Al Ahly's youth coach, Paulo Sousa, stated that his team delivered one of their best performances in this season's AFC Champions League Elite, despite the 0-0 draw with Al-Hilal yesterday in the seventh round. He mentioned that his players showed a high level and were close to securing three points. Sousa said in a press statement: "The first half was ideal for Al Ahly, we created numerous chances that were missed in front of the goal." He added that the high intensity of the match and the strong physical confrontations led to a decrease in performance in the last 20 minutes, but the team maintained its balance and continued to press until the end. The coach expressed his pride in the team's performance in the tournament, having defeated the Saudi Pro League champion (Al-Ittihad) at their home and drawing with Al-Hilal. He believes Al Ahly has presented what they are capable of so far, and mentally, they are the strongest team, while Al-Hilal did not create any organized attacks. The Portuguese coach confirmed he is not concerned about the team's position in the standings, explaining that his main focus is on the technical and mental development of the players. He said: "I am not only looking to win the tournament, but also for the progress of the players." Al-Hilal raised their total to 19 points, topping the group, while Al Ahly reached 11 points in fifth place temporarily, awaiting the completion of the seventh round matches.
