As He Embarks on a Short but Perilous Trip to Bardo, Maher Kanzari Aims to Maintain a Positive Streak of Results
The Press — This afternoon, "blood and gold" coach Maher Kanzari will take to a familiar terrain as he faces his former club, Stade Tunisien, a team he knows inside out, having trained them during the first half of the previous season. That being said, Kanzari and his players have a psychological advantage over their hosts, having beaten them in the Tunisian Cup and Super Cup in the 2023-2024 season. At the start of this season, Espérance once again emerged victorious, winning the Tunisian Super Cup for the 2024-2025 season.
Convincing Performance in View of the Champions League
However, two significant factors must be taken into consideration by the "Blood and Gold" team, despite their psychological advantage. Stade Tunisien is known for being particularly tough at home, and the rivalry between the two teams means that the Stadistes will be looking to stop the reigning Tunisian champions, who are on a two-game winning streak, in order to avenge their losses in the last three titles.
That being said, Maher Kanzari knows better than anyone that, despite the last two victories, he is still under pressure. To silence his critics, he needs to secure a third consecutive win, which would help him build momentum two weeks ahead of the first preliminary round of the Champions League, where they will face the Nigerien Armed Forces Sports Association on September 21. A convincing performance in the championship matches in preparation for the Champions League should help reduce the pressure on the technical staff and players.
Full Strength Ahead
Yan Sasse, who was injured during the last championship match against ASS, has had ample time to recover during the FIFA window. As a result, the "blood and gold" coach can count on a full-strength squad. With Youssef Belaïli's current good form and the positive impressions made by new recruits, such as Algerian right-winger Kouceila Boualia and right-back Ibrahima Keita, the technical staff has all the cards in hand to succeed in their mission to Bardo.
