Esperance coach Maher Kanzari has dismissed suggestions that his recent match against US Monastir was a personal contest with veteran coach Faouzi Benzarti.
The two sides played to a 0-0 draw on Thursday in the final fixture of the Tunisian Ligue 1 season.
Speaking to Tunisia’s national television, Kanzari emphasized that the focus remained on the teams rather than the individuals on the touchline.
“The game was between ES Tunis and US Monastir, not between me and Faouzi Benzarti,” he stated.
Kanzari further explained that Esperance’s performance was influenced by the fact that the league title had already been secured in the previous round, reducing the stakes of the match.
“The match had lost much of its significance after we officially secured the league title in the previous round, which affected our performance today,” he said.
Acknowledging a lack of full concentration from his squad, Kanzari added, “We were not fully focused and did not play at our best, but that is to be expected after a long campaign.
“The players are entitled to feel a bit relaxed after winning the title.”
The coach also reflected positively on the overall competitiveness of the season.
“This edition of the Tunisian league has been one of the most competitive I have seen, with several teams performing at a high level right up to the final round,” Kanzari commented.
In addition to praising the intensity of the league, Kanzari singled out Stade Tunisien and ES Zarzis for their commendable performances throughout the campaign, expressing gratitude for their contributions to a strong season.
ES Tunis’s latest result capped off a successful season in which they secured the championship, underscoring their dominance in Tunisian football under Kanzari’s guidance.
