Al Ahly head coach Marcel Koller is assured they will progress to the ultimate of the CAF Champions League for a sixth consecutive season by beating Mamelodi Sundowns in Cairo subsequent week.
Koller acknowledged that they had been dealing with a mammoth job to restrict Sundowns at dwelling in Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon, however they achieved this, with out the house facet having a single shot on course.
It was a recreation that was not the same old attacking DNA of the Purple Devils as they fielded 4 centre-backs and two defensive midfielders in opposition to Masandawana, however managed to create a clear-cut probability, hitting the previous via Nejc Gradišar and having a aim dominated out narrowly via an off-side name.
“We noticed an incredible recreation, a tricky recreation between two sturdy groups, we confirmed self-discipline on this recreation, and we restricted Sundowns from making possibilities, we created possibilities, it was unlucky to not rating the header, however it hit the submit,” Koller stated.
“We all know already it’s solely the primary half of the sport, and we have to be concentrated 100% in Cairo additionally, we all know Sundowns, away they will rating and we’re joyful to haven’t conceded right here. We all know we’ve got what it takes to complete this off in Cairo.
“We all know Sundowns is a good workforce. It was vital for our workforce to be compact, it’s not vital how a lot you might have the ball, typically it’s vital to have it, our gamers did nicely when on the ball. Sundowns additionally didn’t permit us to create many possibilities.”
It was the primary time Koller prevented defeat in South Africa, having misplaced 5-2, 1-0 and a 0-0 attract his three earlier visits with the report 12-time African champions, and stated it was about their expertise, slightly than a change of tactical type with Miguel Cardoso now on the helm.
“We now have extra expertise [against Sundowns], we see the workforce of Sundowns and we analysed the workforce very nicely, we mentioned this, recognized the place they’re sturdy and the place they aren’t,” Koller stated.
“We labored with the workforce to know which half is critical to not concede, to return with a great end result from this recreation, nicely completed to my workforce, they achieved this.”
