Ferreira looking to embark on new era in CAFCL

Zamalek SC head coach Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira

Friday Feb 10, 2023. 15:00

Zamalek head coach Jesualdo Ferreira is determined to get back to winning ways against CR Belouizdad when the CAF Champions League resumes this weekend.

Ferreira has been reinstated to the helm just a fortnight after he was sacked by the club’s president, Mortada Mansour, on the back of a poor run of results.

The Portuguese tactician guided the White Knights to their 14th Egyptian Premier League title last season but they have struggled to replicate that form in 2022-23, already losing four of their opening 17 matches.

Ferreira was relieved of his duties in the wake of a 2-1 defeat to Ghazl El Mahalla on January 24, which extended the team’s winless run in the league to five games.

However, the 76-year-old has made a swift return to the Cairo giants after a 3-0 loss to Pharco on Monday left them eight points adrift of league leaders Al Ahly in fifth position.

Ferreira is looking to make home advantage count when the Great Chabab arrive at the Cairo International Stadium for their Group D opener on Friday evening and he’s urging the club’s supporters to rally behind the team.

“We haven’t forgotten that we are the champions of the League and Cup and we are doing our best to return to winning ways,” he said in the pre-match press conference.

“There is not enough time to train well for the games due to the busy schedule, as we said before. The group stage featured six games and we have to win in the first game as well as win our home games, as the opponents are always tough at their stadiums.

“We will face the Algerian league leaders and they have more talented players in their squad so we will face a big challenge during the game.

“My message for Zamalek fans is that we don’t feel good due to the recent poor results but we want to repeat what we did last season when we won the Egyptian League and Egypt Cup titles.

“We will do our best to return to winning ways so I am asking Zamalek fans to stop the criticising chants and return to right track. We will play for the fans and we hope they support the team, as tomorrow will be a new era with the supporters.”