Hamza El-Gamal says Al Ittihad Alexandria need greater cohesion after Assiut Petroleum win

Al Ittihad Alexandria head coach Hamza El-Gamal says his side still need more time to develop greater understanding on the pitch, despite recording a 1-0 victory over Assiut Petroleum in the Egyptian Premier League.

The match was played at Alexandria Stadium in the fourth round of the competition, with Nour Alaa scoring the only goal to secure all three points for the home side.

Speaking to OnSport TV after the game, El-Gamal said Al Ittihad Alexandria were determined to build something successful during the season, but insisted that progress would require patience.

“We are trying and will continue trying to create something great for Al Ittihad Alexandria this season. We do not want to rush or act impulsively. We have ambition, we are looking to the future and learning from the past,” he said.

The result gave Al Ittihad Alexandria seven points from their opening four league matches. Their record so far consists of two victories, one draw and one defeat.

El-Gamal was encouraged by the discipline shown by his players both during the match and away from the pitch, although he acknowledged that the team still had areas to improve.

“The players are disciplined on the pitch and in the dressing room. Of course, there are mistakes, but we faced a strong team whose players have been playing together for a long time, while we still need more cohesion,” he added.

Al Ittihad Alexandria’s victory was decided by Nour Alaa’s goal, but El-Gamal’s comments highlighted the longer-term work still required as the team continues to develop under his management.

The coach contrasted his squad’s current stage of development with that of Assiut Petroleum, whose players have spent a longer period playing together. In his view, that difference in familiarity was an important factor in the contest and underlined why Al Ittihad Alexandria must continue working to improve their coordination.

Despite the need for further cohesion, the win provided Al Ittihad Alexandria with a positive outcome from the fourth round and strengthened their early-season points tally. El-Gamal’s message was that the club’s ambitions extend beyond a single result, with the team aiming to improve gradually while avoiding unnecessary haste.

For now, the victory over Assiut Petroleum leaves Al Ittihad Alexandria with two wins, a draw and a defeat after four matches. The side will continue their Egyptian Premier League campaign with El-Gamal calling for patience, discipline and further progress on the pitch.