Massive task awaits Downs
AL-AHLY: CAN’T EXPECT ANOTHER 5-0 RESULT IN CAIRO
Michaelson Gumede
If, by any stretch of the imagination, you think Mamelodi Sundowns will mop the floor with AlAhly in the Caf Champions League quarterfinal tie like they did last season at the same stage, you have to think again and lower your expectations, said Pitso Mosimane.
The Sundowns mentor said there is absolutely no way they will beat The Red Devils 5-0 in their own backyard. “Jingles” said he does not want to put his side under unnecessary pressure, particularly because Masandawana are playing the Team of the Century at the “wrong time”.
“Why should I invite pressure? Who wants to create pressure for themselves when you are playing Al-Ahly in Cairo? I mean, they are a big club,” Mosimane told members of the media in Egypt yesterday ahead of this evening’s clash.
“If the pressure is for us to repeat the same result, it is not possible. It happened once, it is history and it will never happen again,” added Mosimane – of course last year’s 5-0 also happened in Tshwane, not Cairo.
“”Maybe the pressure is on AlAhly, they have to do what we did. What happened was God’s will and it will never happen again,” Mosimane added.
Given Al-Ahly’s incredible run of form in the Egyptian Premier League where they have won all 16 of their games so far this season, conceded only three goals and scored an incredible 45 goals. Mosimane expects Al-Ahly to take that form into this Champions League tie and give the former African champions a tough time at the Cairo International Stadium, where about 30 000 fans will be allowed to attend the game.
“It will be a tough game for us with big expectations but we understand the mood and the mentality and we know it is going to be difficult. We are facing Al-Ahly at the wrong time, they have been winning everything here, they have about 15 wins, scored more than 40 goals.
“Even Real Madrid and Barcelona don’t have a perfect record. Every time we check Ahly’s results, it is win-win-win, with lots of goals.
“That is why we are very cautious, we step right, and we must certainly respect the space,” said Mosimane.