Koller boasts about Al Ahly record ahead of Downs clash

Al Ahly's Mohamed Sherif (R) celebrates with head coach Marcel Koller after scoring the 1-0 goal during the CAF Champions League soccer match between Al Ahly SC of Egypt and Coton Sport of Cameroon, in Cairo, Egypt, 04 March 2023. EPA/KHALED ELFIQI

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Mar 09, 2023. 13:00

Al Ahly head coach Marcel Koller has boasted about his record since he took over the coaching reins at the Egyptian football powerhouse in September last year.

The Austrian tactician has taken charge of 26 competitive matches and he highlighted the fact that two of his three defeats came against Spanish football heavyweights Real Madrid and Brazilian giants Flamengo.

Koller was speaking ahead of Saturday’s CAF Champions League Group B match against Mamelodi Sundowns and he made it known that his side is targeting a win against the South African giants.

“It is a very important game for us. We must win the match. We have many injuries in our squad but it will not affect our game plan as we have a strong group of players and we are ready for the match,” Koler said on the club’s official website.

“I have played 26 games with the club and we only lost three games including two matches against Real Madrid and Flamengo in the FIFA Club World Cup. I am very sad that we lost against Al Hilal in Sudan but for sure we have a very good record.”

“Our performance was affected after participating in the Club World Cup but we are working on that and we will come back stronger,” the veteran tactician continued with Al Ahly placed third on the Group B standings – three points behind second-placed Sundowns.

“Our remaining matches in the group stage are must win matches. We will fight to win and improve our situation in the group. We are a big team and we will prove that in the next games.”

The match between Sundowns and Al Ahly is scheduled to be played at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.