CAIRO: Ahly coach Manuel Jose is unsure over Hassan Shehata’s pre-match approach, but believes that no one should criticize him following the shock exit from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
Egypt’s goalless draw by South Africa on Sunday meant that the African champions are virtually out of the qualifying stage for the first time in their history.
While urging people not to go down hard on Shehata and Co, Jose gave his view over Egypt’s poor show.
“I think that calling players for pre-match camps long before the date of the game puts more pressure on them, and this surely affects their performance,” the Portuguese told FilGoal.com.
“We should stick with the FIFA regulations stating that players should be summoned four days before international matches.”
The domestic league has been put on hold since the 26th of May as the Egypt squad gathered for a private camp in Ismailia.
But Jose added: “What has happened to the Egypt team is normal. No team or person can stay on top forever.
“Shehata and his players achieved a lot for Egyptian football and managed to dominate Africa for years. This team put Egypt on the global scale. So it is unfair to attack them.”
Shehata guided Egypt to three back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations titles since taking charge of the national team in 2004.
