Meddeb: Shaabani to remain in charge of Tunisian champions Esperance

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Dec 20, 2018. 16:00

Esperance head coach Mouine Shaabani feels that his side needs to improve after finishing fifth at the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The African champions secured a victory over beat north and central American champions Chivas Guadalajara of Mexico on penalties on Tuesday.

The encounter ended in a 1-1 draw and Esperance finished fifth at the global tournament after winning the match 6-5 on penalties at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

"We leave this tournament with many lessons to learn," Shaabani said on BBC.

Prior to facing Guadalajara, the Tunisian giants had lost 3-0 to UAE's Al Ain in a quarter-final clash last weekend.

"I was so hard on the players after the first game but I would like to thank them for their efforts today," he added.

"We again conceded a goal very early but we managed to return to the game and show a better face than what we showed against Al Ain."

Esperance president Hamdy Meddeb backed Shaabani, who is expected to continue serving as the club's head coach.

"We have to learn how to mentally prepare for such occasions, in our first defeat against Al Ain we were hit hard by the difficult beginning," Meddeb said.

"Mouine Shaabani will remain the coach of Esperance I believe he has the potential to become a great coach."