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La Liga has revealed why they picked Young Africans (Yanga SC) over their Mainland League rivals Simba SC for a historic strategic consultancy agreement.

La Liga, in conjunction with Sevilla FC, entered into a deal that targets to help the record Tanzanian league champions transform in various development aspects.

The deal, signed in June and expected to run for three years, will see the Timu Ya Wananchi advised on management and activities with the fans, digital transformation, marketing and sales, economic control, digitalisation or international development.

In an exclusive interview with Goal, Juan Botella, La Liga Regional Manager Africa, explained why they settled on Yanga for the project.

“Yanga and Simba are the two top teams of the country so they both have a huge fan base,” stated Botella.

“Looking specifically at Yanga, the most awarded club in the country, we do not have to forget some of Yanga figures; it boasts a large community on social networks, they are not just numbers, but the level of engagement is huge.

“Just think that during the official presentation of the deal, after an hour of the streaming event, more than 3000 people were still connected to YouTube and continued to send messages of gratitude.

“They have 27 Premier League titles [with five wins across the last 10 years], four Tanzania FA Cups, five Cecafa Club Cups, and the club also has leading sponsors in their fields.”

Botella revealed specific objectives of the pact and why he thinks it will succeed in the end.

“In La Liga we want all the clubs to improve and our main objective is the professionalization of football in the world. In this case, we are working with Yanga and it’s going really well,” said Botella.

“We share a dream, a common vision with Yanga that a Tanzanian club could become and inspire other entities not just in the country but also in the rest of Africa. It was very easy since the beginning to work together.

“When we start talking about this collaboration, we both envision the transformation of Yanga and how the club could achieve its huge potential beyond their own limits. That makes everything easier.”

The official further stated why La Liga chose Tanzania over other African countries as their ideal destination for such a strategic project.

“Africa has become a strategic region for La Liga, with the biggest increase in TV audience and a great interest in our clubs,” Botella concluded.

“Tanzania is one of the key countries of the region, where we are achieving great opportunities and we feel completely at home.

“We have had a permanent presence in the country for over three years which allows us to be the European league with the greatest understanding of the country and its socio-cultural importance.”

Jose Maria Cruz, who is the Director of Sevilla, on Friday revealed the club's coaches will travel to the East African nation when the coronavirus-related travel restrictions are lifted in order to implement the objectives of the pact.

Do you consider yourself a huge fan of the Indian football? How abreast are you when it comes to developments in and around the Indian football ecosystem?

Do you keep track of the various records and unique achievements of coaches in the I-League?

Then this edition of Goal 's 'Sharp Minds' quiz is for you.

As we see football take a backseat among the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, here's your chance to while away some time.

We will bring you a set of 10 questions, a mixture of easy and tough ones, every week on Indian football. Try answering them on your own (without googling, we hope) and see how much you know about Indian football.

Share your scores with others and showboat. The latest edition of Sharp Minds is right here. Have fun.

NOTE : You are welcome to contact us through social media, if you need any clarification on the answers. We will try, to the best of our abilities, to explain.

In the I-League era, East Bengal were at their very best between 2010 and 2013 under the tutelage of British coach Trevor James Morgan when they won every single trophy in India bar the I-League.

They bagged eight trophies in those three seasons including two Federation Cup titles and were arguably the most consistent team in the country.

Nigerian midfielder Penn Orji, a key player in Trevor Morgan’s arsenal, spoke to Goal about the time he had spent at the Kolkata club.

Orji was all praises for the British coach as he said, “Wow Morgan! Even now we keep in touch with each other. He is a great coach, a great man and a great mentor. If JCT was a foundation for me in Indian football, East Bengal was where I blossomed.

“Morgan was tremendous. I learned so much. When I met Morgan, he handed me a role that was precious and that role really suited my kind of play. It made it our team so dangerous. I was like a nightmare to any club I played at that time.”

The midfielder emphasised on the fact that East Bengal were successful at that time because of the unity in the squad.

He said, “If you watch that team, there were no best players. We played as a team, functioned as a unit. It was a collective effort. Mohun Bagan at that time had excellent individual players but we were a team.

"We played a beautiful style of football. A lot of coaches during that time tried to imitate us but couldn’t as they did not have the right set of players. So kudos to Morgan, he did a really good job.”

Unfortunately, even after playing good football consistently for three seasons, the I-League title remained elusive to the Red and Golds. There were times East Bengal would within touching distance of the league title, only for them to let the advantage slip.

