Al Ahly coach admits to feeling the pressure

Martin Lasarte

Monday Mar 18, 2019. 12:00

Al Ahly coach Martin Lasarte has admitted to feeling the pressure during his team’s CAF Champions League win over JS Saoura this past weekend.

The Egyptian giants triumphed 3-0 at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria to finish top of Group D and qualify for the quarterfinals.

An own goal from Fateh Talah as well as strikes from Marwan Mohsen and Hussein El Shahat ensured it was a comfortable victory for the Red Devils, but they came into the game with their tournament lives at stake.

“We took advantage of the opposition’s mistakes and that helped us create a lot of chances,” Lasarte was quoted as saying by Kingfut.

“We will take a rest during the international break and then will continue our (Egyptian) Premier League and Champions League campaigns.

“There are a number of players who lack the African competitions experience like Mohamed Hany, Karim Nedved, Nasser Maher, and Ramadan Sobhi, but their experience will increase with the time.

“The players and staff were under a lot of pressure recently because of the team’s position in the group, but we have dealt with the situation well.”

Ahly joined Simba SC, TP Mazembe, CS Constantine, Esperance de Tunis, Horoya AC, Wydad Casablanca and Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarterfinals. The draw will be conducted later this week, with the knockout phase beginning in early April.

The Egyptian giants are looking to win the competition for a record-extending ninth time and erase the pain of their final defeats in the last two editions of the continental tournament.