool signing [Virgil] Van Dijk and Alisson in goal.

"One or two more signings or [Paul] Pogba and one more signing playing to their absolute best. I think United can get closer."

Pressed on which area United need to reinforce when the transfer window reopens, Neville responded: "Centre-back, you look at the impact Van Dijk had.

"Maguire has had a really strong impact but another real strong centre-back.

"They’ve still got to be defensively sound. One more signing and United can challenge."

The former England international also admitted that another striker could walk through the doors at the Theatre of Dreams later this year, while insisting that Marcus Rashford won't be permanently stationed on the left-wing.

Neville added on Solskjaer's potential attacking plans: "He'll want Rashford to develop into a centre-forward, 100 per cent.

"But I think Rashford, Martial and Greenwood like to play in and around a centre forward.

"It wouldn't be a surprise if they still went into the transfer market and bought a centre forward.

"But with Pogba and Fernandes and their type of creativity, Martial and Rashford and Greenwood will get better service.

"It means that when they play a little loose, they've got someone in Fernandes who will play that killer pass."

The Mainland Premier League match between Tanzania Prisons and Simba SC will have fans after the government moved to rescind the decision to ban them from attending.

On Friday, the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports banned Simba and Yanga fans from attending their remaining away matches in order to ensure rules governing fans' attendance meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus are adhered to.

Given the two clubs’ huge support across the country, the government was concerned the fans would fill the small regional stadiums and fail to social distance, which could spark another Covid-19 outbreak.

“For it has been established that majority of pitches outside Dar es Salaam are small, and the fact the host teams have struggled to contain the flow of fans into those stadiums as stipulated by health authorities, the Ministry of Health orders that any match involving Yanga SC and Simba SC outside Dar es Salaam, the fans will not be allowed to come and watch them,” a statement from the ministry and seen by Goal read.

“Fans will only be allowed when the government is satisfied through the recommendation of the regional law and order authorities that the host and the visiting teams have met and can enforce requisite guidelines.”

However, the government has now rescinded the decision after the authorities accepted an appeal written by the Mbeya Regional Administrative Secretary and have committed to implement all safety measures regarding the fight against Covid-19.

A statement from the Ministry and obtained by Goal confirmed: “The Ministry has ordered the National Sports Council to allow the match between Tanzania Prisons and Simba to be played with fans after the Regional Defense and Security Committee confirmed by writings they would govern the entire game by following all process of health regulations.

“This will include a few fans in the stadium and making sure they strictly observe sitting by one-meter distance during the game.”

However, the Ministry further warned they would not hesitate to take further action if the rules are not adhered to during the fixture.

Simba information officer Haji Manara has welcomed the decision by the government by stating: “We warmly thank the government for allowing our fans to attend the most important match of the current campaign and will make sure all the protocols are adhered to as required by set laws.”

Simba will be keen to seal a third straight title as a draw against Tanzania Prisons will be enough after Azam FC dropped points in a 1-1 draw against Biashara United on Saturday.

New Police FC CEO Fahad Lumu has said there are loopholes that have made the club struggle in the Uganda Premier League (UPL).

Lumu served as Police marketing manager for a few months before he was given the task to lead the club as the new CEO.

Subsequently, he has outlined what the club must do to improve, especially in the manner of letting key players leave at the end of every season.

“I want to first admit that there have been some loopholes that have made Police look like an amateur club but I am looking forward to changing that narrative by improving some policies most importantly the transfer policy,” Lumu told Football256.

“As we are looking forward to recruiting more players, we would also want to change the way our good players leave the club, by maintaining senior players so that we also start challenging for silverware because I believe the club has the potential.

“Therefore we are planning with the chairman, the coach and other stakeholders to improve the club’s financial position because it has been the most challenging part and with that improved we want it to be hard for our good players to leave and I can assure you we are going to maintain 90% of the current squad.”

Lumu further accepted the challenge presented by being a top member of the Police managerial hierarchy but again he says he is looking forward to the opportunity.

“Despite the fact that I’ve been administering football at the regional level that’s Kampala regional league, Police are going to be my biggest stage in football administration and therefore surprising because it’s a top club giving the opportunity to explore the heights and I am so glad,” added the former Lufula FC official.

He also had kind words for his predecessor Francis Kidega.

“I thank Kidega for the services rendered towards Police and I would also like to confess that he has been a good administrator, engaging and, with a good working relationship, those are some of the things I’ve seen about him during his tenure,” he noted.

“He’s been efficient in a way that even when stuff was difficult, the club has remained in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League for all the three seasons during his time in office that’s a big achievement.”

