- Tusker FC head coach Julien Mette takes pride in his squad’s performance despite their narrow 1-0 loss to AFC Leopards.
- Mette admits that AFC Leopards are the best team he has faced since taking over the reins and stated they were superior on Sunday, March 22.
- It was Hassan Beja who scored the lone goal in the second half at Nyayo National Stadium.
Tusker FC head coach Julien Mette stated that he was not looking to point fingers after their narrow 1-0 away loss to AFC Leopards at Nyayo Stadium, admitting Ingwe were the superior side and that he still takes immense pride in his squad.
Mette was overseeing his fifth match on Sunday in the SportPesa league since he took over the reins with the Brewers, and he was seeking his fourth straight victory having lost his debut 1-0 to Shabana FC.
However, they met a stubborn Fred Ambani charges who pressed hard until they found the only breakthrough in the second half in the 80th minute, when Hassan Beja managed to break the deadlock from a loosely defended attack, as AFC Leopards managed to grab the three points at home.
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Tusker FC head coach Julien Mette takes pride in squad
Speaking to the club media after the match, the Frenchman stated that as much as the outcome was not going their way, he is proud of the boys for the performance they put on in that encounter, stating that AFC Leopards were unfortunately the stronger side.
“It’s a mix between proud of the players, the way they play as a team. As you can see, for example, Ettyang, who saved the team on the edge of the box at the end with the tackle.
I think the wingers and the attackers were not able to defend that way some weeks ago. So I’m proud of this, but I’m disappointed, of course, by the result. But not too much, because I think Leopard is better than us and they have a lot of good players,” Mette stated.
In addition, Mette explained that as much as the loss comes in, he also wanted to see how the players would react to such a match with high intensity and a lot of fans who were against them.
“So I think we expected a draw, but let’s accept the defeat. It’s a little break of our good dynamics, but I wanted to see my player in this type of atmosphere with a lot of fans against us, with a good team because it’s the best team we’ve competed with since I’m here. They gave me a good answer, so I’m pretty proud,” he added.
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He also explained what really went wrong on their side and the tactical mishaps that led to their 10th loss of the season and his second with the club since he took over from Charles Okere.
What went wrong was some little detail of managing strong moment of the opponent. When the opponent has strong moment you have to manage some little detail like breaking the rhythm.
If they want to play fast you have to play slow, you have to impose the opposite that they want. So if they want to play long ball you have to force them to play short pass etc etc.
And also late comeback from attackers. It happens because the team against us today was faster, stronger and more powerful. Not so much, but a little more than us. So at the end, we concede at 80, I think. So it means that you have endurance, you have stamina, you also have mental endurance, but at a certain moment of time, it’s too much for you.”
Tusker are currently in seventh place on the log with 37 points from 25 SportPesa League rounds, and Mette has already ruled himself out of winning the title, stating his main focus remains on the FKF Cup, where they will be playing in the Round of 16.
They have been paired alongside another SportPesa League side, Kariobangi Sharks, with the fixtures set for April 11-12.
