Al Ahly SC head coach Jose Riveiro has been told which players he should use in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup opener against Inter Miami.
The Red Devils will face the Lionel Messi-captained side on Sunday morning in the extended 2025 Club World Cup competition.
This will mark the Spanish tactician's first official match since taking over the team last month after dumping South Africa's Orlando Pirates.
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Ahly has been preparing for this encounter for several days, having been in the United States for almost a week, during which they played a friendly against Pachuca, narrowly losing on penalties, 5-3.
Since Riveiro's appointment, Egyptian football pundits have been putting pressure on him, with some questioning whether he's the right fit for the club.
Now, football analyst Hassan El-Mustakawy has offered his advice to Riveiro, particularly suggesting which striker he should select for the match against Miami.
"I refuse to let [Hussein] El Shahat play as a striker, Taher [Mohamed] is better, Al-Ahly Club has a large number of stars in all lines within the Red Team," El-Mostakawy said in a radio interview on On Sport FM, per Ahlynews.com.
"It is difficult for Spaniard Jose Riveiro and the Red Castle's football staff to manage this large number of players, as there is great uncertainty regarding their participation.
"It is certain that Jose Riveiro will not be able to count on a large number of players, but he must search for the best players in every match and every tournament," he explained.
"I have only one objection to Spaniard Jose Rivero, which is Hussein El Shahat's participation in the striker position after Slovenian striker Nijk Gradiscar suffered an injury.
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"It is difficult to rely on Hussein El Shahat's services as a striker, but it is better to prepare Taher Mohamed Taher for this position in case there is a crisis regarding the participation of Wissam Abu Ali or Gradishar due to injury," he added.
"It is difficult to predict Al-Ahly's lineup given the presence of such a large number of players and stars in the Red Team's ranks."
Photo Cred: Al Ahly
