Chelsea not out but defiant
by Gary Al-Smith 21 August 2012, 10:43
Berekum Chelsea coach Hans Van Der Pluym has insisted that his side is not out of the Caf Champions League despite a 1-1 draw with Ahly on Sunday. The Dutch man maintains his pride in the showing of his players.
"One of the best teams in Africa is Al Ahly. I think it was a good performace. I was proud of the way they played in the second half," he told SuperSport.com on Monday.
He admitted that the continuing problem of first half sluggishness remains a problem for him. "We didn't play so well in the first half and we really have to work on that. What we really have to work on is making use of possession."
"In the second half we were more aggressive But we were also better in defense than in other games, which is fine."
The Blues saw their ambitions of qualifying to the semi-finals hit by further four-time winners TP Mazembe who shocked Zamalek at home by winning 2-1 in Cairo. The result puts the Congolese side in second position and two points clear of their Ghanaian counterparts.
But the former Lions and AshGold boss is not throwing in the towel just yet.
"If you have a lucky day, some of the half chances we got we would have scored. But Basit missed his own chance and these thing happen."
Chelsea next play Zamalek in Cairo on the weekend of September 1-2, after which they host Mazembe in Ghana. It is now imperative that they win both games for any chance of advancing into the semis of the continent's elite club event.
