Esperance coach Maaloul keeps cool before the clash

Esperance's striker Oussama Darragi vies with Al-Ahly defender Ahmed Sayed Tunisia’s Esperance coach Nabil Maaloul is looking for a friendly atmosphere ahead of hosting Egypt’s Ahly on 30 July in the second round of the African Champions League group stage .
Despite winning 2-1 at home in the first leg, the Cairo giants were eliminated from the semi-final in last year’s edition by Esperance after a 1-0 defeat in the second leg in Tunisia.
Esperance’s striker Osama Draghi recently declared that the Red Devils will be seeking revenge on his team, but his coach denies this theory.
“It will not be a revenge game as it comes in the group stage, not the semi final like last year,” Maaloul told Ahram online on Wednesday.
Ahly opened their group stage campaign with a 3-3 home draw against Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca last week, while Esperance’s game with Algerian side Mouloudia ended with a 1-1 draw.
Both Ahly and Esperance will be eyeing the game’s three points to clinch the group summit and Maaloul is convinced that luck will play instrumental role in the anticipated game.
“The most lucky team will have the upper hand. We are not expecting a definite result as both of us are strong opponent for the other,” the 48-year-old coach said.
From ahramonline .