Smouha coach: Al Ahly had few chances on our goal

Ahmed Abdel Aziz, the manager of Smouha SC, spoke about the loss his team suffered against Al Ahly FC last night, Thursday, in the Egyptian League.

Smouha lost to Al Ahly FC by a single goal in a match held on Thursday evening in the Egyptian League.

Ali Ahmed, the manager of Smouha SC, said via Al-Nahar channel: "Smouha is forced to reduce the team's budget every year, and several players were released last summer."

He added: "The draw for the Egyptian League has put us in a difficult position with tough matches at the start of the journey. We played a strong match against Al Masry and lost by a goal from a cross, which was similar to the match against Al Ahly FC."

The team stated: "We were good defensively and organized, but we were not good offensively against Al Ahly FC. We are a team that plays on transitions, which requires certain quality and speed."

The coach revealed: "I explained to the players how we will play against Al Ahly FC and studied Al Ahly's attacking ideas. Al-Hussein's coach, Amouta, relies on Ali Ahmed 'Zizo' as a number 10 playmaker who shifts to a second striker and moves into the spaces between midfield and attack. The reliance on crosses is also very clear in Al Ahly's style."

He explained: "Marwan Ateya is a very important player for Al Ahly FC, and he is responsible for the balance in the team. When we closed the spaces in front of them, he appeared to receive the ball and resolve the situation, and he is exceptional in this aspect."

Ali Ahmed stated: "Smouha put in a great effort, Al Ahly FC did not create the expected number of attacking opportunities and solutions against a team that played defensively. Al Ahly FC's chances were not many against our goal, and most of the opportunities were not clear-cut."