Jess Thorup focused on progress after Al Ahly’s win over Al Ittihad Alexandria

Danish coach Jess Thorup admitted he was pleased with Al Ahly’s 2-1 victory over Al Ittihad Alexandria on Wednesday but insisted the performance left much to be desired.

It was his first home league match in charge, and he was warmly received by the fans at Cairo Stadium.

He stressed: “The team was good for 60 minutes, but there was a significant decline after the second goal, which gave Al-Ittihad the opportunity to come back into the match and score a goal.”

He pointed out: “The collective performance needs some improvement, in addition to developing the performance of some players. I am not satisfied with the performance, and I will work to improve some things, but the most important thing is always achieving victories.”

Thorup acknowledged the packed schedule, saying his players only have time to recover and train briefly before the next fixture. He also emphasized defensive organization, explaining that “offensive performance may win matches, but organized defensive performance wins championships.”

Al Ahly now leads the Egyptian Premier League with 21 points after five straight wins, edging ahead of Ceramica Cleopatra.