Santos Ahead of RS Berkane Clash: 'A Historic Moment for Both Teams, No Clear Favorite'
AS FAR coach Alexandre Santos affirmed that the second-leg match against RS Berkane in the CAF Champions League semi-finals represents a historic milestone for the club, emphasizing the importance of the encounter and the strength of their opponent.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Santos stated, "It's the second leg, and it's a great honor to be here. This is the first time in my career in Morocco that I've reached this stage, and it's a historic event for the club."
He added, "This is the first time we've reached the semi-finals in 40 years, which is a significant and very important achievement for AS FAR."
The Portuguese coach further highlighted the strength of Moroccan football, saying, "This reflects the great development of Moroccan football, with two teams in the semi-finals, which is very honorable."
Santos stressed that the tie has no clear favorite, explaining, "There is no advantage for one team over the other. It's like going into the dressing room at halftime when you're leading 2-0; there are still 45 minutes left in the game. Here, it's even more so, as there are at least 90 full minutes to play."
He also spoke about the similar levels of the two teams: "They are two balanced, tactically strong teams that have shown good performance, reflecting the quality of football in Morocco and Africa."
Santos continued, discussing the first leg: "The first match ended in our favor because we deserved it and delivered a good performance. Now we are in the 'second half,' and anything can change because that is football."
He added, "I hope it will be a great match from everyone – from each team and even from the refereeing crew – because that is important for delivering good officiating and a high-level game."
He concluded by saying, "We are proud of the group we have. We have worked for 14 months, and we will try to present our usual style: possession, creating chances, and not conceding goals."
The match will take place tomorrow, Saturday, at the Municipal Stadium of Berkane, kicking off at 8:00 PM. The first leg concluded with a 2-0 victory for AS FAR.
