Al Ahly head coach Jose Riveiro insists his side is ready to thrive under the pressure as they prepare to kick off the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against FC Miami.
The Spanish tactician, who succeeded Marcel Koller at the helm of the Egyptian giants, addressed the media just 24 hours before the tournament’s curtain-raiser at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
As one of four African representatives in the inaugural 32-team format, Al Ahly are set to carry the hopes of millions of fans across the continent.
“I love the game, I love my job, I try not to forget that we represent millions of people,” Riveiro said at the pre-match press conference, striking a composed and confident tone.
With the magnitude of the global tournament, questions naturally turned to the expectations weighing on one of Africa’s most successful clubs.
But the Spaniard is choosing to see the pressure as a force for good.
“It’s also my job not to think about it too much and to try to do things as well as possible. There isn’t a big club in the world that doesn’t feel the pressure to win,” he said.
Drawing a line between pressure and performance, Riveiro credited the club’s rich history of success to the very demands placed upon it.
“I think and believe that Al Ahly probably wouldn’t have this amount of trophies without this pressure,” he reflected.
Riveiro stressed that the squad’s mindset heading into the global stage is rooted in belief, not fear.
“It’s something that helps us do our best every day. To come to a big competition like this with the feeling that we can do great things and not just to be there.”
His message was clear — Al Ahly’s ambition matches that of their loyal supporters.
“So we come here with the same ambition as our fans, and with this pressure it can only be positive for us to do our best,” Riveiro concluded.
Al Ahly’s opening clash against local side FC Miami marks the beginning of what promises to be a historic campaign, as they aim to leave a lasting impression on the world stage pression on the world stage.
