Pitso Mosimane has largely disregarded Zamalek’s semifinal performance of wildly swinging fortunes in his preparations for the Caf Champions League final against the Egyptian giants.
Zamalek beat Wydad Casablanca 4-0 at home‚ then astonishingly lost 5-2 away in Morocco to progress by a remarkable 6-5 aggregate scoreline to the final‚ the first leg of which will be played at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday (3pm).
Mosimane said he has concentrated on Zamalek’s more consistent performances – such as their defeats to Sundowns in the group stages (2-1 in Cairo and 1-0 in Atteridgeville) and their 1-0 home and away wins against Nigerian club Enyimba.
“That’s like moving from north to south – 4-0 at home and then you lose 5-2 away‚” Downs’ coach said of Zamalek’s semifinal performance.
“I mean‚ I watched the game away against Wydad – I threw it into the trash bin. It’s an emotional game – not a proper game. Wydad just scored and score and scored.
“And I look at Zamalek scoring four goals at home against Wydad. Mistakes from Wydad – penalties‚ things like that.
“Those two games don’t tell me more. The game that Zamalek played against Enyimba‚ where they had to win to qualify‚ the games they played against us – those are the games that I look at.
“That’s where you see Zamalek. I mean‚ I’ve got Zamalek in 10 games ‚ including their last league game. Totally different.”
Mosimane said he will resist changing too much tactically in the final.
“We have a plan for Saturday. The plan is to stay the way we are. We played the same way against Zesco United ‚ scoring two goals‚” Mosimane said.
“We played the same way against Chicken Inn‚ and scored two goals. We played the same way against AS Vita and scored two goals.
“So let’s stay on this story of two goals. It’s been consistent‚ so let’s not spoil it.”
What could have added to the uncertainty of how to prepare for Zamalek was that they have changed coach since meeting Sundowns in the group stage‚ replacing Mohamed Helmi with Moemen Soliman in late July.
“But they didn’t change the system. The new coach plays the same way as they’ve played‚” Mosimane said.
“And I don’t think there is any coach who will come with a different system in a final.
“And then I lose‚ and you’ll ask me – ‘Where do you come from? For 15 months you’ve been playing this‚ and now come the cup final and you play a different system?’ It will backfire on you.
“If you pull it off‚ you’re a genius. But what are the chances? You can put your house on Sundowns scoring five goals‚ or they can score one goal.
“Five goals is not that easy. You might lose your house. So don’t do this gambling‚ and all those things.
“So I will go with what I know‚ what has brought us to the final‚ and I think the coach will do the same thing on the other side.
“Top coaches don’t change things – your Mourinhos‚ Guardiolas. They don’t have a new plan on a new day – and then you want to pull a rabbit out of a hat‚ and it backfires on you.”
The second leg will be played at the Borg El Arab Stadium just outside Alexandria on Sunday‚ October 23.
Cautious Mosimane considers ways to mummify Egyptians Zamalek as countdown to Champions League final continues
Zamalek beat Wydad Casablanca 4-0 at home‚ then astonishingly lost 5-2 away in Morocco to progress by a remarkable 6-5 aggregate scoreline to the final‚ the first leg of which will be played at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday (3pm).
Mosimane said he has concentrated on Zamalek’s more consistent performances – such as their defeats to Sundowns in the group stages (2-1 in Cairo and 1-0 in Atteridgeville) and their 1-0 home and away wins against Nigerian club Enyimba.
“That’s like moving from north to south – 4-0 at home and then you lose 5-2 away‚” Downs’ coach said of Zamalek’s semifinal performance.
“I mean‚ I watched the game away against Wydad – I threw it into the trash bin. It’s an emotional game – not a proper game. Wydad just scored and score and scored.
“And I look at Zamalek scoring four goals at home against Wydad. Mistakes from Wydad – penalties‚ things like that.
“Those two games don’t tell me more. The game that Zamalek played against Enyimba‚ where they had to win to qualify‚ the games they played against us – those are the games that I look at.
“That’s where you see Zamalek. I mean‚ I’ve got Zamalek in 10 games ‚ including their last league game. Totally different.”
Mosimane said he will resist changing too much tactically in the final.
“We have a plan for Saturday. The plan is to stay the way we are. We played the same way against Zesco United ‚ scoring two goals‚” Mosimane said.
“We played the same way against Chicken Inn‚ and scored two goals. We played the same way against AS Vita and scored two goals.
“So let’s stay on this story of two goals. It’s been consistent‚ so let’s not spoil it.”
What could have added to the uncertainty of how to prepare for Zamalek was that they have changed coach since meeting Sundowns in the group stage‚ replacing Mohamed Helmi with Moemen Soliman in late July.
“But they didn’t change the system. The new coach plays the same way as they’ve played‚” Mosimane said.
“And I don’t think there is any coach who will come with a different system in a final.
“And then I lose‚ and you’ll ask me – ‘Where do you come from? For 15 months you’ve been playing this‚ and now come the cup final and you play a different system?’ It will backfire on you.
“If you pull it off‚ you’re a genius. But what are the chances? You can put your house on Sundowns scoring five goals‚ or they can score one goal.
“Five goals is not that easy. You might lose your house. So don’t do this gambling‚ and all those things.
“So I will go with what I know‚ what has brought us to the final‚ and I think the coach will do the same thing on the other side.
“Top coaches don’t change things – your Mourinhos‚ Guardiolas. They don’t have a new plan on a new day – and then you want to pull a rabbit out of a hat‚ and it backfires on you.”
The second leg will be played at the Borg El Arab Stadium just outside Alexandria on Sunday‚ October 23.
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