Orji said, “To be honest what I regret the most during my time at East Bengal was the I-League. I enjoyed everything else. My only regret is that I did not win the league. We won every single tournament in India but just couldn’t win the league. Every year we came very close. In all the seasons, we missed it by one or two points. There were one or two mistakes. If one or two things went our way, the league would have been our property. But this is what life is all about and football is about.”

Even after Orji and Morgan's departure, East Bengal have continued to come up short when it mattered in the I-League title race, finishing second on multiple occasions despite having some very good players and coaches. The midfield lynchpin suggested that the Kolkata giants must undergo a structural change if they want to bag the I-League.

“I watched a couple of games in 2019-20, they had a couple of good players. They played well and had a good coach (Alejandro Menendez) but why they didn’t win the league, I don’t know. The answer lies within the team. As soon as they recognise it, fix it then the league will be theirs. They have what it takes to win the league.

“There has to be some restructuring in all aspects so that they can move forward. You cannot keep on doing the same thing and expect a different result.”

It’s fair to say that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United did not get off to the best of starts after the coronavirus break.

While the Red Devils seemed to approach their opening fixture after a three-month absence in buoyant mood – aided in no small part to Marcus Rashford’s admirable efforts for charity – they were rapidly brought back down to earth at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as they fell behind to a goal from Steven Bergwijn.

From a defensive perspective, it was a disappointing goal to concede, with the Dutchman allowed to gather possession around 40 yards from goal and cut a path easily through the defence before blasting a shot through David de Gea.

It was the latest mistake from the keeper, who was once considered one of the best in the world in his position but who has struggled to find his best form for several months. 

While the Spain international should have done more than palm the opening goal into the roof of the net, it was a move that should have been stopped closer to source as Harry Maguire was much too easily beaten by the exciting attacker, as the world’s most expensive defender was slow on the turn.

Unsurprisingly, the reaction to the goal on social media was brutal.

Roy Keane’s passionate rant about the goalkeeper’s shortcomings also inspired numerous posts as well. 

Jennifer Cudjoe has signed for National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) side Sky Blue, the American club has confirmed.

The Ghana international joined Freya Coombe's team on a six-month deal from Women's Premier Soccer League side Chattanooga Lady Red Wolves after her excellent outing last season.

Cudjoe will be joining Sky Blue with a wealth of international experience after she had represented Ghana at the U17 and U20 Women’s World Cups and now starring for the Black Queens

At club level, the 26-year-old launched her career in the US at Northeastern State University, where she earned the NJCAA Player of the Year award in 2014 with WPSL side Asheville City SC.

The Black Queens midfielder was signed along with midfielder Nicole Baxter and defender Cassidy Benintente for this year's NWSL Challenge Cup which commences on June 27.

Commenting on her signing, head coach Freya Coombe expressed his delight, while extolling the qualities of the Ghanaian midfielder. 

"Jennifer was a surprise coming out of open tryouts and is a great addition, bringing a different dimension to our offense as well as adding quality on both sides of the ball,” Coombe told the  club website .

Having completed her move, the Northeastern State University graduate will be the second African at the club after Cameroon international Estella Johnson, who arrived in January 2019.

Cudjoe will be hoping for an impactful outing on her first professional campaign when the Sky Blue take the field in the 2020 season as they start their season against OL Reigns on June 30.

Bruno Fernandes converted a late penalty won by Paul Pogba to secure Manchester United a 1-1 draw away at top-four rivals Tottenham on Friday.

Steve Bergwijn's 27th-minute opener appeared set to give Jose Mourinho a much-needed victory over his former employers, with Spurs aiming to make a late charge to qualify for next season's Champions League.

However, United were rewarded for an improved second-half display with a deserved equaliser, Pogba - on as a substitute as he returned after a long injury lay-off - producing a burst into the box that tempted a rash challenge from Eric Dier.

Fernandes showed excellent composure to fire home from 12 yards out, sending Hugo Lloris the wrong way, as the visitors extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 12 games. 

It appeared the Portuguese would have the chance to score again from the spot when referee Jonathan Moss adjudged he had been fouled by Dier in the 90th minute, but a VAR check reversed the on-field call.

Still, United's equaliser denied their old boss from closing the gap in the Premier League table, meaning the fifth-placed Red Devils remain four points clear of Spurs. 

Marcus Rashford – who had raised his right fist skywards as he took a knee along with the rest of the players in support of the Black Lives Matter movement prior to kick-off – was denied a goal on his comeback during a tepid first half following the coronavirus-enforced break, his snap shot kept out by Lloris' left foot. 

