Manager-less Zamalek will be keen to avoid equaling their worst record of defeats in a single Egyptian Premier League season as they try to arrest a slump in form against Arab Contractors on Wednesday. The White Knights will be led by Khaled Galal, a caretaker coach, after Ehab Galal was sacked following a run of three straight defeats that all but ended their hopes of finishing second and earning African Champions League qualification. Zamalek, who were also knocked out of the African Confederation Cup at the first hurdle, remain third in the table but are six points behind Ismaily, who still have a game in hand, with only three matches remaining. They will be desperate not to concede a 10th league defeat which will equal their worst record when they also suffered 10 losses in the 2008-09 season. With nothing to play for in the league, Zamalek are likely to turn their attention to the Egypt Cup, a competition they won four straight times between 2013 and 2016. According to local reports, Khaled Galal will remain in charge of the team until the end of the season. The ailing Cairo giants are reportedly in talks with Swiss manager Christian Gross to take over in the summer. Against 12th-placed Arab Contractors, Zamalek will miss skipper Hazem Emam and playmaker Mohamed Ibrahim who are still punished by the club for disciplinary problems. They will also have to do without regular keeper and Egyptian international Ahmed El-Shennawi, who suffered a serious knee injury in the 2-1 defeat by Ittihad last week which ruled him out of the summer World Cup in Russia. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