Lumu replaced Kidega, who has been the Police CEO since 2017 but resigned when the 2019/20 season was cancelled.

Maritzburg United chairman Farook Kadodia has hinted that they could cash in on players who are wanted by other PSL teams in order to balance their financial books ahead of next season. 

Siyanda Xulu, Richard Ofori and Rushine de Reuck are the three of the club's top players linked with a move away from the Team of Choice. 

Kadodia said the club would consider selling its players provided there are good offers that would improve their futures. 

"I think the important thing is that there must be a willing buyer and a willing seller," said Kadodia in an online press conference with the South African media. 

"We would love to keep players happy in the team and look at their future but if any offers would improve their future, then we can certainly look into it."

However, the situation with Xulu is different as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season while both Ofori and De Reuck are still contracted to the club. 

Ofori has been linked with a possible move to either Orlando Pirates or Mamelodi Sundowns in recent months. 

But with Ricardo Goss on his way to the Tshwane giants from Bidvest Wits, Pirates may be the only team in the race for the signature of the Ghana international. 

De Reuck, who has confessed that he is a Kaizer Chiefs fan, is on the radar of the Sea Robbers although he revealed in his recent interviews that he would like to play abroad.   

Meanwhile, the Maritzburg United boss said the management is not going to rush into making new signings until the current season ended.  

This after they decided to part ways with Jeremy Brockie who was on a season-long loan deal from Mamelodi Sundowns.   

"We can’t be desperate to go out into the market right at this moment," added Kadodia. 

Furthermore, Kadodia and his team still have to make a decision on the future of Tebogo Tlolane, who is on loan from Pirates. 

The 25-year-old joined the Team of Choice in January and has featured eight times for Eric Tinkler's men since his arrival. 

Tlolane has scored once and recorded two assists for the Pietermaritzburg-based side thus far.  

Matteo Guendouzi has to learn to "mind his temper", according to Gilberto Silva, who says the Arsenal star is guilty of getting nervous and losing his focus on the pitch.

Guendouzi has emerged as one of the most talented young players in the Premier League since joining the Gunners from Lorient in the summer of 2018.

The 21-year-old has already racked up 82 appearances in all competitions for the north London outfit, and has enjoyed a key role in the team since Mikel Arteta's arrival in December.

However, the France Under-21 international hit headlines for all the wrong reasons last weekend, as he was pictured grabbing Brighton's Neal Maupay by the throat after Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at the Amex Stadium.

Guendouzi escaped punishment from the Football Association for his actions, but found himself axed from Arteta's latest squad as the Gunners earned a 2-0 victory at Southampton on Thursday.

Questions are now being asked of the midfielder's future at the Emirates, but Gilberto remains an avid fan of the ex-Lorient starlet.

The Arsenal legend says Guendouzi will have to work on the mental side of his game to fulfil his potential, while avoiding controversial situations instead of actively seeking them out. 

“I like him. He seems a very interesting player. He has ability, he has pace to go forward,” Gilberto said at the Collision From Home conference.

“But sometimes I just feel a little bit confused about which position he plays. Does he want to be like a No.6, to protect the back four, or a No.8 to go box to box. 

“If he wants to be a No.6 he has to play simple and he has to mind his temper. Sometimes I see him a little bit nervous, sometimes that’s unnecessary.

“He needs to just play his game – he has quality. Don’t pay attention to other things. When I see him play he suddenly starts to get nervous in some situations and he loses his focus.”

Prior to Arsenal's defeat at Brighton, they were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City on the first day of the Premier League restart, and a top-four finish now looks beyond Arteta's side.

Silva, who was a part of the famous 2003-04 Invincibles squad, has called on the leaders within the current group to stand up and be counted so that the Gunners can start moving forward again under an ambitious young manager.

He added: “In our time, we had many leaders in the team, on the pitch and off the pitch. Everyone spoke through their body language out on the field and, honestly, in the last few years this is something I have really missed seeing at Arsenal.

“It’s hard to say it’s about leadership because from what I understand they do have some guys who are leaders. But it is hard to see exactly how this leadership works out.

“It’s very hard to see the situation Arsenal are in and you can say that about the last few years. But I hope they can find a way to get back to the glory days.

“It’s going to be very hard work for everyone at the club – the board, the staff and the players – and they all must work together if they are to change the situation.”

Mario Lemina admits it would be tempting to return to Marseille - a club that remains close to his heart - no matter whether a potential takeover is completed.