Not long after the reprieve, Spurs opened the scoring at the other end thanks to a player of their own back in action again. 

Bergwijn – unavailable prior to the break due to an ankle injury - glided beyond Harry Maguire before unleashing a firm right-footed shot that David de Gea failed to keep out, the ball striking the goalkeeper and going up into the net. 

De Gea did better when turning Son Heung-min's header over before the break yet was largely a spectator for the rest of proceedings, a tiring Spurs team pinned back as they attempted to preserve their narrow lead.

Lloris spectacularly denied fellow Frenchman Anthony Martial but was finally beaten in the 81st minute, Fernandes tucking away the opportunity to secure a point.

What does it mean? Drawing the positives

Knocked out of the FA Cup and the Champions League prior to the interruption in the campaign, Spurs have now gone seven games without a win, albeit this was an improved display. 

Mourinho appeared set for the kind of grind-it-out success he built his reputation on. Instead, United's strength in depth made a difference to the outcome, with a point apiece good news for fourth-placed Chelsea, who travel to Aston Villa on Sunday.

Fernandes shows his class again 

Rashford was the player in focus, having already enjoyed a high-profile success off the field when successfully lobbying for the extension of the food voucher scheme offered to vulnerable school children. However, Fernandes again caught the eye. He has now been involved in six goals, scoring three, in the Premier League since his arrival in January.

Dave saves? Perhaps not 

De Gea's failure to deal with Bergwijn's right-footed drive led to a stinging assessment from Roy Keane. Summarising for Sky Sports, the former United skipper said of the Spaniard: "He is the most overrated goalkeeper I have seen in a long time." His position as number one at the club will no doubt come into question again, particularly with Dean Henderson impressing while on loan at Sheffield United. 

Key Opta facts

- Spurs are winless in seven games in all competitions (D3 L4), their worst run since November 2016 (also seven without a win). 
- Manchester United are unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions (W8 D4), scoring 30 goals and conceding just three in that run. 
- Steven Bergwijn became only the second player to score in his first three home Premier League appearances for Spurs, after Rafael van der Vaart in 2010. 
- Since the start of last season, Manchester United have both taken (23) and scored (16) more penalties than any other Premier League side.  
- Jose Mourinho has won none of his last six matches against his former clubs in all competitions (D2 L4), taking just one point from four Premier League matches against Chelsea and United this season (D1 L3). 

What's next?  

Spurs have home advantage again on Tuesday when they welcome West Ham. As for United, they are in action the following day, hosting another team with top-four hopes in Sheffield United.

Steven Bergwijn wrote himself into the Tottenham history books after his strike against Manchester United on Friday ensured he continued his flying start to life in north London.

Bergwijn skipped past two Red Devils defenders before powering a shot past David De Gea to put Tottenham ahead in the 27th minute at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It was the Netherlands forward’s third goal for Tottenham in three home Premier League appearances since his £25 million ($33m) move from PSV in January, following strikes in the victory over Manchester City and defeat to Wolves.

In doing so Bergwijn became just the second player to score in each of their first three Premier League home games for the club after his compatriot Rafael van der Vaart, who notched in games against Wolves, Aston Villa and Everton in the autumn of 2010 following his summer move from Real Madrid.

Van der Vaart would go on to score 15 goals in 35 appearances in his debut season in north London, with the club finishing fifth in the Premier League and reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The assist was credited to Serge Aurier, his eighth of the season. Only Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has more assists in all competitions among Premier League defenders than the Ivorian with 14.

The goal was not enough to earn Tottenham all three points, however. Bruno Fernandes, who like Bergwijn moved to the Premier League in January, converted a penalty with nine minutes remaining after substitute Paul Pogba had been fouled by Eric Dier in the area to earn Manchester United a point.

It was Fernandes’ fourth goal in 11 appearances for the Red Devils since his move from Sporting during the winter window.

The Portuguese thought he had the chance to double his tally and secure all three points when referee Jon Moss pointed to the spot again after the midfielder went down under a challenge by Dier. But replays showed there was no contact between the two players, with the VAR official overuling the decision.

The draw meant Manchester United missed the chance to overtake Chelsea and move into fourth place. Tottenham meanwhile stay eighth and are now without a win in six games in all competitions.

Frank Lampard has no qualms about picking Willian or Pedro this weekend despite their contracts expiring just nine days after the away trip to Aston Villa.

Chelsea are currently locked in talks with the pair about temporary extensions to their contracts so they can finish the season in west London.

