Hussein El Shahat targets a clean sweep of trophies with Al Ahly next season

Hussein El Shahat says Al Ahly are aiming to win every available trophy next season after a campaign in which they lifted the Egyptian Super Cup but finished third in the league.

The forward is currently with Al Ahly’s squad at a training camp in Spain, having recently signed a new two-year contract with the club.

Speaking to the club’s television channel, El Shahat said the team wanted to use the disappointment of the previous campaign as motivation for the season ahead.

“The last season ended with everything good and bad, and we are aiming to win all the titles next season,” he said.

Al Ahly’s 2023-24 campaign ended with the Egyptian Super Cup as their only major success mentioned by the club, while they finished third in the league standings. El Shahat’s comments underline the ambition within the squad as preparations continue for the new season.

The Egypt international also discussed the way Al Ahly help new players settle into the squad. He said established members of the team tried to make newcomers feel comfortable quickly and become familiar with the group’s environment.

“We always help the new players get into the team’s atmosphere after a day or two and make them feel as if they have been with us for a year,” El Shahat added.

The forward also praised Hussein Ammouta, describing the coach as a respectful figure who knows how to maintain the right balance between professional duties and informal interaction with the players.

“Hussein Ammouta is a respectful person, and he knows how to separate work from joking, and he deals with everyone respectfully,” El Shahat said.

Al Ahly’s Spanish training camp comes before a high-profile friendly against Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy on 19 August. The match will give the Egyptian club an opportunity to test themselves against one of Europe’s best-known sides before the domestic campaign begins.

The club’s first league fixture is scheduled for Sunday, 23 August, when they face ENPPI. That match will mark the start of Al Ahly’s attempt to improve on their third-place finish and pursue the collection of every available honour, the target set out by El Shahat.

For the forward, the renewal of his contract and his presence in the pre-season camp provide the immediate backdrop to those ambitions. His message was clear: the previous season has ended, with its successes and disappointments, and Al Ahly now want to begin again with the aim of competing for every title.