'It’s always good to start the African cup group stage with a victory': Zamalek coach Gross

Ahram Online , Thursday 31 Jan 2019

Christian Gross
Zamalek coach Christian Gross (Photo: Zamalek official Facebook page)

Zamalek manager Christian Gross said on Thursday that his side will be looking to make a winning start in their group stage campaign in the Confederation Cup as they prepare to face Gor Mahia in Nairobi on Sunday.

The 64-year-old Swiss coach added that he has asked his players to put the domestic league behind them for now and to focus on the continental competition, as the White Knights eye their first-ever Confederation Cup title.

"It’s a totally different competition now and we have to be 100 percent focused from start to finish," he said.

Zamalek, who are in the driving seat in the domestic league, thrashed Maqassa 4-1 in a league game on Tuesday.

"It’s always good to start the group stage with a victory," Gross told the CAF's official website on Thursday.

"The Gor Mahia game is going to be difficult but we have to give our all, whether the game is at home or away."

Zamalek were drawn in Group D with Gor Mahia, Algeria’s Nasr Hussein Dey and Petro Atletico de Luanda of Angola.

Gross, who is a former Tottenham, Stuttgart and Basel coach, had never taken charge of an African team before Zamalek.

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