CAIRO - Al-Ahly coach Manuel Jose Da Silva regrets his team losing 1-0 in their Egypt Cup round of 16 match against Enppi, describing the team as passing through a transitional phase. "The team are now passing through a transitional phase, but of course the fans always want us to win," Jose told sport programme 'El-Koora and Shobeir', presented by Ahmed Shobeir on Modern Koora TV satellite channel. He added that he is sure that the fans still trust him. "Although we have bowed out of two competitions, the fans still trust me. "Really I am sorry for what has happened. I'm to blame and I apologise to all the Red Devils fans," the Portuguese coach added, pointing out that Egypt Cup often witnesses surprises. The Egypt Cup result means that the Red Devils have kissed goodbye to a second tournament in less than a week, following their African Champions League exit. "I understand the sadness of the fans' and I am sorry for that, but this is football. No team wins all the time," Jose said. He stressed that he has given ten of the first team players seven days' rest till the start of October, so they can recharge their batteries. "They're tired; they're in dire need of a rest and a holiday." The ten players are Ahmed Adel Abdel-Moneim, Wael Gomaa, Sayyed Moa'wad, Ahmed Fathi, Mohamed Shawqi, Hossam Ghali, Hossam Ashour, Mohamed Naggi 'Gedo', Mohamed Abou Treika and Emad Me'teab. Local soccer experts say Al-Ahly lost in the Egypt Cup because Jose used the wrong formation. "The coach should surely take the blame 100 per cent, because he chose the wrong players and made the wrong changes during the game," Hassan el-Mestikawi, one expert, said. "I don't care about what the press say about me but I won't let anyone attack my players because they are my weapons," Jose commented. He added that he is satisfied with the new players the club has signed this season. The 64-year-old coach stressed his confidence in these players, although, at a big club like Ahly, they'll be now be playing under a lot of pressure. Jose said that the Red Devils' fans are used to winning, so he understands their anger for their club, which he loves too. "I have worked hard and the players have also done their best. Really I love this country and this club. The future is for us. We are now building a new team that can win all the titles and the coming tournaments,” he stressed. Some media reports claim that the team have a goalkeeper problem, but Jose denies this. "We have three great goalkeepers: Sherif Ekrami, who has a strong personality; Ahmed Adel Abdel-Moneim, who performed well in the team's last match and is learning from his mistakes; and Mahmoud Abul-Souad, who has joined us from Mansoura.” As for Zamalek's new coach Hassan Shehata and the competition with the White Knights, Jose praised the former Egypt trainer, saying that the White Knights will have a new look this season under the new coaching staff. "Shehata is a good, skilled coach who achieved much for the country. So I think that Zamalek will be better this season.” Meanwhile, Ahly's international defender Wael Gomaa spoke out against the criticism of Jose. “I don't accept these fierce attacks on Jose. He has led the team to 21 titles and deserves our support. "I am sure that having a rest will help us prepare for the Premier League and enable us to win the title for the eighth year on the trot. We will not judge Jose now,” he commented. Jose, at the end of his televised remarks, declined to comment on the EFA contracting former USA coach Bob Bradley to coach the Egyptian national team in the coming period. "I met him only one time when he visited Ahly, but I don't know him well,” he said.
