Al Ahly boss Hussein Ammouta says Ali Mahmoud substitution was not a row

Hussein Ammouta has played down an apparent disagreement with Al Ahly midfielder Ali Mahmoud during his substitution in the 1-1 draw with Al Mokawloon Al Arab, insisting the incident was not a confrontation.

The two teams shared the points in their Egyptian Premier League meeting at Green Mountain Stadium, with the result ending Al Ahly’s winning start to the season.

Speaking at his post-match news conference, Al Ahly manager Ammouta said Mahmoud’s reaction was understandable because the young player wanted to remain on the pitch.

“Ali Mahmoud is one of the good young players and what happened was normal, it was not a confrontation,” said Ammouta. “He wanted to continue the match and that is very normal. He is a player with good ability and this season he will prove himself with Al Ahly.”

Ammouta also said every member of his squad would be given an opportunity during the campaign, although he warned that wholesale changes could not be made at half-time.

“All the players will get the chance to play for Al Ahly this season, but it is not possible to change five players at once between the two halves,” he added.

The manager was satisfied with much of his side’s display despite their failure to claim a fourth consecutive league victory.

“The performance was more than good. The statistics speak for themselves and the team’s numbers are very good,” Ammouta said.

He also thanked Al Ahly’s supporters for their backing during the opening four matches and said he believed the team would develop a strong identity as the season progressed.

“I thank the fans who have supported Al Ahly strongly in four matches. The team will make its voice heard and we will have a strong personality this season,” he said.

The draw left the Al Ahly squad frustrated, but Ammouta accepted that setbacks could occur over the course of a campaign.

“Everyone is upset after the draw. Some stumbling points can happen, but I hope this will be the last half in which we struggle and that we do not start matches in the way we want,” he said.

Ammouta also explained his decision to select goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy, saying the long-serving Al Ahly captain deserved an opportunity because of his contribution to the club over many years.

“At Al Ahly I am lucky to have two strong goalkeepers in Mohamed El-Shenawy and Mostafa Shobeir. El-Shenawy has the right to get the chance because of what he has given Al Ahly over many years,” he said.

He concluded by challenging the club’s large group of players to make the most of any opportunities they receive.

“We have a large group of players, but everyone must work hard and fight to perform well when they get the chance to play.”

The draw was Al Ahly’s first setback in the league this season. They took one point to move to 10 points, level with Zamalek.

Al Mokawloon Al Arab moved on to four points and sit 13th in the table, while Pyramids moved clear at the top with 12 points.