Pitso Mosimane has defended his players after they dropped points for the first time in the 2021/22 Egyptian Premier League season.
Ahly laboured to a 1-1 draw against Future FC despite Mohamed Sherif opening the scoring as early as the third minute in Al Salam.
Karim Walid netted the equaliser for the hosts just before the hour mark and the point moved them back to the summit of the table over Zamalek – with a game in hand over their rivals.
In the post-match press conference, Mosismane said the result was normal due to the fixture congestion and travelling for his players after journalists questioned their lack of goals.
“My striker scored the goal, it’s very difficult, we run a different program, it’s very easy for you to criticise, you are a journalist, it’s normal,” Mosimane said in response to the journalist questioning their draw.
“We fought very hard, we are a team that plays a different program from anyone else in Masry. We have nine players in the FIFA Arab Cup, the match against Raja was the same, we had to fight.
“They are human beings, for you to criticise them is normal and it’s okay. It’s a good journalistic question, we are a good team, a strong team but a little bit tired.
“I give credit to my players, they never said we’re not going to do it, they tried. And they played against a team that only play on counter-attacks and they did very well to stop the counter-attacks.
“To play in front of the box of the opponents and run back 70 meters to stop counters and come back after the players played two extra-time games in the Arab Cup, six games, Raja game and even before that all the Al Ahly players are in the national team.
“They are human beings who are bound to get tired and you know what will happen in the next three days? How many of my players are going to AFCON? And after Cup of Nations, three days, Mundial… so this game – it’s okay.
“It’s better to win the Cup in international matches and do well in the World Cup, it was always going to be like this.”
