Moataz Gamal, Zamalek's coach, described the conditions under which he works with his team as difficult, following their draw against Al Ittihad Alexandria.
Zamalek began their campaign to defend the Egyptian Premier League title with a goalless draw against Al Ittihad Alexandria in the first round of the competition.
Moataz Gamal said at a press conference after the match: "I am not complaining, and this is not my habit, but we are working against logic, so I thank the players for what they have delivered."
He added, "There is a difficult equation required from us; we want to achieve victory and deliver a good performance, while at the same time preparing the players and keeping them safe. I cannot push the players any further, so I thank them once again for their effort."
He continued, "We were looking to finish the game in the first half, but there are many positives we will build upon in the coming period. On the other hand, there are negatives that we will work to avoid and address."
He went on, "As for the substitutions I made, they were aimed at preserving the players and preventing injuries. I considered bringing on Mohamed Farag instead of Omar Gaber after Omar felt fatigued; the goal was to protect him and avoid taking risks with his fitness."
Answering a question about the impact of Bezerra's absence, he said, "I only speak about football, and the players working with me are the best in Egypt. I have not addressed or discussed any crises outside the pitch."
He added, "Rotating players, something I might normally do at the end of the season, I am doing now at the start of the league due to the surrounding circumstances, which are running contrary to logic, in order to preserve the players and prevent injuries."
He emphasized, "I am not making excuses, nor do I like talking about rival teams, but there are teams that have strengthened their squads with numerous signings, while Zamalek has been unable to do so due to the transfer ban. Moreover, we have only been in our preparation phase for 20 days."
Concluding his remarks, he said, "Abdallah El-Said is a great player and one of the team's leaders, but he needs some time to reach full fitness and integrate into the team's atmosphere. He will be a strong addition for us in the coming period."
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The two teams met at Cairo International Stadium in a match that kicked off at 8:00 PM.
This marks the first time since 2023 that the two teams have ended in a goalless draw.
Hamza El-Gamal has not lost in his last four matches against Zamalek, having won twice and drawn twice.
In the second round, Zamalek will face National Bank of Egypt, who lost at the same time to Abu Qir Fertilizers.
Meanwhile, Al Ittihad will host Ceramica Cleopatra at Alexandria Stadium.
