Ahli manager Hossam Al-Badri outclassed his Zamalek counterpart Hossam Hassan in what can be regarded as an emphatic victory for the Reds over their bitter rivals. But this game wasn't just about a one-night matchday confrontation; the victory was a result of clever work on and off the pitch from the Red camp. It was not Jose Mourinho tactically outclassing one of his fierce competitors with an impeccable strategy, but was rather a conclusion of a nervy contest between Egypt's top duo this season. Off the pitch Mind games and pre-match hype are integral ahead of any top clash, and this time Ahli played it right to make things easier on Wednesday night. Both team managers relatively ended the season on a high, with Ahli crowned league champions and Zamalek enjoying a significant revival under Hassan's guidance. However, the Zamalek boss' antics after the 3-3 league thriller last month reflected a principle of ''We can't lose''; and this doesn't have a place in football. I think Hassan's over-enthusiasm backfired on his team, because the majority of Zamalek patrons didn't imagine the possibility of losing the cup under the Dean. Over-confidence rather than caution dominated Zamalek players' pre-match mood against a team that have just been morale-boosted with the league title. Despite the perfect start on the night, the 'confident' Zamalek players failed to overcome the pressure of defending their lead. In other words, confidence was transformed to extra pressure for a team that have been underachieving, especially against their arch-rivals, during the past six years.
Over-confidence rather than caution dominated Zamalek players' pre-match mood against a team that have just been morale-boosted with the league title. On the contrary, Al-Badri, who silenced many skeptics by grabbing the league title and guiding Ahli to the Champions League knockouts, kept his cool after a tense period threatening his future with the club. The Ahli boss did not roar: 'We are the champions' or 'We have the upper hand' when he had the chance to do so. He chose not to match the mounting tension created by the opponents in order to avoid any unnecessary pressure on his players. He just said he hopes to win against Zamalek and edge closer to the domestic double. Al-Badri's composure was also tested at the time when his job was very insecure and he showed no extravagant reaction after cementing his position on the Ahli bench as well. Tactical victory It has to be said that Hossam Hassan made a huge impact on Zamalek, denoted by his successful execution to the 4-4-2 formation. However, the Dean's management to the match on Wednesday has been anything but competent. After losing holding midfielder Ibrahim Salah to injury early on, Hassan reacted poorly by throwing left back Sabri Rahil into that critical position, inexplicably keeping Egypt regular Hani Saied on the bench. The tactical error was crucial enough to dismantle the Whites' midfield and give Ahli trio Abou-Treika, Barakat and Ahmed Hassan more freedom upfront. Al-Badri, on the other hand, played a masterstroke to giving the resilient Hossam Ashour the task of tightly-marking Shikabala; Zamalek's top player. The Ahli tactician also opted to use the three-man line of Treika, Hassan and Barakat as his primary attacking force, rather than playing with another striker beside Fadl. This, along with Rahil's virtual absence, gave Ahli the upper hand in midfield, before the Reds established a stranglehold on the game to win with ease.
