A couple of unsatisfying results early in the Egyptian Premier League was enough reason for Zamalek's board to take a firm action, which was replacing head coach Michel Decastel with Henri Michel. This snap decision reflects how intolerant the White Knights are of anyone whom they think could cause the team to miss out on a league triumph this season. The officials' good intentions are unquestionable and their strict policy is what Zamalek have long needed, but their impulsiveness could abysmally affect the team rather than sort things out. Zamalek invested a lot of money and time in rebuilding their squad, and the prospect that their efforts will be to no avail is the unthinkable from them, and thus they are trying to deal with problems instantly. The Cairo giants indeed boast a remarkable group of players that no one has ever dreamt of, therefore officials and fans alike have been anticipating an immediate improvement, in terms of victories. Zamalek's emphatic 3-1 win over ENPPI in the opening league match was perceived as an undeniable indication that their lengthy title drought would finally come to an end. But the five-time African champions have been in a state of disarray for more than a week after, following a 2-1 loss to a stubborn Petrojet side and a controversial 2-2 draw with Arab Contractors. No one would disagree that Decastle failed to manage Zamalek properly in the last two games, but did he deserve to be shown the door? The Swiss tactician was installed at Zamalek last January when they were struggling in the middle of the league table. He made a substantial impact at a short notice by promoting several youngsters, who proved their worth in no time and stemmed the tide to help a relegation-threatened Zamalek finish in sixth place. In the close season a multitude of newcomers linked up with the promising youngsters at Zamalek, to form a whole new squad.
I wonder whether Zamalek really believe that Michel is capable of leading a turnaround in their fortunes, or he was just the first option they thought of after deciding to dismiss Decastel. Decastle probably didn't have enough time to fully discover his players' abilities, so I would say that firing him was unfair, even if he didn't live up to expectations in a couple of matches. Actions must have been taken after Zamalek's lackluster performances, but sacking the very man who was hailed few months ago was definitely a hasty move that may take its toll on the team. More importantly, is Michel the right person for the job? Despite his imposing profile, the Frenchman barley came up with the goods during his first Zamalek stint that started nearly three years ago. The 11-time Egyptian champions were disappointing on all fronts under Michel, whose managerial approach was far from suitable, not to mention his numerous disagreements with the board. The former Ivory Coast boss ended his dull spell at Zamalek in the worst possible way after announcing his departure all of a sudden, while the team were preparing for the 2007-2008 season. Some papers mentioned at the time that his acrimonious exit was made because he found out that his players were eating junk food. Other reports put it down to the board's refusal to offload several figures upon his request, whereas pundits suggested that Michel only left to take charge of Morocco. In all cases, his sudden departure clearly showed lack of commitment and professionalism. So I wonder whether Zamalek really believe he's capable of leading a turnaround in their fortunes, or he was just the first option they thought of after deciding to dismiss Decastel. Zamalek need to mull things over before making big decisions if they are to keep alive their hopes of revitalizing, otherwise they might be looking for another manager once the league has resumed.
