Abdel Raouf blasts Zamalek attitude after Smouha loss

Zamalek coach Ahmed Abdel Raouf voiced deep frustration with his team’s display in the 1–0 defeat to Smouha in the Egyptian Capital Cup, branding the performance “bad” in every aspect.

He told the post‑match press conference that Zamalek’s usual character was completely absent in the first half and that, despite a slight improvement after the break, he still considered this one of the team’s worst recent games.

Abdel Raouf criticised the “overconfidence” that gripped his players before kick‑off, saying they went into the match believing the win was guaranteed, which hurt their focus and effort on the pitch.

He explained that he had expected a tough game and knew Smouha were physically ready, which is why he started Amr Nasser and introduced Nasser Mansi and Oday Dabbagh in the second half to ease them gradually into match rhythm.

The coach stressed that young talent Anas Wael will get his full chance over the coming period but warned against overloading the academy players too quickly.

He added that Zamalek will not copy other clubs’ approaches with youngsters, insisting the staff follow a strategy that protects the club and its players. Abdel Raouf also backed foreign forward Juan Pizzaro as an important squad member despite fluctuating form, calling on everyone to correct the collective mistakes that appeared against Smouha to avoid a repeat in future games.