Al Ahly coach Thorup backs players after Al Masry draw

Al Ahly head coach Jess Thorup acknowledged his side's misfortune in their goalless draw against Al Masry, despite creating several chances to score.

The 13th-round Egyptian Premier League match at Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria on Sunday ended 0-0, with Al Ahly dominating possession but failing to convert their opportunities.

"We did everything right in the game but were unable to convert our chances. We missed many opportunities,” Thorup said in the post-match press conference. "I take responsibility for the result, and we will work on correcting our mistakes and improving moving forward."

The Red Eagles had the better of the match, with Slovenian striker Nejc Gradisar notably missing two clear-cut chances in the first half.

"We had plenty of attempts, and we will focus on building more confidence within the squad," Thorup continued. "Over time, things will improve significantly, and the chances will start turning into goals."

The Danish coach also praised his players' efforts, expressing strong belief in the squad: "All the players did what was asked of them. I have full faith in everyone, and I believe Ahmed 'Zizo' El Sayed gave his all during the match."

Al Ahly finished the game with 24 shots compared to just one blocked attempt from Al Masry, while maintaining control of possession.

"The players created chances, and we wasted five clear opportunities, which reflects the quality within the team," Thorup said. "Now, we just need to finish those chances more effectively, and that’s what we are focusing on right now."