Ahly are determined to avoid last year's shock of failing to qualify for the African Champions League group stage as they eye a record-extending ninth title, coach Juan Carlos Garrido said. The Red Devils suffered a stunning last-16 exit at the hands of Libya's Ahli Benghazi last year and were demoted to the Confederation Cup, which they won to become the first Egyptian side to clinch the title of Africa's secondary club competition. They opened this year's Champions League campaign with an easy 2-0 victory away to Rwanda's APR in the first leg of the competition's round of 32. "After what happened last year, all the players are fully focused on winning the title of the most important competition in Africa, because we also want to return to the Club World Cup," Spanish coach Garrido said in an interview with Ahram's sports magazine. "We want to keep our chances from the very beginning to avoid a repeat of last year's early elimination. We should be consistent from the beginning." Garrido took over at Ahly last summer at a time when several key players had already announced their retirement, including talismanic playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika and rock-solid defender Wael Gomaa. The team have been shaky this term in the Egyptian Premier League but still managed to claim two titles under Garrido's guidance - the Confederation Cup and the Egyptian Super Cup. However, the former Villarreal boss is aware Ahly's demanding supporters have limited patience when it comes to how their team fare. "This is natural for big teams. I knew after I took charge of Ahly that their fans will not be satisfied unless their team win matches and trophies all the time," Garrido added. "I know that we are always under pressure because of that but this is actually a good thing." Ahly are seeking to equal their own record of winning nine titles in a row but they are facing tough competition from Cairo's bitter rivals Zamalek, who look well equipped to end their 11-year league drought. Zamalek, who spent heavily last summer to bolster an underachieving side, are on top of the table with 48 points, five ahead of nearest challengers ENPPI and nine clear of third-placed Ahly, who can close the gap to six points if they win their game in hand. "We lost concentration in the league at the beginning of the season because we were focusing on the Confederation Cup. Otherwise things would have been different by now," Garrido said. "Zamalek are having a good season and their squad is excellent. Other teams are performing well too, including ENPPI." (For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/126671.aspx
