Al Ahly head coach Jose Riveiro has been criticised by one of the club's board members following the club's recent setback at the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Spanish tactician suffered his first defeat at the helm of Al Ahly after a 2-0 loss to Brazilian side Palmeiras at the MetLife Stadium on Thursday evening.
READ | Palmieras hands Riveiro first loss at Al Ahly
This marked the Red Castle's second match of the tournament, following a goalless draw in their opener against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami.
Riveiro made two changes to the starting lineup from the Miami clash, bringing in Yahya Allah and seasoned midfielder Ahmed "Zizo" Sayed.
In the wake of the result, former club star and current board member Hossam Ghaly publicly criticised Riveiro, accusing him of poor squad management.
"Jose Rivero, the technical director, should have revitalized the team with some substitutions between the two halves of the match against Brazilian club Palmeiras," Ghaly said, according to Ahlynews.com.
"There were some players in the midfield and attack who could have been brought in to inject fresh blood into the Reds.
"Al-Ahly's participation in the Club World Cup at the end of the season has led to a significant decline in the Red Team's physical condition," he added.
"The negative note regarding Rivero is the importance of making substitutions between halves of the match, in order to avoid a drop in the team's fitness level, which is the same thing that happened in the match against Inter Miami in the first round."
READ | Age and wage stumbling block in Tau pursuit?
The defeat in New Jersey leaves Al Ahly at the bottom of Group A with just one point, three behind both Palmeiras and Inter Miami.
Ahly now face a must-win clash against FC Porto in their final group-stage match. To keep their hopes of progressing alive, they will need not only a win but a convincing one.