Mourad Boudjellal, the former owner of Toulon rugby club, revealed on Friday he has been asked to head a project involving Middle East investment to purchase Marseille, currently owned by American businessman Frank McCourt.

No matter what happens off the field, Lemina would be interested in a move to the Ligue 1 side he previously joined in 2013, playing 42 games across three seasons before heading to Juventus.

The midfielder is currently at Galatasaray on loan from Southampton, with his contract at the Premier League club due to run until 2022.

"Yes, of course a possible return to Marseille interests me, even without the recovery project. Marseille remains a club in my heart," Lemina said in an interview with Europe 1.

"If there is such a beautiful project, it is even more tempting."

The 26-year-old has made no secret of his desire to leave St. Mary's, having previously stated: "The best option for me would be to stay [in the Premier League], but I do not close the door to any club, no country. I aspire to play for the biggest clubs.

"I had chosen to leave Juventus for Southampton to have more playing time - I got it. I have made a good impression in England."

A comeback to the Stade Velodrome would see Lemina link up with Dimitri Payet, who has signed a new deal that runs until the end of the 2023-24 season.

The former West Ham playmaker still had two years remaining on his previous contract but has accepted a pay cut, helping out Marseille as they deal with the financial impact of a curtailed campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"I've often said that I love this club and that my family feels good here," Payet said. "The idea came into my head when the president said that the players should make an effort. And who better than me to lead by example?

"Saying you love the club is one thing, but showing it is better. I really want to be part of OM and help it grow."

Under Andre Villas-Boas, Marseille finished second in Ligue 1 and are set to play in the Champions League again in 2020-21.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed his team will give Liverpool a guard of honour when they face the newly crowned Premier League champions at the Etihad Stadium next week.

City's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Thursday ended their two-year reign as champions, with Liverpool holding a now unassailable 23-point lead with seven games remaining.

The developing rivalry between City and Liverpool has featured moments of simmering tension over the recent seasons.

The visiting team bus was attacked with missiles before Liverpool recorded a resounding Champions League quarter-final win at Anfield in 2018, while the sides took last year's title race to the wire – Guardiola's men prevailing by 98 points to 97.

Yet the Catalan insisted it is only right that he and his players applaud their rivals, to pay respect to what Jurgen Klopp and his all-conquering squad have achieved.

"We are going to do the guard of honour, of course," he said.

"Always we receive Liverpool, when they came to our house, in an incredible way. They cannot complain.

"Of course we are going to do it because they deserve it."

Guardiola noted Liverpool's hunger to end a 30-year wait for a top-flight crown, saying they played every match as if it was "their last".

The ex-Barcelona boss is confident he knows why City came up well short in their bid for three in a row but balked at questions over the hunger of a team that has won six of the past eight major honours on offer in English football.

"I did not say [City played] without passion. Don't put words I didn't say," he said, bristling at the suggestion.

"I don't know the passion from Liverpool. I guess, I imagine what happened, when you are three-zero years without winning the Premier League, after winning the Champions League you are focused on that.

"But I didn't say this. Because a team that wins eight titles (including the 2018 and 2019 Community Shields) has passion. In every single game, every single competition. No one in this country can say that [City don't have passion].

"It is so difficult what we have done in the most difficult league by far in the world.

"In sport you have to live for the future, the next, but you have to have a little bit, one eye, on what we have done.

"Don't forget we are an incredible club and an incredible organisation. What we have to do is learn. I think we know the reason why we suffered this season and we're going to try to solve it next season."

Next up for City is a trip to Newcastle United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup – one of two pieces of silverware they can add to this season's Carabao Cup, with a long-awaited Champions League return against Real Madrid to come in August.

Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne established a 2-1 advantage over Zinedine Zidane's men at the Santiago Bernabeu back in February.

"Of course, we have a big challenge for these two titles," Guardiola added. 

"We fought for the Carabao Cup with the way we played and won the Community Shield against the champions of Europe.

"We are going to try at Newcastle to win and prepare for the last games of the Premier League, and arrive in the best conditions possible for Madrid."

Several coaches throughout the course of the previous season had voiced their displeasure over refereeing standards in the Indian Super League (ISL). Bengaluru FC manager Carles Cuadrat, former Mumbai City FC and Jamshedpur coaches Jorge Costa and Antonio Iriondo respectively, did not mince words to criticise referees for schoolboy errors on the pitch. 

Alarm bells started ringing in the FSDL (Football and Sports Development Limited) headquarters as well and the league organisers approached the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to take cognizance of the issue, and find a short term solution along with a long term blueprint on the lines of a referee development program. 

