Esperance de Tunis, having been exempted from the first round of the Champions League, is set to begin their campaign this Saturday in the 16th finals against Gor Mahia in Nairobi. The new coach of EST, Ruud Krol, is familiar with the opposing team and acknowledges their strengths and weaknesses.
Krol mentioned during a press conference that Gor Mahia had faced Esperance de Tunis in the 1980s and now boasts a mix of experienced and young players. He also noted the presence of a Ugandan striker in their lineup and suggested that they might lack rhythm due to their recent return to competition.
Acknowledging the challenges posed by playing away, Krol emphasized the importance of securing a good result in the first leg to make the return leg easier. He highlighted the significance of experience in navigating through the Champions League.
In selecting his squad for the match, Krol opted for players in good form and omitted Gharsellaoui due to his perceived lack of peak performance. He emphasized the importance of fitness in the Champions League and stated that only the fittest players would feature in the upcoming match.
