Al Ahly coach Thorup blames fixture congestion for players’ fatigue

Al Ahly coach Jess Thorup said a congested fixture schedule is taking a toll on his players after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by National Bank of Egypt (NBE Club) in the Egyptian Premier League on Tuesday.

Thorup said he was frustrated by the result, pointing to recurring defensive lapses and a lack of cutting edge in attack.

“For the second consecutive match, we conceded from a set piece,” Thorup told a post-match news conference.

“We faced a team that defended in a strong and well-organised way, and we need to improve how we break down such defensive systems.”

He added that Al Ahly failed to control the game or make effective use of crosses to create clear chances.

Thorup praised winger Mahmoud Trezeguet for his performance, saying the Egypt international showed fighting spirit despite the physical demands of a packed schedule.

“He fought until the final minute and tried to help the team win, despite the heavy load from consecutive matches,” Thorup said.

The Dane said fatigue was evident across the squad and warned that the situation was likely to persist, adding that the coaching staff were managing the workload through player rotation.

Thorup also said defender Youssef Belammari, who recently travelled with the team to Tanzania, is still regaining match fitness after a long absence from competitive action.

“He is being prepared gradually and given the time he needs to fully integrate into the team,” he said.

Al Ahly will now turn their attention away from domestic competition and focus on their next CAF Champions League fixture against Algeria’s JS Kabylie.