In a press conference held in Cairo, 48-year-old Frenchman Patrice Carteron expressed how happy and proud he was to be coaching Egypt's Ahly, “such a big and famous team”, reports Inas Mazhar. Carteron revealed how he had gladly accepted the offer because he knew all about the club's great football achievements in Africa and that he didn't have to think about it or have any second thoughts. Carteron is no stranger to Egyptian football, being a former head coach to club Wadi Degla, one of the main reasons he was selected for Ahly. According to the club's management, the Frenchman was chosen by Ahly's Football Committee from a long list of coaches. According to the committee, “the Frenchman was selected for his young age compared to other football coaches, as he's only 48 years old and also because Carteron was familiar with the Egyptian domestic league competition and had a good knowledge of the Egyptian Premier League players in general, and Ahly players in particular, since he coached Wadi Degla in the 2016/2017 season and with whom he had achieved great progress”. The former coach of Phoenix Rising, Al-Nassr, Wadi Degla, TP Mazembe and Mali signed up for the eight-time African champions Ahly to a two-year contract. “I am very happy to be here at Ahly. I respect all the players and I am very motivated by the fans' enthusiasm,” the Frenchman said, expressing gratitude to the club. He also thanked his coaching staff and assistants especially the general coach Mohamed Youssef, who is also the club's new football director. “Mohamed has been so helpful introducing me to everyone and everything, getting me acquainted with all the details. I also thank him for his selection of the experienced technical coaching assistants and the medical and administrative staff who will be working with us. I trust his judgment and selection and I am sure we will all be good working together. “My targets with Ahly are as follows: results, results, results. And it will always be that way, always, results leading to winning. Any coach in charge of Ahly should always consider winning. Results must be the aim of any coach leading Ahly.” Carteron then spoke about his vision for the coming period with the team resuming its participation in the African Champions League soon and how he intends to lead the team to a better position in the group stage. “For the African Champions League competition, I know it is not easy and we are in a critical situation and challenge, but we have no other way but to admit the difficulty of our situation, deal with it and fight for improving our situation,” said the newly-appointed coach. Ahly had had a bad run in the group stage of the African Champions League with their former head coach Hossam Al-Badri playing to a goalless draw at home against Tunisian giants Esperance, before losing to Kampala 2-0 and falling to the bottom of Group A with only one point from their opening two matches. A loss to bitter crosstown rivals Zamalek in the last game of the domestic league, followed by an early departure from the cup also helped lead to Al-Badri's ouster. “Our position in the group stage standings is unacceptable. We must put in more effort, build up our strength and recuperate. I am a football lover and I always work until the last second,” Carteron told reporters at the press conference which was held at the club's premises in Gezira.