Although Josep Gombau feels that the ISL is pretty well managed and organised, there are two particular aspects which the Spaniard thinks need immediate attention. 

"ISL is very well conducted. The stadiums and travel are well organised. Nothing to complain about. But there should be more number of matches. Minimum 26-27 games and then the playoffs. It will make the league much better. The competition in the ISL was very good and cut-throat. Every single team can beat the other team on a given day. 

It must be noted that 2020-21 season was supposed to feature 27 games in the league for one team. However, those plans had to be frozen due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

"Also the refereeing standard is poor. But I don't want to blame the referees because they are not professionals. You need to bring them the tools to help them grow. They are working somewhere else and on weekends or off days, they are working as a referee. They should be focussed on one job. They need to train every day under foreign referees to improve. So I don't find fault with the referees. They should be helped," stated the Spanish manager. 

India has drawn Australia in the AFC U16 championship and since the 44-year-old coach spent almost five years down under plying his trade in various capacities at several clubs and even with the national team and he knows the football structure of the Socceroos like the back of his palm. He opines that the major differences in the two countries are infrastructure and the quality of grassroots programmes.

"The youth structure is very robust over there (Australia). There a lot of games for the kids along with great academies. India is starting to walk the same path now.  They (Australia) have a plan and a lot of investment in infrastructure with longer leagues in place. The kids must not only train well but they must also have more competitive matches for their all-round development. In India, the don't play enough matches. There is a lot of room to improve in these aspects. Qatar have been working hard with their young players since 2008. They reaped rewards in 2019 by winning the AFC Asian Cup. 

"Australia is also ahead in terms of facilities. The A-League is more matured. The quality of the pitches is also very different. The training pitches in India are not up to the mark. I was training in a first division club and the pitch was not good. When I played away games, the day before the match it was difficult to get good training pitches. So I can imagine the condition of the pitch where the juniors train. These are the basics," commented the former Barcelona youth coach, 

Gombau agrees that India have also started to tread the right path and believes that the next decade can be a game-changer for Indian football. 

"I am sure India will definitely catch up, it needs time. The next 10 years will be vital for India. There are good academies that are being established in the country. So now India will have players will with more knowledge and ideas. Currently, they lack simple concepts and basics. But with these academies, hopefully, things will improve."

After severing ties with Odisha FC, the coach is looking forward to a new assignment and it is likely that the deal with New York-based Queensboro is likely to be announced in the coming weeks.

Barcelona coach Quique Setien said he had no interest in a player's price tag when choosing his team after starting Antoine Griezmann on the bench against Celta Vigo.

Griezmann, a €120 million (£107m/$134m) signing from Atletico Madrid last year, was introduced late as Barca were held to a 2-2 draw in Vigo on Saturday.

Setien defended his decision to start Griezmann, who has scored 14 goals in 42 games this season, on the bench.

"I don't take into consideration the player's price tag," Setien told a news conference.

"Last week we chose one specific team, and today we decided on another one. Last week you asked me why Ansu Fati wasn't playing, why Riqui Puig wasn't playing and today why Griezmann isn't playing.

"These are decisions I make and they are technical decisions. They're not made rashly, and they are done with the best of intentions for the team."

France 1998 World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf believes Griezmann's form slump could see the striker lose his national team spot to in-form Manchester United forward Anthony Martial.

Martial has scored 19 goals in 37 appearances and struck a hat-trick during the Red Devils recent 3-0 win against Sheffield United.

"Well [Martial] has a big chance to be in the squad and if he carries on like that I'm sure Didier Deschamps will think about him," Leboeuf told ESPN FC.

"It's true that with the problems that Griezmann is having right now at Barcelona, with Giroud getting older, there is a clear chance for Anthony Martial to be in the squad and to maybe be in the first XI.

"If he's consistent, he's going to be for sure with the national team. He already has been and he's going to be again."

Ex-Barcelona and Brazil star Rivaldo fears Griezmann's place at the club may be under threat and feels it is up to captain Lionel Messi to help boost his confidence.

"Barca have won both their games since the restart, with Antoine Griezmann as a starter, but he continues to be far from the player he was at Atletico Madrid and some are wondering if he may become a 'new Coutinho' at Barcelona," he told Betfair.

"It's harsh to start making those comparisons, but it's up to the player to prove it on the pitch.

"The lack of goals is demotivating and damages Griezmann's confidence, so I believe it's important for Lionel Messi to help him.

"Messi could, for example, let Griezmann take penalties when Barcelona are winning comfortably - just to get the Frenchman scoring - just like he did with Luis Suarez in the past."

