Marino Pusic, Al-Ahly coach, confirmed that facing Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor in the AFC Champions League for the Elite receives a lot of enthusiasm, pointing out the strength and quality of the opponent, and stressing the importance of exploiting the ground staff and the audience.
Pusic said during the press conference before the match: “There is always a lot of enthusiasm in matches of this type against a strong competitor with great quality, but we are playing in front of our fans and at home, and we will try to prepare the team well.”
He added about Pakhtakor: “It is a big team and one of the distinguished teams in its country, and we will work to achieve the aspirations of our fans, and I would rather play matches than conduct exercises on a daily basis.”
The Dutch coach touched on the pressures that Al-Ahly faces as the holder of the championship title, saying: “As you know, in the beginning as the holder of the title you are forced to provide an impressive performance and high competitiveness.”
In response to Asharq Al-Awsat’s question about his assessment of the technical aspects of the team since he took over the job, and the extent to which the short recovery period and the intensity of the matches affected the players, Pusic explained: “I have almost completed a month with the club, and we are playing differently. My point of view is that football is played offensively, with respect for all different styles.”
He continued: “We are going through a period of transformation, and I understand the audience’s emotional point of view, and I hope they will support and wait.” “I have a lot of passion, and the tight schedule did not allow us to play many practices, and I believe that football is played for the fans.”
Pusic praised Al-Ahly fans, saying: “I felt the passion and love of the fans, and I thank them for their support and support.” Let us move forward, and I thank all the club members and the club’s beautiful slogan is (And through time we will move together). I believe in this slogan and its high and beautiful value, and I try to continuously improve for the sake of the team and the entity as a whole.”
For his part, Portuguese Francisco Trincao, Al-Ahly player, expressed his readiness to help the team, stressing his harmony with the group and his happiness with his presence in the club.
Trincao said: “We hope to perform well in the match tomorrow and help the team.” I just want to play and support the team, and I do not prefer to play in the traditional style with the coach’s possession style. We create a lot of chances in the matches we play, and we hope to continue doing so.”
He added: “I am in harmony with the team and I am happy to be with you.”
Trincao promised Al-Ahly fans to continue giving, saying with a smile: “I promise Al-Ahly fans to always give and help the team, if I play, of course,” referring to the decision to participate in the match.
Al-Ahly will host its counterpart, Pakhtakor, tomorrow, in the elite AFC Champions League competitions, in a confrontation during which the team seeks to continue its positive results on the continent and enhance its presence in the tournament whose title it holds.
Mishari bin Haider Abu Malha, a member of the Damak Club Board of Directors, announced, through his personal account on the “X” platform, his resignation from membership in the board, about two months after the adoption of the new administration headed by Shaker bin Awir for 4 years.
Abu Milha said in a brief statement that he is leaving the council wishing success to the administration and the club in the next stage, and for Damak to return to its position among the adults, offering his thanks for the period he spent working within the club.
The resignation comes at a time when Damak is going through a difficult technical start in the first division of the professional league, as the team did not achieve any victory during the first 4 rounds, contenting itself with 3 points out of a possible 12, at a time when it is searching for its first victory during the next stage.
On the administrative level, the last period witnessed the presence of a committee affiliated with the Ministry of Sports to the club’s headquarters to verify a number of complaints and observations related to administrative work, while no official results have been announced regarding these files yet.
Abu Milha’s resignation opens the door to questions about the stability of the new council, and whether the step will remain an individual decision, or whether it may be followed by other administrative moves, at a time when Damak needs a greater degree of administrative and technical stability in order to rearrange its cards and return to competition.
