MC Alger coach Khaled Ben Yahia has made an honest admission about Orlando Pirates after the CAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg.
Yahia revealed he was told the “Sea Robbers” were an otherworldly force, explaining MCA's disappointment at failing to convert their chances in Algiers on Tuesday.
Their efforts were thwarted by a resolute Buccaneers defense, orchestrated by the Spanish tactician Jose Riveiro.
This defensive solidity secured a crucial 1-0 away victory for the Buccaneers, edging them closer to the semi-finals. Yahia also admitted he was “scared”, having been warned about the danger posed by Pirates.
MC ALGER COACH ADMITS HE ‘WAS SCARED’ OF PIRATES
“We lost a match that we had prepared well for, on all levels. The disappointment is twofold,” he said as quoted by iDiski Times.
“What our players did was extraordinary, we suffocated the opponent, we cornered them with our high pressure.
“The Orlando players couldn’t even make two or three proper passes; our players were harassing them so much. At first, I was scared, because I was told that this Orlando team is from another planet.
“However, as the minutes went by, we took control of the game, and the players gained confidence. Unfortunately, we weren’t clinical up front. This defeat hurts us, especially since we had this home support.
“My players did everything we prepared for before this match…we insisted on staying focused and not making mistakes. It’s a shame that we lacked efficiency. I hope we’ll be even better in the future.”