Messi set up two goals for Luis Suarez against Celta, but Iago Aspas' 88th-minute equaliser saw Barca held.

Setien's men are a point clear of Real Madrid, who visit Espanyol on Sunday.

Cavin Lobo will have spent over a decade in Kolkata once his his three-year-deal at East Bengal ends after the 2021-22 season.

The 32-year-old, who has been signed by East Bengal for the coming season, is a familiar face in the City of Joy. He has played for East Bengal and ATK during his stint in Kolkata.

In his very first year in Kolkata, Lobo won the Federation Cup (2012). He helped East Bengal win five Calcutta Football League (CFL) titles. He has also won the (ISL) title with ATK (then Atletico de Kolkata) during his first stint at the ISL franchise (in 2014).

"It has been a great journey. I have overcome my injuries over the years and luckily I came back strong. They (East Bengal) have signed good players for this season. Hopefully East Bengal will play in the ISL but even if they play in the I-League it won't make much of a difference," Lobo told Goal.

It was not smooth-sailing for Lobo in Kolkata. He had to endure through testing times with the Red and Golds when he suffered a knee patella injury in 2016 that kept him out of action for nearly seven months. 

"East Bengal had offered me the captaincy in my sixth year with them. I was offered captaincy if I stayed but I just wanted to play in the ISL," he explained of his decision to join ATK on a permanent ahead of the fifth edition of the competition. 

"It wasn't about the money," he added. "Even the (Indian) national team coach that time, Stephen Constantine, was looking at players who played continuously in a competitive environment. So thinking of my chances of playing for India, I joined the ISL. But sadly, I wasn't getting much game time."

During his second stint at ATK (in 2018-19), he was sent on loan twice - to Churchill Brothers in January 2019 and then to Punjab FC, the club he last represented and recorded as many as 15 appearances in a season after nearly a decade.

Lobo began his senior professional career at Sporting Clube de Goa in 2007. Hailing from south Goan district of Canacona, Lobo has had to tough it out given that there was no proper training facilities there before getting his first break at Sporting.

"I was playing on Palolem beach as there is no ground here in Canacona. One of my friends (Valento Pinto) was a goalkeeper at SAI (Sports Authority of India) [football hostel] at that time and he told my brother (Terence) about the trials at SAI as my brother also was interested in football.

"The trials were for U-18 boys and I was the only one who was 15. My father (Manuel) took me for trials to Ponda for three days continuously on his bike," stated the younger of the Lobo brothers.

Terence joined Sesa football academy and the two were reunited at Velsao Pale Sports Club.

Both brothers scored a goal each to shock Dempo SC to a 2-1 defeat on August 19th, 2006 after which Velsao Pale coach Eban Misquita was quoted, "I have no doubt that both Cavin and Terence have great future ahead of them as they simply played to their potential and earned a deserving win for us."

The next season, the brothers would continue their playing career together at Sporting Clube de Goa after former coach of the club, Peter Valles, suggested their names to the Panjim-based club's president Peter Vaz. The duo were incidentally among the scorers in the 2-0 win over Velsao Pale in the semi-finals of the 9th Goa Governor's Cup that Sporting eventually won by beating Dempo 1-0 in the final.

"We used to travel (70 kms. one way) every day from early morning. We (Terence and Cavin) travelled with Luis (Barreto), Felipe (Gomes) and Wilton (Gomes) in their car, five of us together," said Cavin.

Following Cavin's third year at Sporting where he wasn't able to gather enough play time due to injury, he redeemed himself in the 64th Santosh Trophy with four goals before losing to West Bengal in the semi-final, which earned him a call from Armando Colaco to join Dempo.

"Dempo had a powerful squad at that time. So I didn't get many chances to play other than in the Goa league. (Former Mumbai FC player) Nicholas Rodrigues told (former Mumbai FC coach) Khalid Jamil about me. That time the I-League was the big (top) league. I played almost all games (for Mumbai FC) that season and that is when I got the offer from East Bengal.

"Who will say no to East Bengal, I thought. It's such a big club. I didn't even imagine (such a move). I thought I would play (at Mumbai) for one more season and then look for a bigger club. So without thinking much, I agreed to play with them (East Bengal).

"Initially, I was a bit nervous to play in front of such a big crowd, especially at the (Kolkata) derbies (against Mohun Bagan). After gaining confidence by playing in front of the crowds, I really started enjoying myself in Kolkata. I had good offers from many clubs but I decided to stay there," he revealed.