However, Pedro has reached a pre-contract arrangement with Italian giants Roma, which is leaving doubts about his availability for the upcoming matches.

Willian hasn't agreed on a move away from Chelsea but he has yet to agree on an extension until the end of the season after his request for a new three-year contract was rejected.

Having seen Ryan Fraser look to leave Bournemouth before the end of the season, Lampard is hoping that his two forwards don't opt to do the same.

Instead, he hopes that they stay on and help his side qualify for \d Champions League football next season.

"We want them to extend their stay and make sure they can see out the season," Lampard told reporters via a Zoom conference call. "I see both sides. I see the individual player because I was one, and I respect that they have both been great servants to the club.

"I’ve had nothing but open conversations with them. We’re just trying to make that extension happen. The players have to be happy. We have to be happy. Hopefully, we can get there before the 23rd of June, next week, because that’s the day we have to get it done by.

"Anyone around us knows that. So we will keep talking and hopefully they stay on."

There are concerns that players negotiating free transfers away from their clubs will be cautious about lining up due to the risk of getting injured in the final weeks of the season ahead of a lucrative move.

Lampard has refuted suggestions that Pedro has told him that he is unwilling to play and he knows he can rely on his two elder statesmen.

"Pedro is certainly available," he continued. "He actually had a bit of a bang on his ankle last week but he’s fit and wanting to train. He’s going to get some painkillers. It’s one of those impact kind of injuries that hang around a bit but he’s training well.

"So is Willian. I have got absolutely no worries about motivation. They are both top class professionals and have been great servants to the club. They’ve trained really well in this last three-and-a-half week period, which has been a tough physical period for them.

"I’ve got no issues at all with their motivation. Every time they put on a Chelsea shirt, as they have done for years, they will give everything."

Indeed, their absences could have left Lampard with problems as Callum Hudson-Odoi missed both their pre-restart friendlies due to a minor ankle knock.

It came after the 19-year-old broke the United Kingdom lockdown to meet a woman who accused him of rape, which is a charge that has since been dropped by the Metropolitan Police.

After keeping in contact with Hudson-Odoi throughout the ordeal, Lampard wants his academy graduate to put it behind him and deliver on the pitch.

"I’m very happy that in the eyes of the law it’s been sorted out," he concluded. "That was my main concern at first. So that’s positive for us. I’m very sympathetic to the idea that we’re not angels or saints and we make mistakes, particularly at a young age.

"I will never be one to come down too harshly, albeit we have had conversations, myself and Callum. The big conversations with Callum now is to make sure he learns his lesson from what happened. He broke lockdown and that wasn’t good enough.

"He has admitted that and we move on. The next thing is to train consistently at a really high level to work hard in training every day. He came back from lockdown and got injured early in this period so now he has to work hard to get fit again.

"As much as the pitfalls off the pitch I want to see how he can work on the training pitch and get into this team, and perform to levels we all believe he can. It doesn’t come easy. That’s the big thing I say to Callum a lot and something he really has to take on board now."

Mikel Arteta has confirmed he wants to sign Pablo Mari on a permanent basis this summer despite the defender's season-ending injury.

The Spanish defender arrived from Brazilian side Flamengo on loan in January and has made just three appearances for the Gunners.

He was injured during Wednesday night’s defeat at Manchester City and is now expected to miss the remainder of the campaign with ankle ligament damage.

But Arteta says the injury will not change his plans for the summer and that securing Mari permanently remains a priority.

“Yes,” said Arsenal’s head coach, when asked directly if we wants to complete a permanent move for the 26-year-old.

“This cannot be affected just because a player gets injured doing his job and defending our club.”

Arsenal paid Flamengo an initial loan fee of £4.25 million ($5.5m) to take the 26-year-old in January, it was a deal that included an option to make the move permanent for a further figure of £8m ($9.9m) paid in several installments.

Flamengo vice president Marcos Braz said on Friday that a permanent deal was already agreed, something that has since been denied by sources at Arsenal - but Arteta is hoping the Gunners hierarchy take up the option despite the financial uncertainity that is currently surrounding the club.

With William Saliba arriving this summer following his season-long loan at Saint-Etienne, he and Mari could form a new look partnership in the heart of Arsenal’s defence next season.

Meanwhile, Arteta has praised Ainsley Maitland-Niles for the way he has responded to the challenge issued to him just before football was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The young midfielder had struggled for game time under Arteta, making just three brief substitute appearances in two months before lockdown.

And speaking after the FA Cup win at Portsmouth in March, Arteta publicly challenged the 22-year-old to prove to him he wanted to succeed at his boyhood club.

