Zamalek coach Moemen Soliman is insisting his side can come and overcame a 3-0 deficit against Mamelodi Sundowns when they host the second leg of the African Champions League final in Alexandria on Sunday. The 42-year-old, only appointed in August, was speaking after the loss in Saturday’s first leg in Atteridgeville.

Reaction to the result

“I have a certain thing in my mind that I have to study and my players must take an exam. At times we made big mistakes. That I cannot live with. But I cannot blame any players. If I blame them now, I cannot play another game. I still have confidence in my players. They are big players and they deserve to be in the final. But we made two really big mistakes that costs us. I cannot understand that we committed these naïve mistakes in the final of the Champions League. But it happens in football. I can live with it. We started the game good and we controlled it until the first goal came. After that, the game changed. I lost control, to be honest. The spectators were very loud so my players didn’t hear me. The game went the other way. But I have confidence in my players and I promise you you, you will find another team in Egypt. I’ve already started to speak about the next game with my players. We have to move on. To win the Champions League you have to overcome big hurdles. We have had a very tough game but we’ll give them (Sundowns) a tough game in Egypt.”

On Sundowns’ performance

“Of course, I admire the work of the coach (Pitso) Mosimane. I know that the football they gave us, is fantastic football. You need a long time (working) to do this. I haven’t had the luxury of that time, to impose my philosophy. I’ve had just two and a half months with the players and just 20 sessions from the day I came into the club. I didn’t have time. Time is my enemy now.”

On playing a 3pm kick off

“The weather is not different to what we have in Egypt but the only thing is that we always play at night time. Mosimane is a clever coach to change the time. I admire him.”

On a Zamalek comeback

“We have to go through the dark to the light but we can do it. They are strong and they are fast. We just have to be stronger and have to be faster and we can do this. We have the best players in Egypt. So we can do it. I hope it will be our day.”