Zamalek get win as Mansour explains Micho axing

Ferjani Sassi

Thursday Dec 05, 2019. 10:00

Zamalek began life under new coach Patrice Carteron with a 3-1 victory over third-tier side Sharqeya in the Egyptian Cup on Wednesday.

Moroccan forward Achraf Bencharki scored twice and Tunisian midfielder Ferjani Sassi got the other as the defending champions progressed to the Last 16.

The victory ends a run of back-to-back defeats and should bring some confidence to a side reeling from the loss of coach Micho Sredojevic this week.

Former Al Ahly coach Carteron will not have had any time to work with the squad, but will be pleased his tenure got off to a positive start, even if it was against lowly opposition.

Meanwhile, Zamalek president Mortada Mansour has claimed that the sacking of Sredojevic was in part due to the support he received from his players on social media.

A number rallied around the coach, earning the ire of the combustible Mansour, who was quick to fine anyone who did so.

“I didn’t want for Micho to leave, you win and lose in football. But it was unacceptable for the players to support him on social media and shake the board’s authority,” Mansour said.

“Carteron was successful with Raja and Wadi Degla, despite Maged Samy’s [Wadi Degla president] lack of generosity. He also reached the CAF Champions League final with Al Ahly, despite not having decent players,” Mansour added, barely able to get throught a sentence without having a dig at a rival.

“From the beginning we decided on Carteron, after he was offered to us by the club’s football advisor Amir Mortada and his agent, Yehia Ali.

“We will announce all the details of the signing in a press conference set to take place next Sunday after the Primeiro de Agosto game in the CAF Champions League.”