The Brazilian midfielder is looking forward to the arrival of the 34-year-old and believes the Liverpool icon will add a lot to the league

Orlando City star Kaka is relishing the opportunity to pit his wits against Steven Gerrard in MLS next season.

The Liverpool captain is set to join LA Galaxy in July, bringing an end to a 26-year association with the Anfield club.

Kaka moved to Orlando ahead of the 2015 MLS season and he believes Gerrard – who he faced in two Champions League finals during his time with Milan – will be a big boost to the league.

“I have good memories of Gerrard,” the Brazilian told Sky Sports.

“He was one of the players I loved to watch. I like the way that he plays and the way that he moves on the field. I’m so happy he’s coming to play here. It’s going to help the league a lot.

“I’m not sure I’m in a position to give him some advice for the league, but it’s very competitive, so he will need to be ready to be competitive with his new team.

“It’s a great experience to play in America in this league with this team and this project. I’m so happy here. Being the superstar of the league is not a pressure, it’s a big motivation.”

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The former Roja striker, who scored 34 goals for his country in a 14-year international career, has told Goal that the Gunners’ talisman will be vital for the tournament hosts

Chile legend Ivan Zamorano has praised Alexis Sanchez’s “superhuman efforts” and believes he will be the leading man for his country at this summer’s Copa America.

Arsenal star Sanchez has had a fine debut season in English football, having scored 24 goals for the club in all competitions since joining from Barcelona last summer.

His performances have helped Arsenal reach the FA Cup final and finish the Premier League season strongly and Zamorano feels the 26-year-old will be crucial to the hosts’ hopes of winning the tournament for the first time.

“He is the leading figure for us,” Zamorano told Goal. “Because of the level that he has displayed at Arsenal, he is the card we can play to do something different.

“When he has the ball something always happens and that is a good thing. If he plays well, we have a good chance. Let’s hope the other 10 are also in top form. He can be as good as he wants, although he can still improve. He will do very well for the team.”

Zamorano, who enjoyed a formidable partnership with Marcelo Salas during the 1990s, also highlighted some of the other key components of Jorge Sampaoli’s current squad a year on from their World Cup elimination at the hands of Brazil.

“[Claudio] Bravo has amply demonstrated that he has the leadership qualities to take the team forward. Through his attitude and courage, Gary Medel can lift the side.

“Arturo Vidal, with what it means to have triumphed in Italian football which I believe is the most difficult in the world, can affect many from a human and sporting viewpoint – he is very mature.

“We already know what Alexis represents, he is a boy you enjoy watching play, the superhuman effort he puts in.

Chile will take on Mexico, Ecuador and Bolivia in Group A, while Argentina are in Group B alongside Uruguay, Paraguay and Jamaica, with Brazil battling Colombia, Peru and Venezuela in Group C.

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The 44-year-old admits he might not celebrate if his side score at Camp Nou but insists he won’t allow emotion to cloud his thinking

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola says he isn’t returning to Barcelona on Wednesday for a tribute and is fully focused on knocking his former club out of Europe.

The former Blaugrana coach faces his old side for the first time since leaving in 2012, as the two teams meet at Camp Nou in the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final.

The pre-match build-up has been dominated by Guardiola’s return to Catalunya – where he enjoyed success as both a player and coach – but though he admits it will be an emotional night, he is refusing to allow sentiment to get in the way of his ultimate goal.

“It’s wonderful to be back,” he said on Tuesday.

“Obviously it’s very special for me because I have been at this club for many years. Now I am with Bayern and I am here for the match tomorrow – that’s my job and I have to do my best.

“I knew that if I coached great clubs that there would be a possibility to return here. This is the first time of course. I am not here for a tribute. I am here to do my job.

“We have to score, it will be difficult to play well in Munich if we don’t score here. We need at least one goal. It’s virtually impossible to just defend here.

“Barcelona are an important part of my life but I am here to win. We have prepared to give our best and I will be very happy if we score a goal, but I don’t know what my reaction will be.”

The current Barcelona side still contains many of the names who worked under Guardiola between 2008 and 2012, and the 44-year-old admitted his inside knowledge may well be an advantage.

He continued: “It’s hard to find weak points with so much talent. Barca always want to have the ball. We’ll see who comes out on top there and reaches the final.

“They have enormously talented players, they are the ones taking decisions on the pitch. Their players know me. But they don’t know my players. Maybe we can surprise them.”

Bayern head into the game with a host of first team players missing through injury, including forward pair Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, as well as defender David Alaba.

Striker Robert Lewandowski is also a doubt, but Guardiola refused to use their respective absences as an excuse for a potentially below-par display.

“If we had complained about injuries, we wouldn’t have won the Bundesliga already, we wouldn’t have reached the semi-finals of the German Cup or these semi-finals. I have never complained about bad luck with injuries and I won’t do it now.

“I’m going to talk today about who’s playing tomorrow and who isn’t. [Robert] Lewandowski has trained and I will speak to him [before deciding if he will feature]. I need all my players to be 100 per cent fit.

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The manager says he is keen to keep his squad together as he plans to challenge Chelsea for the title next season, emphasising his desire to only sign the very best

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will only look to sign world-class talent in this summer’s transfer window.

The Gunners defeated Hull City 3-1 at the KC Stadium on Monday night, hauling them back level on points with second-place Manchester City, over whom they have a game in hand.

The club’s marquee summer signing, Alexis Sanchez, scored twice against the Tigers and Wenger says the north Londoners will look to acquire a similar calibre of player this summer.

“We have a big squad and we have to see now how we finish. We want to focus now on finishing the season well and then we will see what we can do, but the basis is there to build on,” he told reporters.

“We do not need to buy a number of players. If we find top, world-class players we look at it but we have a very strong squad already in numbers, and the basis is to get together, stay together, and start well next season.”

Chelsea secured the Premier League title on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace but Wenger believes Arsenal will be in contention next year.

He added: “Give me a little breather until August.

“What is at stake now is to finish the season well. If we maintain our run then we will finish second and we still have the FA Cup final – we will see where we are after that.

“I am always optimistic, because in this job if you are pessimistic, you don’t go far.

“I feel like we have made progress and Chelsea was the winner this year because they’ve been the most consistent team of all.

“Let’s finish well, prepare well for next season and give them a good fight.”

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