Hamza El-Gamal, coach of Al-Ittihad Alexandria, emphasized that he sought to exploit the physical aspect during the match against Zamalek and succeeded in securing a valuable point.
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.
Speaking at a press conference, Hamza El-Gamal, coach of Al-Ittihad, said: "During the match, we focused on a very important element, namely the physical aspect. We divided the game into segments to manage it properly and maintain the players' concentration."
He added, "We faced a giant team like Zamalek, the league champions, who enjoy immense popularity not only in Egypt but also across the Arab and African continents."
He continued, "I thank all the players who participated in the match, as well as those who did not, because we work as one team."
He went on to say, "We strengthened the squad with several new signings, in addition to homegrown talents born in 2005 already within our club. I also thank the board of directors for meeting all our requests and providing the team's needs."
He further stated, "I always hope that Zamalek rises and remains at its best, as it is a major and essential pillar of Egyptian football. I am also deeply saddened by the decline of another great pillar of Egyptian football, Ismaily, and I wish them a swift recovery and return to their rightful status."
Concluding his remarks, he said, "Ultimately, Zamalek is a giant club, and I hold no complex feelings or personal agendas regarding matches against them. Every match has its own circumstances; we respect Zamalek and always focus on delivering our best performance."
The two teams met at Cairo International Stadium in a match that kicked off at 8:00 PM.
This marked the first time since 2023 that the two sides ended in a goalless draw.
Hamza El-Gamal remains unbeaten 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 earlier to Abu Qir Fertilizers at the same time.
Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad Alexandria will host Ceramica Cleopatra at Alexandria Stadium.
