Rabat, Morocco – Yes Torop, the technical director of the Egyptian Al-Ahly club, expressed his relative satisfaction with the draw against the Royal Army team, in the African Champions League.
Al Ahly snatched a valuable draw from their Moroccan hosts, the Royal Army, with one goal each, in the second round of the African Champions League.
Torop said in post-match comments: “I mentioned earlier that the match would be difficult, and we were fully aware of the magnitude of the challenge here in Rabat. Both teams could have won; the opponent had chances, and we also had clear opportunities, and in the end the match ended in a draw.”
He added: “It never occurred to us that a penalty would be awarded against us, because there was no penalty in the first place. Also, there was an early entry by some players into the penalty area, and this is a clear mistake. The absence of VAR technology is something I spoke about yesterday, and it is a very impactful thing. I don’t want to talk about the refereeing, but there are two clear mistakes that cost the team a lot.”
He continued: “The performance was much better in the second half, and we were close to winning despite the difficult conditions. The opponent may achieve great results on their home ground because of the tremendous support from their fans. The stadium was fantastic, and the atmosphere was great. But I didn’t like the bottles being thrown onto the pitch. These things spoil a wonderful scene, and they shouldn’t happen.”
He stressed: “I came to Morocco to win, but sometimes the circumstances around you are difficult. These circumstances force you to accept a point away from home. The important thing is that we did not leave as losers.”
The manager praised the atmosphere off the pitch and the organization, saying: “This is my first visit to Morocco. I am very impressed with the warm welcome, the quality of the accommodation, and the magnificent stadium. The Moroccan people are hospitable, and everything was perfect.”
He concluded: “Our group is one of the toughest in recent years, and any team that comes here will face the same difficulties. My focus now is on improving the team’s performance and preparing strongly for the upcoming rounds.”
