Pressure’s on for Ahli’s all or nothing in Tunisia
CAIRO: Al-Ahli club’s Portuguese coach Manuel Jose has thrown all his cards into the fray and is waiting for a royal flush.
Earlier this week, the Egyptian football federation agreed to postpone Al-Ahli’s game with Emppi in order to give the redcoat players enough rest before their away game with Sfax.
Despite the urging of local experts that the game would have been a good way to prepare and get in form for the Nov. 11 game with Sfax, Jose pushed to get his way and will likely be held accountable should the Egyptians come home empty-handed.
But there is another aspect to consider – Al-Ahli needs a serious morale booster.
Moreover both Zamalek and Ismailia, Al-Ahli’s main competitors in the Egyptian league, failed to win their games this week. Had Al-Ahli played and won this week, the team would have jumped up to second place in the league standings, only one point behind Ismailia and ahead of Zamalek.
With three postponed games still in hand for Al-Ahli, such a scenario could have certainly boosted the team’s morale before their Saturday game.
Maybe those in power should pay attention. Coach Jose postponed a league match ahead of the Cairo leg of the Ahli-SFAX game to disastrous results.
The 1-1 outcome was deemed unforgivable by Al-Ahli club senior members and by the 85,000 fans that attended the game.
The Portuguese coach also suspended midfielder Hassan Mostafa before game one and Al-Ahli’s midfield has clearly been hurt on both the offensive and defensive fronts.
The embattled coach is clearly firing all guns.
He announced after the poor showing in the first leg of the final that he is the person responsible for Al-Ahli’s achievements in the past few years. Even if true to an extent, the announcement, as well as the occasion (game 1 press conference), lacked the courtesy expected from the man.
In spite of all this, the Egyptian press and Al-Ahli’s management sound relatively supportive of the coach and the players. This will certainly not be the case if the cards fail Mr. Jose on Nov. 11.
