File Photo: Zamalek coach Ferreira. Al-Ahram
The Cairo giants secured their first win at the prestigious tournament this season after beating Tunisian side Esperance 3-1 at home on Tuesday.
“We were the better side. I would like to congratulate the players who secured the victory and I hope we will continue with the same level in the future,” the 76-year old Ferreira said in the press conference after the game.
“Our problem in the Champions league this season is that we lost the opening match at home. We didn’t deserve that loss as we were better than our opponents,” he added.
In the three matches played so far at the group stage, Zamalek lost 1-0 to Algerian side CR Belouizdad, held to a 0-0 draw against Sudan’s Al Merrikh before losing 2-0 away to Esperance.
With Tuesday’s win, Zamalek now lie third in Group D with four points, two points behind CR Belouizdad who are now in second place with six points after defeating Al-Merrikh of Sudan also on Tuesday.
Despite the loss, Esperance remain comfortable on top of the group stage with 9 points.
In two do-or-die missions, Zamalek will face the Algerian side away from home on Friday 17 November before hosting Al-Merrikh a week later in the final day of the Group stage.
The Cairo giants need to secure six points from these two clashes to clinch one of the qualifying two tickets of the Group to the competition’s quarters.
“The group stage is a short one and winning the first game is very important. I am confident we will proceed to the quarter-finals if we won the next two games,” the Zamalek coach explained.
“Our performance in the Champions League is better than what we deliver in the domestic league. Continental tournaments always give players bigger motivations. We should continue the next games with the same level,” he concluded.
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