Al Ahly board unhappy with head coach Jess Thorup remarks after loss to ENPPI

Tensions appear to be simmering within Al Ahly SC following controversial comments by head coach Jess Thorup, which have reportedly unsettled sections of the club’s leadership.

According to local reports, members of the club’s board of directors have expressed dissatisfaction with Thorup’s post-match statements after Al Ahly’s 3-0 victory over ENPPI SC, describing them as unusual and an unwelcome disclosure of internal matters.

The Danish tactician, speaking after the Egyptian Premier League clash, insisted that team selection remains solely under his control, stressing that no external influence dictates his decisions.

In doing so, he also appeared to outline the club’s current power structure, suggesting that club president Mahmoud El Khatib is not directly involved in football operations, with responsibilities instead handled by figures such as Yassin Mansour and Sayed Abdel-Hafiz.

Thorup further shed light on the club’s transfer dealings, revealing that while he communicated specific positional and quality requirements during the last transfer window, the final decisions rested with the club’s hierarchy.

He indicated that some of his requests were not fully met, with assurances given that the January window would fall under the responsibility of the same officials.

Sources close to the club suggest that despite the unease caused by his remarks, the football committee currently lacks the authority to impose disciplinary measures on the coach.

Thorup, however, struck a defiant tone regarding his future, stating he remains committed to the club and would not walk away from the role.

“I am not someone who runs away or gives up,” he said, adding that any decision regarding his departure would have to come from the club rather than himself.

The developments come at a crucial stage of the season. Al Ahly’s convincing win over ENPPI on Tuesday has strengthened their position in the title race, but they remain third in the Egyptian Premier League championship standings with 50 points. They trail leaders Zamalek SC on 53 points and second-placed Pyramids FC, who sit on 51.

With the title race intensifying, attention is now shifting off the pitch, where internal dynamics could prove just as decisive as results on it.