Following Wednesday’s CAF Champions League 2-1 win over MC Alger; coach of MFM FC, Fidelis Ilechukwu has revealed his lack of satisfaction at the quality of players at his disposal.
He opened up on this during the post match conference while talking about how the cold weather could be an advantage for the Algerian side when they travel to Algeria for the second leg of the tie.
“It’s part of football. We have the advantage of sun here but we didn’t use it, so its their advantage,” he said.
“If as a coach you ask me, MFM is supposed to travel four days to that time for training but if you don’t have that advantage what are you going to go? You make use of what you have to play. If I, Fidelis Ilechukwu have the advantage to get the players of my type I don’t think I will be here talking but for now, this is what we have now.”
“I don’t care what people are saying in the media that Fidelis Ilechukwu is saying that the team is not capable. When I have what is capable to get what I want, I will tell you. I’m a positive person. I coach the team. I know what I have in the team. If you want me to keep on saying all is well when all is not well, I’m not such coach and I can never be,” he added.
Going into the second leg, Ilechukwu said: “I’ve watched 3 or 4 of their games so I know the Algerian side before they came. I know they are going to come all out for the three points and we are going to do same. It’s only the weather that might make a little difference but we will work under it.”
Last time out, the North Africans lost 0-2 away to Congolese side, AS Otoho but returned home to thrash them 9-0. With an away goal in Nigeria, it looks more of a set back for the Olukoya boys against the free scoring side. So what would be your approach going into that game?
“I don’t know much about them scoring a lot of goals. We Nigerians, if we score a lot of goals at home, people starting complaining about the Nigerian League so I don’t have that mentality. If they score a lot of goals, we have good defenders.”
