CAIRO - AL-Ahly coach Manuel Jose d' Silva regretted his team's exit in the African Champions League (ACL), drawing at home to Esperance of Tunisia on Friday night. He said that the main reason for the team's exit was the first game against Wydad of Morocco in Cairo, which they drew 3-3. "I am the one who's responsible. No football team can continue winning forever," Jose told a press conference after the game, stressing that he is proud of the players and the fans. "I can't blame the players, the club's board or the fans, as they've all tried very hard," he added, promising the fans that the team will be better at this season Premier League. Al-Ahly, six-time champions, were knocked out from the ACL after a 1-1 draw to Esperance. Esperance topped Group B with ten points from six games, followed by Wydad, who were beaten 3-1 by Mouloudia Alger in Algeria, and Ahly, both on seven points, and then Mouloudia Alger on five. The head-to-head battle between Ahly and Wydad came down to away goals after they drew twice, with the Moroccans scoring three in Cairo and Ahly just one in Casablanca. The Portuguese coach acknowledged that the team didn't play well in the first half, pointing out that Esperance's goal came from an offside. "I can't comment on the refereeing, but I am really proud of my players,” he stressed. Jose had led Al-Ahly in five African championships, in four of which they've made it to the final. "I think the team will be stronger next year after we make new signings," he said. He added that the team might start using the 4-4-2 formation. Yaya Banana headed the Tunisian visitors into the lead, while Al-Ahly's midfielder Mohamed Abou Treika levelled in the second half, but a point was not enough for Ahly. The team's manager Sayyed Abdel-Hafiz also expressed his regret, blaming the Sudanese referee Khaled Abdel- Rahman. "The referee made many mistakes, including awarding the visitors a goal that was offside," Abdel-Hafiz said after the match.