“Ainsley needs to put his head down and work hard and show me every day in training that he wants it more than anyone else, he wants to play for this club and fight for his place,” said Arsenal’s head coach.

It appears those words had the desired impact, with Maitland-Niles coming off the bench midway through the second half of Wednesday night’s 3-0 defeat at City.

And, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brighton in the Premier League, Arteta admits he is much happier with the youngster’s commitment levels and attitude.

“Much better,” said the Spaniard. “We discussed that during the lockdown and he has changed a lot of things, a lot of positive things.

“He is a really honest kid. We know him from the academy and the way he has developed here and he has all the attributes and qualities to become a really important player, it’s up to him.”

Kenneth Omeruo and Chidozie Awaziem featured as Leganes secured a 1-1 draw against Mallorca in Friday’s La Liga game at Visit Mallorca Estadi.

Since the resumption of the Spanish top-flight after the coronavirus break, the Cucumber Growers clinched their first point against the Vermilions.

The Estadio Municipal de Butarque outfit have lost their previous two games against Real Valladolid and league leaders Barcelona.

In an effort to return to winning ways and keep a clean sheet, manager Javier Aguirre paired Omeruo and Awaziem along with Unai Bustinza at the heart of the defence.

It was, however, their hosts that opened the scoring in the ninth minute through Salva Sevilla but they battled to equalize and avoid a third consecutive defeat, with the Super Eagles stars starring.

Omeruo won five aerial contests in the encounter and had a 75% successful pass rate while his compatriot Awaziem played two shots and made one tackle.

Oscar Rodriguez scored the equalizing goal with three minutes left to play to help Leganes pick their 24th point in 30 games this season.

Omeruo featured for the duration of the game while his compatriot Awaziem was on parade for 81 minutes before making way for Javier Aviles.

Cameroonian midfielder Ibrahim Amadou played for 62 minutes before he was replaced by Miguel Angel Guerrero while Ivory Coast international Roger Assale featured for 81 minutes.

The African stars will hope to help Leganes return to winning ways when they face Granada, who will be expected to feature Nigeria’s Ramon Azeez, on June 22.

Omeruo and Awaziem have made 21 league appearances for the Cucumber Growers this campaign and will hope to continue their consistent performances.

The duo are key member of the Super Eagles and were part of the side that won a bronze medal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes has played down a late penalty overturned by VAR in his side’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Friday.

In the Red Devils’ first match back after the coronavirus break, they made a slow start and fell behind in the opening period to a Steven Bergwijn strike.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side mounted a comeback in the second half, drawing level when their January addition from Sporting CP converted from the penalty spot, but they were denied an opportunity to beat Hugo Lloris in identical fashion late in the game.

Initially, they had been awarded a spot-kick after Fernandes went down under pressure under a challenge from Eric Dier, who had been the guilty party when substitute Paul Pogba was felled in similar circumstances earlier in the half. However, the call went to VAR and was overturned when it became evident that there had been no foul.

Fernandes was circumspect over the incident, however.

"At the end, I kicked the ball and then found his foot. The VAR is here to help, if it says no penalty we have to accept," he told Sky Sports .

Meanwhile, he indicated that he felt Man Utd had done a strong evening’s work at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where there were no fans in attendance owing to measures designed to stop the spread of the virus.

"We did very well. It was a difficult game. They scored on the counter but we were in the game. We had a lot of chances,” the playmaker commented.

"We want to win every game bit a good result. After a long stop, we did very well. We have to think about qualifying for the Champions League.”

Since arriving in January, it was the first time he enjoyed competitive pitch time with Paul Pogba, and he says that there is already a connection between the two players.

"When we train in groups, I train with Pogba. I found a good connection with everyone, though,” he said. “Paul won the penalty and I kicked it.”

Man Utd have moved up to fifth in the Premier League standings after Friday’s fixture.

Jean-Pierre Nsame scored a hat-trick as Young Boys defeated FC Zurich 3-2 to move to the top of the Swiss Super League table.

The Swiss top-flight resumed on Friday after a four-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic since February.

Seven minutes after Nigeria's Tosin Aiyegun broke the deadlock at the Stade de Suisse in the 25th minute, the Cameroon international drew the hosts level but Benjamin Kololli restored FC Zurich's lead in the 38th minute as they went into the break ahead.

The visitors preserved their lead after the restart until the final 10 minutes of the encounter when Nsame scored two quick-fire goals to turn the game around in favour of Gerardo Seoane’s side.

