Patrice Beaumelle: ‘Every player, without exception, is concerned with the early final against Al Ahly’

French coach Patrice Beaumelle has expressed happiness after being appointed as the new head coach of Espérance Sportive de Tunis, while also addressing the highly anticipated showdown against Al Ahly SC in the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League.

Espérance officially confirmed Beaumelle’s appointment following the departure of Maher Kanzari, entrusting the French tactician with leading the Tunisian giants into a decisive stretch of the season.

Al Ahly secured qualification for the quarter-finals as group winners, while the “Blood and Gold” advanced as runners-up, setting up what many are calling an early final between two African powerhouses.

Speaking during his official unveiling press conference, Beaumelle expressed happiness about taking charge of the historic Tunisian club, according to Yallakora.

“I am very happy to be here today at a great and historic club like Espérance,” he said.

He also revealed discussions with Christian Bracconi, addressing the structural coordination within the club.

“I spoke with Christian Bracconi, who showed a strong desire to help the club. I warmly welcomed his presence with us. His role will be pivotal in coordinating between the first team and the youth sector to preserve the club’s identity.”

Turning his attention to the continental clash, Beaumelle described the encounter against Al Ahly as a “premature final,” but emphasized that the immediate focus remains on domestic competition.

“There is an early final between two giants of African football (Al Ahly), but our current focus is on the upcoming match against Métlaoui. During my initial assessment, I noticed that some players feel mentally constrained. My urgent task is to free them and relieve the pressure.”

He added:

“My first objective is to maintain the confidence currently within the squad and build on it. Every player, without exception, is concerned with the Al Ahly match. I believe three weeks are more than enough to accomplish many things and improve the team’s performance.”

⚽ Follow Pan-Africa Football across platforms for real-time news and stories.