Photo Credit: Al Ahly SC
Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy shared his thoughts on the FIFA Club World Cup draw through the club’s media center.
"I see that the draw is balanced for us, with big clubs like Inter Miami, Porto, and Palmeiras, which we have faced before. For me, all teams are big, not just Inter Miami."
Ambitions for the tournament
"I believe we can reach a good stage in the tournament. We watched the draw as players, talked among ourselves, and hoped to face Inter Miami because of the presence of a big star like Messi and other great stars in the team."
"We have previously faced Bayern Munich and Real Madrid and we wished to face other big teams like Inter or Juventus but in the end, we were drawn with other great clubs and we respect them. Our goal will be to pass the first round of the tournament."
Focus on upcoming matches
"The players need to focus. We have a match on Saturday against Orlando Pirates that we are thinking about, and then we will think about the next step."
Pride in Al Ahly’s achievement
"We are all proud that Al Ahly is participating in the FIFA Club World Cup among the big clubs. Players, fans, management, and everyone involved in the club during this period should be proud of this achievement. We participate in these tournaments because Al Ahly is the biggest club in Africa."
Challenges and confidence
"The tournament will be at a different level than what we are used to as it is a big tournament with great stars. The players feel this event and are focused. Their capabilities shine and they play with confidence. Players feel comfortable in such atmospheres which is why Al Ahly players perform well in difficult situations and major tournaments."
Preparation time
"There is still a long time before the tournament and the time will come to talk about it. Our ambition is to go as far as possible in the competition. We only talked about the draw as players and that was it. We have a match on Saturday and we are focused on the next game."
A message to Al Ahly fans
"We play all tournaments for the fans to make them happy and to win championships so they can be proud of their team and club."
Comments on Saturday's match against Orlando Pirates
During the press conference ahead of the Saturday match against Orlando Pirates, El-Shennawy stated, according to Al Ahly’s official website:
"Playing at Cairo Stadium in front of your fans gives you great strength. Playing against a strong opponent with a large fan base is something we really enjoy, especially since we are used to these atmospheres—it’s not strange for us."
"Al Ahly plays anywhere and we are happy with the presence of fans. We respect all opponents but our goal is always to get the three points, regardless of the crowd presence. We are always happy with such atmospheres but the fans will not play the match."
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