Mouloudia Club of Algiers coach Khaled Ben Yahia, couldn’t hide his frustration after his team fell 1-0 to South Africa’s Orlando Pirates on Tuesday in the CAF Champions League quarter-final first leg.
Despite a spirited performance at home, the loss left him wrestling with a bittersweet mix of emotions.
Ben Yahia said in the press conference following the match, “I am doubly saddened by the course of the match and the efforts made by the players. We prepared well for the match in all aspects: physically, technically, and even in terms of activating the game.”
“I was very afraid of the match because someone warned me about Orlando, but the truth is, what we did was exceptional. We gave our best effort and put pressure on our opponent from the start, not letting them breathe, and they were unable to break the pressure.
“I’ve played in the Champions League quarter-finals and semi-finals before with Esperance de Tunis, and I know what it means to respect your opponent. However, our control of today’s match was clear, as evidenced by the numerous chances we missed. All the statistics were in our favor, but we lacked effectiveness.
“The loss is what hurts. The fans came in force and encouraged us a lot. I feel proud and disappointed at the same time. I am proud of the team and what the players did, and disappointed to lose a quarter-final match. I hope the future will be better.”
