Zamalek boss Moataz Gamal apologises after ‘very poor’ Petrojet display

Zamalek manager Moataz Gamal says he knows why his side produced a poor performance against Suez Petrojet but has chosen not to reveal the reason.

Zamalek maintained their winning start to the season with a 2-1 victory over Suez Petrojet in the third round of the Egyptian Premier League. The result moved them to seven points and left them second in the table.

Gamal apologised to the club’s supporters after the team struggled during the opening 45 minutes.

“I apologise to the fans because we played a very bad first half, perhaps the worst, and I know the reason, but I do not like talking about it at the moment,” he said at his post-match news conference.

He said the priority for a major club was to secure victories, while changes made during the interval helped Zamalek improve after half-time.

“For a big team, the most important objective is to win,” Gamal added. “In the second half, we were the better side after the discussion we had with the players during the break.”

“We made some changes, and our concentration was greater in the second half. The most important thing for me is taking the three points, and that is what we always seek.”

Zamalek had kept clean sheets in their first two league matches, but conceded for the first time this season against Suez Petrojet.

Gamal said his coaching staff had studied their opponents before the match, although he preferred not to go into detail about the opposition’s approach.

“We study the shape of the opposing team before every match, and I do not like talking too much about the opponent, but Suez Petrojet played in their usual way,” he said.

The Zamalek manager also defended his players, saying he valued their work despite several of them failing to reach their normal level.

“I calmed the players down at half-time, and I appreciate the players and their efforts, even though more than one player did not reach his usual level,” Gamal said.

“I spoke to the players about the need to move the ball more quickly and move well without it, which contributed to the improvement in our performance during the second half.”

Gamal believes the strength of his substitutes has played a key role in Zamalek’s improved displays after the interval in their last two matches.

“In our first league match, we played a good first half and a poor second half, so we worked to correct that,” he said. “Having a strong bench contributed to the team appearing in a good way during the second half of the last two matches.”

He also explained the late introduction of Abdallah El Said, who was brought on to help Zamalek retain control in midfield.

“I brought on Abdallah El Said in the final minutes to maintain the midfield,” Gamal said. “He is a great player and his presence is extremely important.”

The manager added that Zamalek had to balance winning matches with protecting their players from injury, particularly with a demanding schedule ahead.

“There is a difficult balance between winning and preserving the players,” he said. “Sometimes I ask the players to stay calm on the pitch so they do not suffer injuries.”

Zamalek will use the forthcoming international break to improve the players’ physical condition, according to Gamal, with the team preparing for a heavy run of fixtures in both the Egyptian Premier League and the CAF Champions League.

Suez Petrojet remain without a league victory. They have lost to Tala’ea El-Gaish and Zamalek, while drawing with Asyut Petroleum, and sit 15th with one point.