Zamalek coach Soliman – 'We need a miracle now to beat Sundowns, but we can do it'

Zamalek know that they need a miracle to recover from a 3-0 first leg deficit to overcome Mamelodi Sundowns in the second leg in Alexandria on Sunday, said their coach Moaemen Soliman.

The White Knights’ young, 42-year-old coach, a player for the Cairo club in the 1990s, of course believes it is possible for his team to overturn the three-goal deficit.

Soliman pointed to Zamalek’s semifinal experience, where they held a 4-0 lead from the Cairo leg against Wydad Casablanca but lost 5-2 in Morocco, to progress 6-5 on aggregate.

There is also the question of the supposed 20 000 limitation on the number of spectators at the 86 000-seater Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria, imposed because of the political situation in Egypt.

Given Zamalek’s desperate situation will the country’s authorities relent – because an 80 000, or even a 50 000, crowd of some of the world’s most fanatical supporters could make an immense difference in the intimidation level Downs need to contend with protecting their lead.

“We were prepared for this [final first leg] game. We had a plan and tried to do our best here. The game is not finished and we still have another leg in Alexandria,” Soliman said after his side were swept off the field by a dominant Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.

“Obviously we need a miracle to win the cup in Alexandria.

“But we know that in the semifinals we got a 4-0 win, then we lost 5-2 in Morocco. So it can be possible.

“We have to have a plan. Sundowns players are fantastic players – they are strong and they are fast. We have to be stronger, we have to be faster – and we can do this.

“We have the best players in Egypt, so we can do it. I hope it [Sunday] will be our day.

“There is no magic point [solution] I have to do with my team to beat Sundowns. We have to do the effort more than them.

“I spoke to the players now in the change room and I said that. Now I have forgotten this [first leg] game. And now I start to think about the other game.”

Soliman went for broke with an attacking line-up in search of an away goal in Atteridgeville.

Having not got it, the coach might hope for a capitulation similar to what his side displayed in their semifinal second leg away to Wydad, but given Sundowns’ form in this Champions League, it does seem unlikely.

And Zamalek are in the difficult position of having to commit numbers in attack against a Downs side whose frontline contains some of the best and quickest forwards at any club side in Africa at present in Khama Billiat, Keagan Dolly, Anthony Laffor and Percy Tau.

Leonard Castro is also available for the second leg.

“I started with attacking players, and we ended defensively. And I was thinking that if we score here it would be easier,” Zamalek’s coach said.

“But it did not come through. We had four players behind the one striker today who can score. Before we played with one striker and only two attacking players behind him.

“In Alexandria we have to give everything. We cannot think about Sundowns too much. We have to go 100 percent in attack.”

Support in Egypt is mostly divided between the Cairo giants Zamalek and Al Ahly. The fans of the two clubs are among the most vociferous in world football, and capable of creating a hostile atmosphere like few other supporters anywhere.