Ferreira Blames Circumstances as a Zamalek Legend Demands His Exit

Ferreira Sees Frustration After Draw

The Belgian-Belgian, Yanik Ferreira, Zamalek’s head coach, voiced disappointment after the team collected more points lost in a 1-1 stalemate with Ghazl El Mahalla on Saturday in the tenth round of the Egyptian Premier League, dated October 4, 2025.

He noted that the match, held at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia, saw his side control proceedings yet fail to secure the win, ending with a shared spoils result.

Dominance Wasted by Two Mistakes

Ferreira told the press that the players performed well and controlled the game, but two defensive errors ruined the chance for victory, which he described as very frustrating.

He added: "The biggest frustration is losing points the opponent didn’t deserve, and this has happened in back-to-back matches. We must be patient as we return to victory."

Rotations, Attack, and a Pattern Across Matches

The coach explained making three substitutions for players who had not played together before, aiming to boost the attack. Some changes were due to injuries, others to the players’ heavy workloads.

Ferreira stressed: "We have great flexibility in attack; several players operated in different roles. We reached the opponent’s goal many times, but the finishing was lacking."

He added that every game has a different script, yet the common thread is scoring first and then conceding for various reasons—examples range from defensive errors to individual lapses, with tonight’s goal traced to a mispositioning by a single defender.

"We must move forward," he declared, noting that patience is essential until the team regains its winning form.

In a notable moment, Ferreira acknowledged the lineup changes and their purpose, including adaptations to match conditions and injuries, while reaffirming the team’s offensive flexibility.

Call for Change from a Zamalek Legend

Meanwhile, Hazem Emam, a club legend, urged Ferreira to step down due to the ongoing point losses and repeated errors. He highlighted that Zamalek had not won in their last three matches—draws with El Gouna and Ghazl Mahalla sandwiched a prior defeat to Al Ahly—and argued that the second half often presented problems when the team was pressed.

Emam praised Mahalla’s disciplined defense that squeezed space and suggested the Whites’ lack of sustained pressure also contributed to the result, asserting that the club must hold coaches more accountable and that Ferreira bears responsibility along with some players.

He pointed to specific incidents, noting a first-rate error by Mahmoud Bentayk and that Mohamed Sobhi struggled with a cross, plus mispasses that could have gone to Juan Alvina. He added that the team needs to convert chances and finish matches quickly rather than leaving things unresolved, as this season’s pattern has cost several points.

Emam also observed that Ghazl Mahalla’s manager Alaa Abdel Aal framed draws as a regular part of football, stressing that the league’s hardest fixtures demand focus and sharp counters.

As for the standings, Zamalek sit with 18 points in second place behind the leaders on goal difference after a winless run extended to three games.

Alaa Abdel Aal… Reasons for the Comeback

The Ghazl Mahalla coach argued that a string of draws isn’t inherently negative, arguing their fixtures are tough and relies on fast counter-attacks that troubled Zamalek, including a fast transition that they could not handle on the night.

He added that Zamalek must seize chances and close games more decisively to avoid slipping further in the race for the title, noting Mahalla’s strategic resilience as a source of pride for his side. The league, meanwhile, records Mahalla as one of the most frequent draw specialists this season, with eight ties from ten games.

In short, the match underscored a controversial moment in a season that remains undecided, with debates about form, depth, and leadership continuing to swirl around the club.

Caption: Ferreira on the touchline as Zamalek’s hopes waver after a 1-1 draw with Ghazl Mahalla.

Punchline 1: If patience were a striker, we’d be six goals up by now—alas, it’s still warming the bench.

Punchline 2: Ferreira’s tactics are so subtle that even the scoreboard needs subtitles.