What Jose Peseiro said after Zamalek’s draw against Petrojet in debut match
Jose Peseiro spoke to the press after his debut match as Zamalek’s head coach ended in a 1-1 draw against Petrojet in the Egyptian Premier League. The match, part of the 14th round, saw Zamalek struggle in the first half but improve after the break.
Peseiro admitted that Zamalek’s performance in the first half was not up to standard. He said, “We were not at our best in the first half, but the team improved in the second half. Zamalek created many opportunities, and although the match ended in a tie, we could have won. I accept the result, but we will look to build on it.”
He praised his team’s efforts after the interval, adding, “In the second half, we showed a strong response and created more chances. If we had a better presence in the penalty area, we might have scored more goals.”
Peseiro also stressed the need for player development, explaining, “I need to work on improving the players’ level, especially since I have only been with the team for two days. I will review the match to understand what went wrong and address the areas that need improvement.”
When asked about individual performances, Peseiro highlighted Ahmed Al-Juffali, saying he needs more time to adapt to the team, and he acknowledged that Ahmed Mustafa “Zizou” was not at his best. “Zizou wasn’t having his best day, but he fought hard and gave everything he had. In such matches, I cannot replace my star players, even if they’re not performing at their peak.”
He also praised Zizou’s determination, stating, “Despite feeling muscle pain, Zizou fought throughout the match, making a great physical effort. Every player can miss an opportunity or make a mistake, but what matters is the commitment, and I believe the players gave their all today, even if the result didn’t go in our favour.”