"Good (Goan) players can play for longer in Kolkata. Like Rowllin Borges was playing continuously and he could have stayed for longer but then he got an offer from ISL (NorthEast United)," Cavin, who also turned out in Kerala Blasters colours in ISL 2015, concluded.

Lobo, now returning to Kolkata, will hope to bring back his best form to his old stomping grounds.

"It's a great feeling to go back to East Bengal. The people in Kolkata like me and I like them too," he said.

Hansi Flick insisted he was giving no thought to Thiago Alcantara potentially leaving Bayern Munich, with the midfielder linked with a move to Liverpool.

Thiago, 29, is out of contract at the Bundesliga club next year, with Premier League champions Liverpool reportedly his most likely destination if he leaves.

But Flick is eager to keep Thiago, labelling the Spain international an "amazing player".

"I don't think about it at all, that Thiago could leave us," the Bayern coach said after Saturday's 4-0 win over Wolfsburg.

"I have always said that Thiago is an amazing player who can give a lot to a team. Therefore, I do not think about that at all.

"And I think after such a game and such a season, you have to accept as a journalist that not every question can be answered."

Thiago arrived at Bayern from Barcelona in 2013, winning the Bundesliga in each of his seven seasons at the club.

Earlier in the week,  Flick revealed their had been no progress in contract talks with the Italian-born midfielder, but was full or praise about what his player could add to the team.

"There is no [contract] news. We always talk, almost every day, but there is no news," Flick told a news conference before Bayern's final league match against Wolfsburg.

"I see him every day at practice and at the games. There are always so-called experts who have their own opinions. When you see him on the pitch and in training, you see his extraordinary quality in possession of the ball.

"But he has now also shown that he can play against the ball. For me there are no two opinions about Thiago's quality.

"He gives the team a little something extra. He is an exceptional player who gives a team that certain something. That's my opinion and there is no other one."

Bayern completed their successful Bundesliga season by reaching 100 goals, as Kingsley Coman, Mickael Cuisance, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller scored against Wolfsburg.

They are also in a good position to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals having beaten Chelsea 3-0 in the first leg at Stamford Bridge prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 2019-20 Bundesliga top scorer Robert Lewandowski is "the best centre-forward in the world", according to Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Lewandowski scored a second-half penalty as Bayern, already confirmed as champions for an eighth successive season, thrashed Wolfsburg 4-0 to finish their league campaign on a high.

That took Lewandowski's tally for the season to 34 - six more than RB Leipzig's Timo Werner - a figure that represented the Polish striker's best ever return in Germany's top flight.

It is the fifth time former Borussia Dortmund man Lewandowski has finished as the Bundesliga's top scorer and he now has Gerd Muller in his sights, with the Bayern legend having finished as the leading marksman on seven occasions.

Indeed Muller is the only man to have scored more than 34 Bundesliga goals in a season, a feat he achieved on three separate occasions.

"To score 34 goals in one Bundesliga season is an incredible achievement," Rummenigge told Bayern's official website.

"Only 'Der Bomber', Gerd Muller, has ever scored more goals in one campaign.

"I'd like to congratulate and thank Robert Lewandowski. He is the best centre-forward in the world."

Lewandowski's haul came across 31 games and he suggested a full 34-game campaign meant have resulted in an ever better return.

"Unfortunately I missed three matches this campaign," the 31-year-old added.

"I am very pleased with the 34 goals, but of course thanks must go to the team."

Lewandowski has the third-most goals in Bundesliga history having registered 236 times.

Only two men - Muller and Schalke great Klaus Fischer - have found the net more often in the history of Germany's top flight.

Bayern's thumping of Wolfsburg started comfortably as Kingsley Coman got the celebrations started in the fourth minute, latching onto a brilliant through-ball from Thomas Muller and guiding a fine finish across opposition goalkeeper Koen Casteels and into the bottom-left corner.

Lewandowski was denied by Casteels shortly after but there was nothing the Wolfsburg stopper could do to stop Mickael Cuisance's left-footed, 20-yard curler from finding the top-left corner.

After being stopped by Casteels again, Lewandowski finally hit the target in the 72nd minute. The Poland international scored his 34th league goal of the season after Josuha Guilavogui felled the impressive Cuisance.

Bayern made the most of their numerical advantage by scoring a fourth seven minutes later, Muller drilling home at the back post and the celebrations stepped up a gear after the final whistle.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has set his sights on lifting the FA Cup with the Red Devils after he proved an unlikely goal hero in Saturday's quarter-final clash with Norwich. 

