Al Ahly coach Thorup: ‘Facing Zamalek is an opportunity to win my first title with the club’

Al Ahly head coach Jess Thorup spoke about his team ahead of the Egyptian Super Cup final against Zamalek, stressing that the players are progressing under his guidance.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, according to Yallakora, Thorup said:

“I will talk with the players about the goal that entered our net and about the defensive positioning, and I see clear improvement in performance and defensive organization.”

He added:

“There are times when the opponent controls the course of the match and creates chances — this is normal — but we try to reduce that as much as possible, and everyone is ready to compete.”

The Danish coach confirmed that Al Ahly will hold a final training session at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium — the venue of Sunday’s final — where he will finalize his starting lineup.

He went on:

“We are working well and improving in our level, but four or five weeks are not enough for the players to fully understand my way of playing. We are working continuously to prepare the team to take advantage of the chances we create, and every player has his role and knows what I expect from him.”

Thorup emphasized that a managerial change naturally brings adjustments:

“When the coaching staff changes, many things change. We have set our plan in the best possible way to achieve victory, and of course, I will not reveal my plan — otherwise, I would be helping Zamalek.”

Al Ahly coach added:

“I agree that we presented a better attacking level, and we started to see on the field what we have been working on during the past weeks in the matches.”

He went on:

“Winning requires high abilities from the players, and Trezeguet showed that in the last match — not only because of his goal but also because of his great cooperation with his teammates on the pitch.”

Thorup also highlighted his flexible approach:

“I give all players the freedom to move and switch positions on the field. The most important thing is the team’s overall performance. I have an idea about the sensitivity that surrounds the Al Ahly–Zamalek match, and I know it’s the most important game for our fans. Facing the historical rival is an opportunity to win my first title with Al Ahly.”

The coach concluded by reaffirming his support for all his players:

“I support all the players in the team, and even if they are not chosen for the national team, I will continue to support them all the time.”

Al Ahly will face Zamalek in the Egyptian Super Cup final on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. GMT, with the match hosted at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

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