The 27-year-old equalised for Young Boys in the 81st minute and scored the match-winning goal four minutes later.

The hat-trick stretched Nsame’s tally to 21 goals after 22 games in the Swiss Super League this season, making him the league’s top scorer and two goals short of his personal goalscoring record in a single season.

It was also the second time the Indomitable Lions forward scored three goals in a league game this campaign, having previously scored three against Sion back in November.

The victory shot Young Boys to the summit of the league table with 48 points after 24 matches, three points above second-placed St. Gallen who have an outstanding fixture.

Nsame was in action alongside his compatriot Moumi Ngamaleu who was later replaced in the 66th minute.

Young Boys will be aiming to build on Friday’s win when they visit bottom-placed Thun for their next league fixture on Tuesday.

After developing his game in French Ligue 1 club Angers, Nsame moved to Swiss second division side Servette in 2016 where he spent a season before teaming up with the Boys a year later.

Internationally, the Douala-born attacker has made two appearances for the Indomitable Lions so far since his debut call-up in 2017.

He made his Cameroon debut against Nigeria during the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in 2017, and he featured in an international friendly against Zambia two years later in Majadahonda before the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Jose Mourinho bemoaned the lack of options available to him in the wake of Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Manchester United , saying that he has "no bench to react" to Friday's Premier League return.

Spurs were playing their first match since the coronavirus outbreak, facing off with fellow top-four hopefuls Manchester United in a match that saw the two teams split points behind goals from Steven Bergwijn and Bruno Fernandes.

As a result of the extended break, several key Tottenham players returned to health, with Harry Kane and Heung-min Son returning to the lineup after injuries early this season.

However, Mourinho was left without Dele Alli and Lucas Moura on the day, with the former suspended while the latter missed out due to an injury suffered in training.

Without the duo, Mourinho turned to the likes of Gedson Fernandes and Giovani Lo Celso, only using two of the five substitutes permitted as part of the Premier League's return.

"Happy with things and unhappy with others," Mourinho told Sky Sports following the draw. "What did I like? I liked the team attitude, organisation, control, being solid. Giving to United what they don't like.

"Unhappy with the fact that the way I was reading the game I had no bench to react to it. When they became more dominant we were tired up front and could not press."

He added: "The players did fantastic work defensively - they had two dangerous shots that Hugo Lloris saved and nothing else. Everything else was under control. For 70 minutes, when we had the energy, we were strong with the ball and we knew what we wanted to do.

"I have to admit for the last 15 minutes I would love to have had Lucas Moura here, Dele Alli here. The last 15 minutes were difficult for us.

"Lucas and Dele are players we need and we could feel that today. When you look to their bench and then to ours the difference in attacking options. Hopefully, they will be back for West Ham because in this moment it is very, very important to change players."

Mourinho pointed to the wealth of options on Manchester United's bench, with his counterpart, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, turning to Paul Pogba, Odion Ighalo, Mason Greenwood, Nemanja Matic and Eric Bailly, with Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard among the unused substitutes.

"It was not just Paul," he said. "They had Ighalo, they had Jesse, which is a guy who can change a game, Juan. That's what the five changes can do when you have options."

Spurs will be back in action on Tuesday as they play host to West Ham, while Manchester United are at home to Sheffield United on Wednesday. 

Jose Mourinho is now without a win in his last six matches against his former clubs after Tottenham could only draw 1-1 against Manchester Unite d on their return to Premier League action.

A late penalty from Bruno Fernandes cancelled out Steven Bergwijn’s first-half opener at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday evening to deny Mourinho victory against the side he left 18 months ago.

It means the Portuguese has now lost four and drawn two of his last six matches against his former clubs in all competitions, taking just one point from four Premier League games against Chelsea and Manchester United this season.

To add to Mourinho’s frustration, the draw extends what was already the worst winless run of his managerial career. The north London club are now without a victory in seven games in all competitions, losing four and drawing three, their worst run for nearly four years.

That poor run includes a Champions League defeat by RB Leipzig and penalty shootout loss to Norwich in the FA Cup immediately prior to the coronavirus shutdown in March, ending any hopes of lifting silverware for this season.

They also face a battle to qualify for the Champions League next campaign, with Friday’s draw leaving them in down eighth place in the Premier League, six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea who travel to Aston Villa on Sunday.

That stuttering run of form is in sharp contrast to their opponents Manchester United, who are now without defeat in 12 matches, winning eight and drawing four. They have scored 30 goals in that time while conceding just three.

