Thorup proud to lead Al Ahly after win over Ittihad Alexandria

Al Ahly head coach Jess Thorup praised his side’s performance and thanked the club’s supporters following their 2-1 victory over Ittihad Alexandria on Wednesday, a result that sent the reigning champions to the top of the Egyptian Premier League.

Speaking after the match at Cairo International Stadium, Thorup said he was proud to lead the record title holders and committed to building on the team’s recent momentum.

“We delivered a strong performance in the first 60 minutes, we scored two goals and controlled the game,” the Danish manager told reporters.

“We allowed the opposition back into the match afterward. We’ll definitely work on correcting our mistakes and improving our overall game,” he added.

Al Ahly climbed to first place with 21 points from 10 matches, overtaking rivals in the 11th round of the domestic campaign.

“It was my first match at Cairo Stadium, and I’m very happy with the win and proud to be leading Al Ahly,” Thorup added.

“It’s an honour to coach such a great club, and I’ll do everything I can to bring joy to the fans.”

Despite conceding in the second half, Al Ahly had looked dominant early on, with Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed and Mohamed Hani both going close before the breakthrough.

Thorup emphasised the importance of both attacking and defensive balance.

“Football is about winning, and playing every three days puts a lot of pressure on the players,” he said.

“We have technically gifted players like Achraf Bencharki and Ahmed Sayed Zizo. Scoring goals is never easy, but the players fulfilled their roles well tonight.”

The 55-year-old concluded by reaffirming his commitment to developing the squad.

“I’ve watched many of the team’s past matches and have seen their potential firsthand. I’m determined to improve the players both technically and mentally.”