Al-Ahly Jeddah experienced its first setback in this season’s AFC Champions League Elite edition, securing a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Iran’s Esteghlal Tehran on Monday night in the sixth round of the group stage.
Following the match, Algerian star Riyad Mahrez dismissed comparisons between his performances for Al-Ahly and his illustrious tenure at Manchester City.
When questioned about his current form, Mahrez responded: “You cannot compare my level now to what I was at City.”
He added during a post-match interview with Qatar’s Al-Kass network: “I’m a team player; I’m not [Lionel] Messi to dribble past everyone and score goals.”
Mahrez elaborated, saying: “If the team plays well, I will perform well.”
When asked about the possibility of Lionel Messi joining Al-Ahly, the 33-year-old winger simply laughed without giving a direct answer.
Reflecting on the draw against Esteghlal, Mahrez admitted his team struggled to break down a defensively compact opponent: “We didn’t play well today.
It’s always difficult to play against a team that sits deep in defense and adopts a 5-4-1 formation.”
Despite the frustration, Mahrez emphasized the importance of avoiding defeat: “We didn’t perform as we wanted, but if you can’t win, it’s crucial not to lose.”
When asked why he didn’t take either of the two penalties awarded to Al-Ahly, Mahrez explained: “Our striker takes penalties well. Sometimes it’s his turn.
There’s no competition between us over it.”
Despite the draw, Al-Ahly maintained its lead in the Western Conference standings with 16 points, remaining unbeaten in its first five matches before the stalemate.
Mahrez, reflecting on the team’s performance so far, added humorously: “We’ve won five games and drawn one.
That’s a good record, thank God.”
Mahrez has been a key figure for Al-Ahly this season, featuring in 19 matches across all competitions with six goals and seven assists.
In the AFC Champions League alone, he has played in all six group-stage matches, contributing three goals and five assists, showcasing his vital role in the Saudi side’s success.
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