United made hard work of Premier League strugglers Norwich at Carrow Road, going ahead in the second half through Odion Ighalo only to be pegged back by Todd Cantwell 15 minutes from the end. 

Maguire then stepped up in extra time to end the last-eight tie, jumping on a loose ball in the Norwich penalty area to beat Tim Krul with just minutes left to play before penalties loomed.

Saturday's victory makes United the first side to seal a place in the FA Cup semi-finals and Maguire is keen to go all the way and lift the famous old trophy. 

"It would mean everything," the centre-back, who joined United from Leicester City in the summer of 2019, told BBC Sport after the final whistle. 

"I joined this club to win trophies, it's a great tournament and hopefully we play a lot better in the semi-final than tonight."

Maguire's late heroics aside, it was a far from vintage performance from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men, who struggled throughout against the relegation-threatened Canaries. 

The Red Devils captain was not certain why his team failed to impress, having comfortably beaten Sheffield United 3-0 in midweek, but insisted that making it through to the semis was more important to United than the nature of their performance.

"It was a difficult game and we made hard work of it. We weren't at our best, but that's what happens in cup games sometimes," he added. 

"We had a tough game in the heat on Wednesday but we made changes so that shouldn't be the reason. I can't really put a finger on it at the moment, we'll have to watch it back and see.

"We played a little slow and went through the middle a bit too much, we should have gone wide a lot more. We're in the semi-final and that's all that matters."

Maguire is also hoping that his match-winning cameo in front of goal pushes him to score more often in United colours.

"I'm always pleased when I chip in, especially when it's a big result in the last minute of extra time," he explained. 

"I'm a bit disappointed that I've only scored three goals, it's something I'm working on and looking to improve between now and the end of the season and hopefully I can carry that into next season."

United and Maguire are back in action on Tuesday, when they visit Brighton in the Premier League.

Quique Setien felt Barcelona lacked a cutting edge, as well as a bit of luck, following the 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo - leaving them with "little margin for error" in the Liga title race.

Luis Suarez scored a brace but Barca were twice unable to hold onto a lead on Saturday, despite dominating for long periods of the game. 

They were impressive in the first half in particular, youngster Riqui Puig catching the eye on his first league start of the season, but only led 1-0 at the break. 

Setien felt the performance in the first 45 minutes deserved more with Barca denied by the woodwork when a Gerard Pique header hit the crossbar prior to Suarez's opener in the 20th minute.

"They took a lot of risks in the last few minutes and they found a goal that gave them a point," Setien told the media. 

"We should not have got into that situation because we were much the better team in the first half.  We had to have gone in at the break with a more comfortable scoreline. 

"We're not in that moment of clarity. 

"We did a lot of things well. It should have been a more comfortable game. 

"We definitely lack conviction to turn our play into goals. The superiority we had in the first half was enough to have won the match and gone into [the second] more relaxed. 

"We're finding it difficult. Scoring is sometimes a question of luck." 

Iago Aspas' late free-kick denied Barcelona victory on the road. While the point picked up is enough to take them top for now, Real Madrid have the opportunity to leapfrog them when they face Espanyol on Saturday.

Zinedine Zidane's squad also have the added cushion of owning the better head-to-head record against their rivals this season.

Setien acknowledges that Barca may now require help from others if they are to retain their crown in Spain.

"We've got little margin for error now and, in theory, we have to win all our games and hope our rival slips up," he admitted. "We'll try to keep picking up maximum points."

Next up for Setien and his players is Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou on Tuesday.

Portia Boakye was on target but her effort counted for nothing as Linda Molthalo was sent off to see Djurgarden bow to a 3-2 defeat against Uppsala in Saturday's Damallsvenskan opening game.

Banyana Banyana star was afforded her Damallsvenskan debut as a substitute in the tie, having bagged a brace in a 4-2 win over AIK on arriving from Chinese side Beijing Phoenix in January.

For Ghana's Boakye, she started her third season campaign with Djurgarden in style since arriving from Ostersunds in 2018 before she grabbed her first goal for the club in the match.

Tilde Lindwall scored the opening goal of the encounter at Studenternas IP as Pierre Fondin's team gained the lead after just eight minutes in the Damasvenskan season opener.

However, the hosts fought their way back with a strike from Sara Olai in the 25th minute but their celebration was shortlived as Boakye put the visitors back in front six minutes later.

Before half time, manager Fondin was forced to make an early change for his visiting team due to injured Fanny Lang, who made way for Molthalo in the 35th minute.

