Al Ahly head coach Marcel Koller stated that his team faces a tough match on Friday against CR Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League. He emphasized that the opponent is a strong team with quality players and that the difficulty of the match has increased due to CR Belouizdad's current position in the group, which puts them under significant pressure.
During a press conference held today to discuss the game, Koller, in statements relayed by Al Ahly's official website, said that CR Belouizdad showed their strength in the first half of their 6-1 defeat to Al Ahly in Cairo on December 22. They also delivered a good performance in the second half of their match against Orlando Pirates despite losing. This, he stressed, necessitates a highly focused performance from Al Ahly in tomorrow’s game.
He added that Al Ahly is ready for the match and has considered all possibilities, particularly since CR Belouizdad will be striving for a positive result to take advantage of their home ground and fan support. However, Koller expressed confidence in his team’s ability to overcome the challenge and secure a win or at least return with a point.
Koller revealed that he spoke with his players after the match in Cairo and emphasized the importance of moving past that game and focusing fully on tomorrow’s clash. He expressed confidence in Al Ahly’s extensive experience and ability to adapt to all match conditions.
When asked about Al Ahly's absences, Koller responded that he is accustomed to dealing with such situations. Ahly will likely be without the services of right fullbacks Mohamed Hany and Omar Kamal as well as attackers Reda Slim and Taher Mohamed.
Koller explained that the team has 32 players of the same high caliber, acknowledging that injuries are possible due to the tight schedule. He also noted that he consistently discusses this point with the players to overcome challenges and deliver performances befitting a team of Al Ahly’s stature and strength.
CR Belouizdad will host Al Ahly tomorrow, Friday, at the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers, as part of the fourth round of matches in the CAF Champions League group stage.
CAF Champions League - Group C Standings
1. Al Ahly (Egypt): 7 points
2. Orlando Pirates (South Africa): 5 points
3. CR Belouizdad (Algeria): 3 points
4. Stade d'Abidjan (Ivory Coast): 1 point
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