Nabil El Kouki promises to restore Al Masry to their rightful place

Nabil El Kouki has promised to improve Al Masry’s results after beginning his tenure with a goalless draw against Montakhab El Suweis and Petrojet in the Egypt Capital Cup.

The result left Al Masry top of Group Four on four points, with El Kouki taking charge for the first time since replacing Ahmed Samy, who departed because of the team’s poor results.

Speaking after the match, the Tunisia manager said the international break would provide an opportunity to address the team’s shortcomings.

“We must return Al Masry to the position they deserve,” El Kouki said. “We have an international break and we will use it to improve the team’s performance.”

He also thanked former coaches Emad El Nahas and Ahmed Samy for their work with the squad, while wishing both men success in the future.

“El Nahas and Ahmed Samy made a great effort with the team, and I thank them for that,” he added. “I wish them all the best going forward.”

El Kouki said the players were currently struggling with confidence but expected them to recover their usual level soon.

“At the moment, the players are going through a period of doubt,” he said. “We will return to the team’s normal level as soon as possible.”

The coach also pointed to the number of players unavailable through suspension and injury, saying he needed sufficient time to create greater competition within the squad.

“There are suspended players and others who are injured,” El Kouki said. “We need enough time to create competition between the players.”

The manager also discussed the support available to the team from its fans. He said supporters had found it difficult to travel to matches, but expected that situation to improve when the club’s stadium opens in January.

“The fans are suffering because of the difficulty of travelling,” he said. “In January, we will open the stadium so that we can receive their support.”

El Kouki expressed his gratitude to Al Masry president Kamel Abu Ali for showing faith in him and said his main objective was to make the club’s supporters happy.

“I thank Kamel Abu Ali, the president of Al Masry, for his great confidence,” he said. “I have a strong relationship with the fans. My only concern is to make them happy, and I hope God grants us success.”

Montakhab El Suweis and Petrojet collected their first point of the competition and sit fourth in Group Four, level with bottom side Abu Qir Fertilizers, who also have one point from two matches.