MC Alger manager Khaled Ben Yahia has revealed that he was initially told Orlando Pirates were "from another planet" before their CAF Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.
The South African side secured a narrow 1-0 victory over the Algerian giants, gaining an important advantage ahead of the return leg.
Read: MC Alger star after Pirates defeat: We were better
Mohau Nkota scored the only goal of the match in the 65th minute, giving the visitors a crucial away goal. Despite the result, MC Alger dominated possession, registered more shots on target, and completed more passes.
Ben Yahia has now admitted that at first, he was wary of Pirates due to their reputation but grew more confident as the match progressed.
"We lost a match that we prepared for at all levels," the head coach claimed, according to AfricaFootUnited.com
"The disappointment is twofold. What our players did was extraordinary—they suffocated the opponent. We cornered them with our high pressing.
"The Orlando players couldn't even string two or three passes together because of how aggressively our players harassed them. At first, I was afraid because I was told this Orlando team was from another planet. However, as the minutes passed, we took control of the game, and our players gained confidence.
"Unfortunately, we weren't clinical in front of goal. This defeat hurts us, especially since the crowd was there to support us.
"My players did everything we planned for before the match. We insisted on staying focused and avoiding mistakes, but unfortunately, we lacked efficiency. I hope we'll be even better in the future."*
Looking ahead to the return leg, which will take place on Wednesday, 9 April, in Johannesburg, Ben Yahia added:
"We will fight in the second leg. We have a strong team with the necessary chemistry. We must stay calm and work hard to do what is needed."
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By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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