Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller picks positives from dominant win over Gor Mahia

Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller has stated his satisfaction with the team's performance after a dominant win over Gor Mahia.

Al Ahly head coach Marcel Koller expressed his satisfaction after his team’s commanding 3-0 win over Kenyan side Gor Mahia in the first leg of the 32nd round of the CAF Champions League.

The Egyptian giants secured a crucial away victory placing themselves in a strong position to progress to the next stage of the tournament.

In a performance that saw Al Ahly dominate both halves, goals from Rami Rabia and Percy Tau ensured a comfortable win.

Rabia opened the scoring in the 14th minute, followed quickly by Tau’s first strike a minute later, which put Al Ahly firmly in control. Tau sealed the win with his second goal in the 74th minute, as the reigning African champions showcased their class.

“I am happy with the victory and the performance today. A great start with a 3-0 away win,” Koller said after the match.

“We have trained for two weeks without international players, who only joined us just 48 hours before the match. Scoring two goals in the first half made our mission easier. I want to thank the players for the good result, and I also want to thank the fans for their unwavering support home and away.”

Koller, who guided Al Ahly to their record-extending 11th CAF Champions League title last season, praised his players for adapting to the circumstances.

He noted that the absence of key international players in the build-up to the match could have disrupted their rhythm but the team managed to deliver a strong performance regardless.

Koller, who is celebrating his 64th birthday this year, reflected on his career and how his passion for football continues to motivate both himself and his players.

“I will be 64 years old, and football is my entire life. I am successful in conveying my experiences to the players very well, and my love and passion for football is present in the players, and this makes me very happy," he concluded.

Looking ahead, Koller emphasized that life at Al Ahly is about playing at the highest level in multiple competitions.

The club, known for its demanding schedule, is involved in various domestic and international tournaments, including the upcoming African Super Cup against rivals Zamalek.

However, Koller remained confident that his team can balance the demands and continue to achieve success.

“Life for Al Ahly Club is that we play a lot of matches, and we are strongly present in many competitions,” he said.

“We always strive to achieve victory in all matches and tournaments in which we participate. As for us, we also strive to give the players a break to relax, in order to return to training with full strength and benefit the team.”

With the second leg against Gor Mahia set for September 22nd at Cairo International Stadium, Al Ahly will be looking to build on their strong advantage.

Just days after that match, they face arch-rivals Zamalek in the African Super Cup on September 27th in Saudi Arabia, setting up an intense and exciting period for the Egyptian champions.