Title holders Ahli kick off their Egyptian Premier League campaign amid growing concerns from their fans over the team’s new 4-4-2 formation.
Hossam Al-Badri opted to switch the traditional 3-5-2 formation after replacing Manuel Jose as Ahli’s head coach following the end of last season.
The Red Devils suffered heavy 5-0 and 4-1 defeats against Celtic and Barcelona respectively in pre-season friendlies to prompt pundits and fans to question their new strategy.
They also lost their only competitive match, the Egyptian Super Cup, against Harras Hodoud, who claimed a fully-deserved 2-0 victory.
But Al-Badri is adamant that Ahli, who are bidding to win a sixth successive league title, will only get better under the new system.
“We want to improve through deploying a 4-4-2 formation. Yes there are some mistakes but the players are gradually getting used to the new strategy,” he said.
Ahli failed in their attempts to lure high-profile players in the close season, with the exception of Sherif Abdul-Fadil whom they signed from fierce rivals Ismaili.
However, the central defender will not be available to play in the Cairo giants’ league opener against Ghazl Mahalla on Thursday. He missed out on the match’s 18-man squad for no apparent reason.
Mahalla do always prove stubborn opponents for Ahli, having infamously denied them the 2002 league title.
The Peasants held Ahli to a goalless draw in their last league meeting in April.
“Beginnings are always important. We want to get off to a winning start,” Ahli’s veteran midfielder Ahmed Hassan said.
Reinforced Ismaili
Last season’s runners-up Ismaili, who lost against Ahli in a playoff decider, might have missed Abdul-Fadil but they still managed to recruit big-name stars.
The arrival of Egypt goalkeeper Essam Al-Hadari from Swiss side Sion came as a perfect boost for a team who suffered from the lack of a reliable guardian during the past few years.
“I believe that Ismaili can win the league this season,” the 36-year-old stated.
Al-Hadari is likely to play against newly-promoted side Mansoura in Thursday’s league opener after the Dervishes received his international clearance.
Newly-signed left back Ahmed Abou-Mosallam, who ended a French spell with Strasbourg and Ajaccio to join Ismaili, is also expected to make his debut.
The three-time Egyptian champions will miss skipper and influential midfielder Mohamed Hommos, who will end his career at Ismaili after signing a four-year contract extension.
The 30-year-old, who scored Egypt’s winning goal against Italy in the Confederations Cup, is suffering from stomach injury.
