Zamalek manager Hassan Shehata revealed that the prospect of entertaining fans paid off in his side's 6-1 drubbing of Ghazl Mahalla in the Egyptian Premier League on Wednesday. The Whites, who were demoralized by losing the cup title this month, found themselves one goal down early in the game against minnows Mahalla, before Mahmoud Fathallah, Amr Zaki, Ahmed Hassan, Mido and Hussein Hamdi secured a thumping victory. “Everyone knows the immense pressure Zamalek players get subjected to following any setback, thus I urged them to maintain concentration throughout the 90 minutes, having conceded goals in the dying minutes in previous games,” Zamalek boss Shehata told Al-Hayat TV after the game. “I called on them to perform without any pressure, just to focus on entertaining the fans.” Substitutes Shehata indicated that he was glad to see his work with strikers Mido and Hussein Hamdi bear fruit, as the duo came off the bench to score maiden goals. “I was keen not to field Mido in competitive matches until he completes his rehabilitation program, I worked also in helping Hussein Hamdi regain his lost confidence due to his inability to find the net in the recent cup games,” the former Egypt coach added. Mido marked his returning debut with his first goal when he notched home from the spot for his side's fifth of the day, before new-signing Hamdi netted his maiden goal few minutes later. The 11-time Egyptian champions face Gaish in their upcoming league fixture.