After the restart, Djurgarden held on to their slim lead but the hosts broke their defensive resilience as Cassandra Korhonen cancelled out Boakye's effort to level matters in the 81st minute.

Three minutes later, the South Africa international bagged her first booking for a poor challenge before she was given her marching orders after a second serious foul play inside two minutes.

Having gained a numerical advantage, the home side rallied late to overpower their visitors to claim the crucial winner through substitute Beata Olsson deep inside injury time.

The defeat leaves Djurdgarden in 10th position after a losing start to a new campaign, and they will hope for a winning home start in front of their fans against 12th placed Vaxjo on July 4.

Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela has announced the government resolved to rename Goble Park Stadium after Mike Mokoena. 

The late Free State Stars boss succumbed to cancer at a Johannesburg hospital last week and was laid to rest on Friday. 

He was accorded a special provincial official funeral by South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa as a way of honouring the man who had been involved in football for 43 years. 

"We have resolved as the executive of the Free State provincial government to change the name of Goble Park Stadium to the Mike Mokoena Stadium," said Ntombela at Mokoena's funeral. 

Ntombela said the government aims to speed up the process so that everything is finalised this time next year.   

"So next year, when you come here and you make your way to Goble Park, you will be saying, 'we are going to the Mike Mokoena Stadium'.

"Of course, the necessary processes will be followed. Look, I swear, this one is going to happen," she said.   

Ntombela further revealed they have also done all the necessary research behind the name Goble Park and found that it means nothing to anybody, and therefore Mokoena's name will take over the legacy.  

"We have also checked who Goble was, we are not fighting anyone – it’s just a name from overseas and it means nothing to anybody. So, indeed we were just waiting for Bra Mike to take over. That Goble will be Mike Mokoena Stadium," concluded Ntombela.

Mokoena relocated Stars from Qwaqwa to Bethlehem soon after returning to the PSL in the early 2000s, and this has been their home ground for decades with Charles Mopeli Stadium used as their alternative ground until around 2013.   

Mokoena formed the club now known as Free State Stars in 1977 but at the time, it was known as Makwane Computer Stars.

It was under Mokoena's leadership that the club gained promotion to the National Premier Soccer League in 1986. 

Stars won two major trophies in the professional ranks - the 1994 Coca Cola Cup and the Nedbank Cup in 2018. 

The Bethlehem-based side got relegated in 2019 after finishing 16th at the end of the 2018/19 season. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised his substitutes after Manchester United booked their place in the FA Cup semi-final following a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Norwich.

United had struggled against the Canaries in the quarter-final clash at Carrow Road after Solskjaer made eight changes to the side that easily beat Sheffield United in the Premier League on Wednesday.

The rhythm and fluidity to United’s attack had disappeared and the Norwegian explained it was the result of making so many changes.

“We’re really happy with going through, Jesse (Lingard) and the others that hadn’t played and needed another game, they needed minutes to get the sharpness back and in that respect this worked out really well,” he said after Harry Maguire's extra-time winner saw off 10-man Norwich.

“The difference between training and games, the competitive edge, will help them in the next few months.

“This team, they played together against Derby in the last round, it took us too long to get into rhythm of trusting ourselves passing between the lines, one and two touches, we moved the ball a little bit too slowly. We kept prodding and we got the goals we needed.”

Solskjaer became the first manager to utilise the option to use six substitutes, after the game had headed into extra time, and they needed the firepower off the bench and a red card for Timm Klose to push them to victory.

While Solskjaer praised the impact of all the substitutes, he was particularly impressed with Anthony Martial.

“I thought Anthony came on and did really well, he made a little bit of a difference, runs down the channel, some great sprints and turns, he was positive, with 10 men we knew we had 30 minutes, we had to keep prodding and take our chances,” Solskjaer said.

“With them being down to 10 men and us having dominated it was time to put all hands to the pump, get the forwards on, get Nemanja (Matic) playing centre-back, we only ended with one centre-back with Harry. Sometimes it doesn’t work as hoped, in training it looks great and on paper it looks great, they were really organised and they tired towards the end.”

Solskjaer also praised Odion Ighalo after the striker scored his fifth goal in four starts for the club.

“It was very important (to keep him at the club), that was important for me and we worked hard to do it, Odion knows how much we value him in and around the dressing room, he’s a goal scorer, a poacher, he’s strong, we can play the ball into him, he showed for the second and Paul (Pogba) found him,” Solskjaer said.

“He’s performing well but it also gives me the chance to rotate with Marcus (Rashford), Anthony and Mason (Greenwood) so they can get a rest and we’re fresh for every game.”