"Narrative Summit" Releases 2025 Recommendations to Cement Egypt's Position as a Global Tourism Destination    Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



El Khateeb holds urgent meeting over Al Ahly's biggest Champions League defeat
Cairo giants lost three out of four away matches this season
Published in Daily News Egypt on 10 - 04 - 2019

Chairperson of Al Ahly SC, Mahmoud El Khatib, held an urgent meeting, on Monday, with the club's football players and the coaching staff over the team's 5-0 defeat against South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals.
El Khatib met sat with the players before their training session at the club, expressing his disappointment over the players' performance in that game. He also criticised the coaching staff led by Uruguayan manager Martin Lasarte, accusing everyone of causing this huge loss which faded the team's hopes to win their first Champions League title since 2013.
However, El Khatib said there is still slight hope in the second leg match in Egypt, and called on the players to present a strong performance.
Al Ahly will need to score six goals against Sundowns next week to qualify for the semi-finals.
Al Ahly's fans were shocked after their team's huge loss, described by some as scandalous, which turned Al Ahly's dream to claim their ninth African title into ashes.
Lasarte was the main one to blame for the team's series of losses in Africa. Since he claimed the leadership of Al Ahly late last year, Lasarte played seven matches, of which four were outside Egypt. The team lost three of these away matches.
The Uruguayan so far showed a poor performance with Al Ahly in African clashes outside Egypt, especially that he keeps making changes in the team's formation that led them to collapse, as was the case against Sundowns.
Before Al Ahly, Lasarte has never played in African competitions, however he used to play in South America which is quiet similar to the atmosphere in Africa which makes his argument weak.
On the other hand, Lasarte presents a different performance in the Egyptian Premier League, as he managed to lead Al Ahly to achieve nine consecutive wins, bringing the club to the second place with only two-point difference from leading Zamalek. Al Ahly, under Lasarte, also won their four home games in the CAF Champions League.
Apart from the constant modification of the team's formation, Lasarte seems very conservative with Al Ahly outside Egypt, as he exaggerates in his defending tactics even if the opponent was Tanzania's Simba.
Ironically, Lasarte's defensive style failed against Sundowns. Although the team had three midfielders, Ahmed Fathy, Amr El Solia, and Karim Walid, the team lost linkage between its lines, which was Lasarte's main responsibility.
Additionally, Lasarte's insistence on placing Nigerian Junior Ajayi as a winger makes Al Ahly lose an important element in its attacking line, especially that the player is not quick enough for this position, as he performs much better when is a spearhead, especially beside Marawan Mohsen who also lacks speed.
Al Ahly now needs a miracle in the second leg, which is very unlikely to happen, given the weak performance of Al Ahly and the strength showed by Sundowns. All the odds are in the favour of Sundowns who has now become the strongest candidate for the title.
El Khateeb ruled out sacking Lasarte as the team will play several important matches locally and continentally in the upcoming period which requires stability. Al Ahly is now strongly competing over the league title, and has a strong clash against Misr Lel Makkasa on Tuesday, so any changes at the present time would make the situation much worse.
Some of Al Ahly's board members suggested dismissing Lasarte and appointing Mohamed Youssef as a temporary coach, however, that board delayed making its decision until the second leg of the quarter-finals planned to be held next Saturday. In case the team failed to qualify, the board will probably dismiss Lasarte.
The team returned to Cairo on Sunday from South Africa and resumed training on Monday, in preparation for Misr Lel Makkasa, as the coaching staff and the team realize that losing any point will put the team's dream of the league title aside.
Lasarte will be holding a session with the players before the training in an attempt to remove any negative feelings the players still have from the recent loss.
In a related context, defender Saad Samir underwent some tests after his knee injury against Sundowns.


Clic here to read the story from its source.