After making it to the final of the CAF Champions League, Wydad AC gaffer Sven Vandenbroeck revealed what surprised him in their crunch tie against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Wydad AC drew 2-2 with the 2022/23 DStv Premiership champions to set a date against Al Ahly in the final.
Having played to a goalless draw in the first leg away in Morocco, the two away goals were enough to do the job.
Themba Zwane and Peter Shalulile were on target for Mamelodi Sundowns. Wydad AC got their goals from Ayoub El Amloud and an own goal scored by Mothobi Mvala.
WHAT SURPRISED SVEN VANDENBROECK
In the pulsating match, Wydad AC coach Sven Vandenbroeck was left in awe by how his men applied themselves.
The Belgian tactician took over the Red Castle a fortnight ago amid chaos in the Moroccan team.
But how the players suddenly turned their screws on to brush Mamelodi Sundowns aside surprised Vandenbroeck.
“I came in two weeks ago, and when I spoke to people in the club, there was a lot of negativity in the club,” said Vandenbroeck.
“A lot was being said that this one does that, but in two weeks’ time, they reunited again.
“As you saw in the two games, this was a team on the pitch. Maybe in the first game, they surprised me, but I expected a little bit more quality in possession.
“But today, they stunned me with their mentality. And their group spirit and also in the scores because I gave them [Mamelodi Sundowns] a chance to go through more than us. But in the end, experience won over quality.”
Vandenbroeck and his men now face Al Ahly in the final. The Egyptians beat Esperance Tunis 1-0 in the CAF Champions League semi-final second leg on Friday.
The Red Devils, who were defeated by Sundowns when they met in the group stages in this edition, progressed with a 4-0 aggregate.
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