We can beat anyone anywhere, says Mazembe coach TP Mazembe coach is confident his team would be able to overcome the poor start they made to their African Champions League group-stage campaign.
Despite a slow start to their African Champions League Group B campaign, TP Mazembe coach Lamine Ndiaye voiced optimism over his side's chances to reach the competition's semis. The 2009 and 2010 African champions are third in Group B with a solitary point after slumping to a 2-1 defeat by Ahly in Cairo before being held to a draw 2-2 at home to Ghana's Berekum Chelsea. "The situation is very complicated but we should not be desperate. We can beat anyone anywhere," Lamine Ndiaye told the club's official website on Tuesday. "We have to work hard to recover. We should avoid the mistakes which we made in our past two games." Ndiaye hit back at critics suggesting that Mazembe suffered because of poor fitness levels, having lost to Ahly in injury time before surrendering a two-goal first-half lead against Chelsea. ''All these claims are nonsense. We have been playing with the same system since my arrival. We practice a scientific program with a very professional physical trainer. "The problem was that the players lost concentration in the dying minutes. They committed several defensive mistakes as a result," he added. "We lost four solid defenders who left the club during the past two years. Their absence affected the team's defence.'' The DR Congo champions will host Zamalek in their next Group B game on 4 August in Lubumbashi. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)
