Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has revealed how much Saturday’s win over Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup meant to him.
The South African masterminded a 1-0 victory of his side over the CONCACAF champions, who are coached by former Egypt boss Javier Aguirre.
Despite having around 10 players sidelined with injury and still at the African Cup of Nations, Al Ahly managed to book their semi-final ticket against Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras.
“This win, it means a lot to me. I’ll tell you why it means a lot,” he told iDiski Times journalist Lorenz Kohler in the mixed zone in the United Arab Emirates.
“Our preparations, of all the players that started on the pitch, only two players didn’t have corona. Three weeks back, they all had corona.
“Only the goalkeeper [Ali Lofti] and Karim [Fouad]. Romy [Rabia], Yasser [Ibrahim], everybody had corona and we could not prepare the team.
“We played the League Cup with the younger ones and I brought them earlier and we lost 3-0 in the Cup, because I brought them earlier. Because I said, let them get game-time and everybody was upset.
“But do you want the League Cup or do you want the World Cup?
“I was preparing for the World Cup and slowly we were coming. After that we get injuries to Percy Tau, we get injuries in Cameroon, we get injuries even over here.
“I got sick, even here…”
Al Ahly’s semi-final against Palmeiras will take place on Tuesday, 8 February, while Thulani Serero’s Al Jazira will face UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea in the other semi-final on Wednesday.
