Zamalek boss Moataz Gamal hails improved display in victory over Al Mokawloon

Zamalek head coach Moataz Gamal said his side produced a better performance than in their previous matches after beating Al Mokawloon Al Arab 2-1 in the eighth round of the league.

Mohamed Hamdy put Zamalek ahead shortly after half-time, but Mohamed Abdel Nasser brought Al Mokawloon level when his shot struck Omar Gaber before finding the net. Chico Banza then secured victory with a late winner in the 88th minute.

“We managed the players’ efforts across the two halves and kept some options on the bench,” Gamal said at his post-match news conference. “There are some mistakes that we will work to correct.”

He added: “I believe the performance was better in today’s match. We achieved the objective and claimed the three points, and I would like to thank the Zamalek supporters for their continued support of the team.

“The team was focused on today’s game because we want to remain in the title race. Our aim at this stage is not to drop any more points, and the players succeeded in securing an important victory.”

The result ended Zamalek’s difficult recent run against Al Mokawloon in the league, giving them their first win after failing to triumph in the previous five league matches between the two sides.

Zamalek moved to 19 points and climbed temporarily into second place, while Al Mokawloon remained on 11 points in seventh.

Gamal on the Champions League and Chico Banza

Asked about the Champions League draw, Gamal stressed Zamalek’s ambitions and belief in their squad.

“Zamalek are a big club, and we have the best players in Egypt as well as the best supporters,” he said. “We are working to achieve our objectives in the group, go as far as possible and compete for the title.”

Gamal also praised Chico Banza, who scored the decisive goal, and said the coaching staff were clear about how to use the forward effectively.

“Chico Banza was one of the stars of the match today,” he said. “He has a particular style of play and I believe he is a very important player and one of our key members. The technical staff know how to get the maximum from him, and we do not have many alternatives in this position.”

On Ahmed Fotouh, Gamal said: “He is a great player and one of the team’s leaders. I rely on him very heavily. There may be problems away from the pitch, but they do not affect the team. There are regulations which are applied, and the players understand that very well.”

Gamal acknowledged that Zamalek still needed to improve their work in possession, particularly in the middle of the pitch and in front of goal.

“Losing the ball in midfield at times is normal and happens to every team,” he said. “We are working to address the negative aspects so that we can finish attacks better against the opposition goal.”

He concluded: “All the players showed themselves at their best, and no player spared any effort for the team.”

Zamalek’s next league match is against El Gouna on 23 November.