Juan Carlos Garrido, the coach of Algerian club USM Alger, expressed his disappointment at not being able to compete in the semi-finals of the Confederation Cup against Renaissance Berkane.
Garrido, who has previously clinched the Confederation Cup title twice – once with Egypt’s Al Ahly in 2014 and again with Morocco’s Raja Casablanca in 2018 – voiced his regret over missing out on the opportunity for his team to vie for this trophy.
Speaking on the “Al-Remontada” show on Al-Mehwar channel, Garrido emphasized that while football is not the only concern, his team had been preparing to vie for the title in this championship.
He admitted to not watching the first leg of the Confederation Cup final between Renaissance Berkane and Zamalek, citing his profound sadness at the situation.
Garrido asserted that his team had been unjustly treated by the African Football Confederation (CAF) by being deprived of the opportunity to participate in the final. However, he refrained from delving into the specifics of the crisis.
Regarding his predictions for the upcoming final of the African Champions League between Al Ahly and Esperance, he commented, “Undoubtedly, Al Ahly is the closest contender for the title because they are a stable and well-rounded team that is determined to win and strives to secure all championships.”
He concluded, “When you are a coach for Al Ahly, you are fortunate because you have experienced players who help in winning titles.”