It is the club’s best run of form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, eclipsing the 11-match unbeaten run at the start of his Red Devils tenure in December 2018.

That form has raised hopes of securing a place in the Champions League next season, with the club now just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

They also remain in the Europa League, where they hold a 5-0 lead first-leg over LASK in the last-16, and the FA Cup, where they take on Norwich in the rearranged quarter-final on June 27.

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has defended goalkeeper David de Gea after he came in for some stinging criticism from Roy Keane for his performance in the 1-1 draw at Tottenham.

Keane said he would have been “swinging punches” at De Gea had he been in the Man Utd dressing room at half-time after the Spaniard failed to keep out Steven Bergwijn’s first-half drive.

The former Red Devils skipper went on to say he was “sick to death” of De Gea after what he perceives as a succession of high-profile mistakes, claiming he should get a taxi back up to Manchester after the game instead of on the team bus.

Solskjaer has leapt to the defence of his goalkeeper, who also made a fine stop to deny Son Heung-Min, joking his former team-mate Keane would not have done much better.

“Well I’m disappointed to [see them] score the first time they have a chance and the boy hit it really well,” he said. “Roy was a fantastic midfielder, a good friend of mine, I'm not sure he would have stopped it either.

“David is disappointed with it but the ball is moving through the air, we reacted well after that one and he had a good save five minutes after, we had a bad spell for 10 minutes and they looked like they could get a second.”

The Red Devils were much improved after the break and came close to equalising when Anthony Martial’s effort was superbly upped over by Hugo Lloris. They did eventually claw themselves level through Bruno Fernandes’ penalty with nine minute’s left after Paul Pogba had been fouled by Eric Dier.

The draw means United are now just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and extends their unbeaten run in all competition to 12 matches.

"Good performance, disappointed with the one point. I think we deserved more. I think the performance deserved three points,” added Solskjaer.

"We started off slow, dominated possession yes but too slow then we conceded a sloppy goal - disappointed with that one. We had a bad five minutes after that one but after that I think it was only a matter of time before we got the goal.

"Hugo Lloris made a fantastic save and we should have had more goals."

​Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking forward to seeing more of Paul Pogba in Manchester United’s starting XI after his successful return from injury against Tottenham. 

The midfielder made an instant impact off the bench in the final half hour during the 1-1 draw on Friday night - in his first appearance since Boxing Day.

Manchester United were trailing to Steven Bergwijn’s first-half strike and it was Pogba who won the decisive penalty which earned his side a vital point as his neat footwork got the better of Eric Dier.

Plenty had been said about the Frenchman’s long-term future at Old Trafford with some doubting the midfielder would ever play for the club again, but Solskjaer is happy to have the World Cup-winning midfielder back.

"I think Paul always has a point to prove to himself and us. He expects a lot. He wants to be the best, loves football and has had such a frustrating season with his injuries," Solskjaer said. 

"There'll always be talk about big players. For me, Paul's shown today how he can contribute. He tackled, won the ball, created chances and had the skill to win us a penalty. I look forward to getting him fitter and gradually we'll see him more and more.

"It’s not a problem having a fit Paul Pogba in the squad, we're delighted to have him back."

The match saw Pogba play alongside January signing Bruno Fernandes for the first time, with the two making the difference as the Portuguese midfielder finished off the penalty that Pogba won.

And Solskjaer is looking forward to having the two grow together, having gotten a taste of what they can do. 

"It is a definite partnership that we want to build on," he told BBC Radio. "They have trained together now they have had half an hour on the pitch together.

"We want the best players on the pitch of course and want to find a balance in the team."

He added: "[Pogba] has had horrific injury-hit season and he is desperate to make up for lost time.

"It is great to see him show his qualities and the contribution he made was big in us getting a penalty. I think he showed how good he is as an all-round midfielder."

Pogba, Fernandes and Manchester United will face Sheffield United on Wednesday in their next Premier League match.

Montpellier striker Andy Delort has rated the Ligue 1 as the most complete league in the world ahead of the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A.

The Algeria international has spent most of his career in France, playing for Nimes, Tours, Caen and Toulouse among others.

The 28-year-old forward has also played in England with Championship side Wigan Athletic and in the Mexican Liga MX with Tigres UANL.

Delort reveals the French top-flight is physical and technical which he feels make it one of the best in the world.

“I think that Ligue 1 is the most complete league that there is. There are physical players, tactically it's very strong and technically too,” Delort said in an Instagram Live.

