Al Ahly president Mahmoud El-Khatib is reportedly considering imposing fines on players following the team’s 2-0 defeat to Palmeiras in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The loss to the Brazilian side at MetLife Stadium on Thursday evening is said to have left El-Khatib deeply dissatisfied, with reports suggesting he may take disciplinary action due to the underwhelming performance.
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Despite showing some promise during the match, the Egyptian giants were ultimately by the Big Green. The defeat saw Ahly drop to the bottom of Group A with just one point, earned in their opening draw against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
According to Tr.jarida, the club’s management, led by El-Khatib, is frustrated with the performance of coach Jose Riveiro's squad and the team’s current standing.
It is believed that players could face fines if the team fails to advance to the Round of 16, with some of the club's board members blaming the Spanish mentor for the team's poor run at the tournament.
Al Ahly now faces a decisive clash against FC Porto next Tuesday in their final group-stage fixture. The Portuguese side also sits on one point after suffering a 2-1 loss to Inter Miami on Thursday.
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The upcoming match is a must-win for both teams. However, their fate in the competition will also hinge on the result of the Miami and Palmeiras match.
For Al Ahly to progress to the next round of the tournament, they must defeat the Portuguese giants by the widest margin and hope for a dominant win for either Miami or Palmeiras.
Photo Cred: Al Ahly
