Zamalek head coach José Peseiro stated that his team was not at its best during the first half of the match against Petrojet in the Nile Egyptian League.
The Portuguese tactician led Zamalek for the first time as head coach on Sunday with the match ending in a 1-1 draw.
In the post-match press conference, Peseiro said:
"The performance improved in the second half, and Zamalek managed to create several chances. However, the match ended in a draw. We could have won, but I accept the result. Zamalek played a strong second half and created many opportunities. If there had been more presence in the penalty area, we could have scored more than one goal."
Peseiro emphasized his need to develop players:
"I need to improve the players’ level and elevate their performance. I have only been in charge for two days, and I need to review the match again to identify and address the weaknesses."
Regarding individuals, Peseiro commented:
"Ahmed Al-Jefali needs time to adapt to the environment. As for Ahmed Sayed 'Zizo,' he wasn’t at his best today but he fought and gave his all. In such matches, I can’t substitute star players even if they are not in top form."
"Zizo fought from the start despite experiencing muscle pain. He worked hard and put in a great physical effort. Any player can miss chances or make mistakes, but discipline is essential. I believe the players did their best but were just unlucky."
When asked if Zizo’s contract renewal matter affected him, Peseiro responded:
"In football, it is normal for a player to maintain a consistent level. The renewal issue does not impact Zizo’s performance."
Peseiro dismissed the idea that his team’s performance was influenced by the upcoming match against Al Ahly, stating:
"I don’t think our performance today was affected by the Al Ahly match.
Regarding whether Mohamed Sobhi will start as the goalkeeper in the derby, Peseiro said: "You’ll find out on match day. Zamalek has three excellent goalkeepers."
The Portuguese coach added that the next match is against Al-Ahly and that he does not want to talk about it today, stressing that all matches are important and that winning against Al-Ahly is not enough to win the league title.
Peseiro ended his statements by praising the opposition:
"In the end, I salute Petrojet for their performance. We will work on improving our level."
With this result, Zamalek raised its tally to 27 points, remaining third in the Nile Egyptian League standings. Meanwhile, Petrojet reached 18 points, occupying eighth place before tonight's games.
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