After a Draw Against Stade Malien, Espérance Coach Maher Kanzari Speaks Out
The coach of Espérance, Maher Kanzari, did not mince words after the team's draw against Stade Malien on Saturday, stating frankly that, in the current state of affairs, Espérance cannot be considered among the favorites for the championship.
A Shocking Declaration
This statement, made during a post-match press conference, has sparked a lot of discussion on social media. However, Kanzari simply said what many fans and non-fans of the "blood and gold" club have been saying since the beginning of the season: "We are not better than the others, and we are not the worst either. One thing is certain: we will fight until the end. We will try to go as far as possible. With the current squad and the injuries we've had lately, we don't figure among the favorites. But Espérance will be there, and we will do what it takes to make the best possible journey."
A Familiar Story
Maher Kanzari is not the first coach to arrive and declare that Espérance, with its current squad, cannot claim the continental title. Radhi Jaïdi made a similar statement when he took over the team, saying he needed two years to work towards the African crown. He took office on August 4, 2021, and was dismissed on June 8, 2022.
The Art of Missing Opportunities
A coach needs time to build a team for the title, and there's also the winter transfer market to make targeted recruitments and bring in competitive players based on the needs felt during the first phase of the season. For Espérance de Tunis, the urgency is to fill the void left by Youssef Belaïli, which Abdramane Konaté cannot fill alone for now, especially since Youssef Msakni will only be competitive after the break. The team is also waiting to see what will happen with the potential return of Jack Diarra, the 19-year-old Burkinabé left winger, on loan from AS Soliman.
Abdramane Konaté's Missed Opportunity
Abdramane Konaté tried to evolve in the same register as Youssef Belaïli against Stade Malien, opening up opportunities on the flank, but he was the author of a monstrous miss, shooting wide of the goal while alone in front of the opposing goalkeeper. This kind of opportunity should not be missed by a striker, especially since he had a good shot at goal against a goalkeeper who was off balance from the first shot. With 12 minutes left in added time, such a missed opportunity can only do harm.
Florian Danho's Struggles
Another striker who missed opportunities on Saturday was Florian Danho, who missed two easy goals, one in the first half by shooting lamentably over the bar and another in the second half with a low shot that grazed the left post.
Maher Kanzari's Assessment of Florian Danho
Maher Kanzari expressed his thoughts on Florian Danho's performance during the post-match press conference: "I don't know what's going on with Florian Danho. He wasn't in the game. He probably needs to mentally and psychologically overcome the goals he's missed. He needs to prepare, and we're preparing him to regain the great form he had when he arrived."
Defending His Players
The "blood and gold" coach defended all his players: "It was a difficult match to negotiate, as we had predicted. We found solutions to outmaneuver the Malian team's defensive wall, but the final gesture was lacking. My players dominated the match from start to finish and created at least seven or eight clear scoring opportunities. This draw does not reflect the commitment, application, and motivation of the players on the field."
A Challenging Upcoming Match
Maher Kanzari and his players have a perilous trip to Luanda next Saturday for the second day of the group stage before the break. It's a long break that needs to be well exploited to take stock of the first half of the season and make thoughtful decisions. It's time to see a sports project through to the end at Espérance. Changing coaches is the easy solution. Recruiting a coach should be associated with a sports project, and time should be given to the coach.
