Pitso Mosimane has revealed what he told his players after beating his former side Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 in their CAF Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The South African coach has returned to Mzansi and will hope to get a positive result on his homecoming to Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.
‘Jingles’ said that he was very pleased with the first-leg result but told his players that it’s only half-time of the tie.
“If anyone asked me before the first leg, would you take 1-0 or 2-0 victory against Sundowns, I will say yes, so I am happy with the result we got. Winning the first leg is very important, but it does not secure our qualification, as nothing is guaranteed in football,” he told Al Ahly’s official website.
“I spoke with the players and congratulated them after the game in Cairo. It is important to praise the good results, but I also told them that this is like the half time and we are leading 2-0 and it just gives us a slight advantage.
“Facing Sundowns has always been difficult, and we have to respect that. The first time Al Ahly have been here while I was coaching Sundowns, Al Ahly lost. Also, the last time Al Ahly have been here, the team got a draw, so we never know what is going to happen, but I hope that we can win here in the next game.
“Al Ahly is a big club and we play in three different competitions. We played against Zamalek SC in the Egyptian Premier League, and within three days and a half, we faced Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League. Then, the next week will face RS Berkane in the CAF Super Cup.”
“We have to play in three different competitions in ten or twelve days, but we have put ourselves in that position. Al Ahly is a big club and good things come with big responsibilities.”
After the defeat to Al Ahly, Sundowns are now winless in six consecutive CAF Champions League knock-out matches, drawing two and losing four since their famous 5-0 home victory against the Egyptian giants in the 2018-19 quarter-final.
