Jose feels the heat as Ahly visit Haras El-Hodoud

Ahly's once untouchable coach begins to feel the heat as Ahly take on Haras El-Hodoud in Alexandria on Wednesday

Some below-par displays put Manuel Jose, the architect of Ahly's hugely successful era last decade, under unusual pressure ahead of Wednesday's Egyptian Premier League game against the stuttering Haras El-Hodoud.
The Portuguese tactician, who guided the Red Devils to a host of domestic and continental trophies between 2004 and 2009, returned to the club in January to rescue a side that faltered under Hossam El-Badry in the first half of the season.
He helped Ahly narrow the gap with arch-rivals and league leaders Zamalek to one point, but last Friday's disappointing 2-2 draw with El-Entag El-Harby, combined with previous unconvincing displays, have set alarm bells ringing.
Zamalek are now three points clear of their bitter foes, Egypt's undisputed number one club who are aiming to clinch a seventh consecutive league title, with eight matches remaining.
Local press said Jose launched a scathing attack on his players in the dressing room following the game, which Ahly were on the verge of losing before a header from substitute Abdel-Hamid Shabana deep in stoppage time secured a share of spoils.
But the 65-year-old coach remains confident his side can win their sixth league accolade under his guidance, and the 36th in the club's history.
“We still have a chance; nothing has been settled yet. We have to treat every coming game as a cup final, starting with the Haras El-Hodoud encounter,” he said.
“We should not be too nervous and we should avoid talking to the referee during the game,” he added, as reports suggested there was a rift between him and team skipper Hossam Ghaly after the latter confronted the referee following El-Entag's defeat.
El-Hodoud, who won the Egyptian Cup in the past two seasons, are enduring a bad run of form and are yet to guarantee Premier League safety as they lie just five points above of the relegation zone .
Abou-Treika back
Jose, a cult figure among Ahly's faithful, was blamed for consistently choosing unsuitable starting line-ups before making effective substitutions at the halfway stage of the match or in the second half, changes which sometimes proved too late.
Fans are also puzzled as to why the former Angola manager snubbed playmaker Amir Sayoud of late, although the Algerian showcased his promising talent during the few appearances he made.
Other notable players who are now playing a bit-part role are midfield duo Shehab Ahmed and Ahmed Hassan, the veteran Egypt skipper who was linked in the media with a shock move to Zamalek at the end of the season.
Jose will have inspirational playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika, who reached the league's 100-goal milestone last January, available against El-Hodoud after he recovered from injury.
It remains to be seen whether he would be included in the starting XI, given his sluggish performances in the second half of the season amid calls for him to hang up his boots.
Striker Osama Hosny was excluded after missing some easy goal-scoring opportunities against El-Entag.
El-Hodoud are eager to snap a four-match winless run, having last won when they defeated Arab Contractors 1-0 in April.
Egypt forward Ahmed Eid is fit to feature in the game after recovering from injury.