Marcel Koller explained his approach to keeping Al Ahly players motivated following their impressive success over the last two seasons.
Speaking to Abu Dhabi TV, Koller said: “We started training and preparation for the new season two weeks ago. The international players have only had two training sessions with us, and we are still assessing their fitness levels.
“We are pleased with the performance, and our experience won us the game. We scored three goals and kept a clean sheet, which makes us happy.”
“Yahya Attiyat Allah had a good game. It was his first match with us, so his rhythm will improve. Although it was his first game in a long time, his performance was encouraging. We substituted him because he felt some pain.”
“I am 64 years old, and my entire life has been dedicated to football. I try to transfer my experience and passion to the players so we can motivate each other.
“We play many games and participate in multiple competitions. Our goal is to win them all, so it is important to keep the squad motivated, and refreshed, and manage player rotation well.
Al Ahly began their CAF Champions League title defense with a strong 3-0 victory against Kenyan club Gor Mahia in Nairobi, extending their unbeaten run to 23 games.
The return leg will be played in Cairo on Saturday, September 21, 2024.