“In Mexico, there was very little tactics and a lot more technique involved, but it was not very physical. In England, it is physical: it is a fight for 90 minutes.  I played over there, I know how it is. When I arrived, they made me put on 4 or 5 kgs, I had enormous arms! I am already 84kg.

“They have a really physical culture: you push, you push, you push! It is true that each league is different, you have to succeed in adapting. With Algeria too, in Africa, it is physical, sometimes difficult against certain teams.”

Delort joined Montpellier in the summer of 2018 before the Stade de la Mosson outfit signed him permanently in June 2019 following his impressive showings.

The forward was one of the standout players for Michel Der Zakarian’s men in the recently ended 2019-20 season.

The striker scored 12 goals and provided three assists in 31 appearances for the Paillade across all competitions last campaign.

Delort was part of the Algerian squad that won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title in Egypt after he was drafted in as a late replacement for Haris Belkebla.

The forward has seven appearances for the North Africans and will hope to continue his impressive form in the 2020-21 season.

Pep Guardiola said Ederson's ugly collision with Manchester City team-mate Eric Garcia is "part of football" and did not feel the need to speak to his goalkeeper about the incident.

Teenage centre-back Garcia was clattered at full speed by an on-rushing Ederson late in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

Garcia needed treatment on the pitch for several minutes before being taken away on a stretcher and spent the night in hospital after sustaining a concussion.

City boss Guardiola confirmed Garcia will have to miss between a week and 10 days due to Premier League protocols but insists no blame can be apportioned to Ederson for the accidental clash.

"No [I have not spoken to Ederson about it]," Guardiola said of his number one, who visited his team-mate in hospital.

"The way we play, he has to play upfront and he has to react to the situation in a second. 

"It's part of football. Everybody knows that Ederson doesn't want to hurt any opponent or a mate. It has happened."

On Garcia, he added: " As you know, the Premier League rules with concussion in the head he has to have one week to 10 days off. 

"We saw him yesterday after the game, he had a little bit of damage to his face. He slept in the hospital, he feels quite good after what happened with Eddy and we are happy he is back."

It was also confirmed by UEFA this week that the remainder of the Champions League would take place as a straight knockout from the quarter-finals onwards, with all games taking place in Lisbon in August.

City are still in the competition and hold a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid in their paused last-16 tie against Real Madrid from the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

European football's governing body has yet to decide where the remaining four last-16 return matches will take place, with the games possibly being held in Portugal too.

Guardiola will have no qualms if such a decision is made and said City will react to whatever call UEFA makes.

"We are going to adapt to what UEFA says. It is an extraordinary situation around the world, not just football," he added. 

"When the Premier League said we have to do it, we have to do it. If UEFA says that for health and security reasons, we are going to do it. 

"We would love to play in the Etihad as normal but I think UEFA would rather for health and security reasons so we are going to adapt."

Gor Mahia defender Shafik Batambuze has resumed training five months after he underwent surgery.

The dreadlocked player sustained a nasty knee injury while turning out for the Kenyan champions in a Caf Champions League match against Aigle Noir of Burundi, and was forced to undergo surgery.

The injury has kept Batambuze out of action for the entire season and after undergoing successful surgery in November, the player pencilled in June as the month to return to action.

Batambuze has now confirmed he has started light training and could be ready to kick the ball next month.

“My recovering is maturing daily,” the defender is quoted by the club’s official website.

“I have been following the physio program…I started training moving up the ladder and by next month, it’s my hope and prayers that l will be in good shape – it’s time l can’t wait for.”

Batambuze has also appreciated those who stood by him when he picked up the injury and needed money to undergo the surgery.

“It’s been a bit tough…not easy for sure to be in this state as a footballer but thanks to my family, friends, and all those who have been there for me because they have been so supportive in my recovery journey. With their good support, I have managed to get this far,” Batambuze continued.

“With the good and steady progress l have had in the recovery process, by next month l will be engaging in full training and that means, if football is to resume by July, l will be able to join my team-mates. Let’s see how it goes.”

A week ago, Batambuze said in a different interview that his previous timeline of returning to action by July may not materialise as he has struggled in his recovery process.

Batambuze blamed his slow progress on the current lockdown being experienced in his native Uganda, owing to the effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The left-back has previously featured for a number of clubs including SC Villa (Uganda), Western Stima, Sofapaka, Tusker (both of Kenya), and Singida United of Tanzania.

Batambuze became the third Gor Mahia player to undergo Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery in the last calendar year after winger Curtis Wekesa and defender Philemon Otieno were both diagnosed with the same problem and were operated on earlier in the season.