CAIRO: Zamalek assistant coach Moatamed Gamal said that he is unfazed despite the team s opening day 1-0 home defeat against Ismaili in the Egyptian league on Monday.
We are not worried because we have confidence in our players abilities, I believe we played a fine game, but there were some players making their debuts and the team needs some time to adapt, Gamal told the post-match conference.
Zamalek were largely affected by the substitution of their star player Mahmoud Abdul-Razek Shikabala minutes before Ismaili s winner.
Moreover, Shikabala s replacement Hazem Emam was booed by his own fans, whom Gamal believes should be more patient with veteran players.
We introduced Emam for Shikabala because we feared that the latter could get a second booking, he added.
I think the supporters put a lot of pressure on veteran players, especially Emam, obviously the fans attitude negatively influenced his performance.
On the other hand, Ismaili coach Taha Basri was glad that his counter attack strategy worked perfectly for the Dervishes.
I focused on organizing the defense because I am confident that my players are automatically capable of creating danger up front, Basri said.
The former Zamalek star hopes that his side can maintain the winning start if the team can raise their level of physical fitness.
Ismaili s pre-season program was not well planned, so I think the team needs more progress physically, if we did so we will be to able to keep our good form, he said.
Basri took charge of Ismaili just one week before the kick off of the Egyptian league, following the sudden sacking of French coach Patrice Neveu.
