Al-Ahly Jeddah goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has shed light on the factors behind his side’s below-par display in their goalless draw against Al-Wahda of the UAE in the AFC Champions League.
The stalemate saw Al-Ahly move to 14 points, a tally that places them second in the West Asia League standings.
They are level on points with Al-Wahda, who sit third, with goal difference separating the two sides. Iranian outfit Tractor Sazi also have 14 points and are temporarily trailing both clubs ahead of their fixture in the same round.
Speaking to the media after the match, Mendy admitted that the congested fixture schedule has taken a toll on the squad. “We are suffering from extreme fatigue due to the pressure of the matches, but that is certainly not an excuse,” he said.
The former Chelsea goalkeeper pointed to Al-Wahda’s defensive discipline as a key reason Al-Ahly were unable to secure all three points.
“Unfortunately, we were unable to achieve victory, because the opponent was outstanding defensively, and we were not sharper in finishing attacks and reaching the goal in general,” Mendy explained.
He also highlighted the impact of injuries on the team’s overall balance and consistency.
“Al-Ahly is suffering from many injuries at the same time, and we are currently relying on some young players, so it is not easy,” he noted.
Despite the frustrations, Mendy felt there were positives to take from the latter stages of the contest.
“In the second half, the performance improved, and we could have won and snatched all the match points,” he concluded.
