Zamalek Coach Expecting a Tough Encounter Against Esperance

All roads will be leading to Esperance Tunis’ Rades Stadium tomorrow and Zamalek’s coach Patrice Carteron is already expecting a cracking episode.

The Egyptians won the first leg in Cairo on 3-1 and need to avoid losing 2-0 to seal a place into the semis of the ongoing CAF Champions League.

Tunisian serial league conquerors Esperance are current holders of the gong and secured it back to back in the previous two editions.

A formidable side, Esperance are a solid unit when at home and would be intent on inviting over 60,000 fans to the venue to help roar them into yet another comeback.

The outfits have met twice this year in the Super Cup with the Egyptians coming out unscathed.

However, coach Cateron doesn’t wish to be carried away by the Cairo results or the humbling of their opponents in previous outings, preferring to focus on finishing a job they’ve started but admits it will be “difficult”.

“Our mission will not be easy,” Zamalek coach Patrice Carteron told the pre-match news conference today.

“We will face a very good team that won the Champions League twice in the past two editions and I am expecting a very tough clash on Friday.”

“I asked my players to forget the first leg and to focus on Friday’s game, which will be very difficult for both sides,” he dwelled on.