Ahmed El-Sheikh Reveals Al Ahly’s Gains Against Barcelona.. and Backs Amr El-Gazzar for a Starting Role
Former Al Ahly player and sports analyst Ahmed El-Sheikh assessed Al Ahly’s 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy, calling the result satisfactory while praising Amr El-Gazzar and Hamza Abdelkarim.
Despite Al Ahly’s 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy, the match provided several positive indications for the Egyptian club, particularly because it came against one of the biggest teams in world football at Camp Nou ahead of the new season. ⭐
Former Al Ahly player and sports analyst Ahmed El-Sheikh believes the result can generally be considered satisfactory, stressing that the most important objective at this stage is to benefit from the high-level test and address the weaknesses exposed against the Spanish giants.
⭐ Ahmed El-Sheikh: Barcelona Defeat Was Satisfactory
Speaking via video link from Spain on the “Modern Sports” program, El-Sheikh explained that he attended the match at Camp Nou while he was in Spain taking part in several training courses.
He described the atmosphere inside Camp Nou as excellent, emphasizing that the Barcelona match represented a unique experience for Al Ahly from both technical and public perspectives, particularly as the team is preparing for the new season under a new coaching staff.
He noted that Al Ahly appeared overly defensive during the first half, which affected the team’s ability to build attacks and reach Barcelona’s goal, although he believes the Egyptian side gradually improved as the match progressed.
🔥 Defensive Caution Needs to Be Addressed
El-Sheikh believes Al Ahly’s defensive approach at the beginning of the match may have been a tactical decision by head coach Hussein Ammouta, aimed at absorbing Barcelona’s pressure and limiting the spaces available to their attacking players.
However, this approach also caused Al Ahly to become less effective offensively and allowed Barcelona to control large periods of the first half.
The former Al Ahly player stressed that addressing the defensive weaknesses should be one of the coaching staff’s priorities before the official competitions begin, particularly because the new season will be long and demanding, with most of the team’s domestic rivals strengthening their squads.
🛡️ Special Praise for Amr El-Gazzar
One of the performances that particularly impressed Ahmed El-Sheikh was that of new signing Amr El-Gazzar, who delivered a notable display in Al Ahly’s defense.
El-Sheikh considered El-Gazzar one of Al Ahly’s standout players during the first half, praising his ability to deal with the difficult challenge posed by Barcelona’s attackers despite the significant difference in experience and level between the two sides.
He also predicted that Amr El-Gazzar could earn an important starting role with Al Ahly during the new season, especially if he continues to deliver similar performances in official matches.
El-Gazzar’s emergence represents an important boost for the team, as the presence of new players capable of competing for places gives the coaching staff more options and increases competition within the squad. ⚽
🇪🇬 Hamza Abdelkarim Impresses at Barcelona
El-Sheikh also discussed Egyptian youngster Hamza Abdelkarim, who has become one of the most closely followed names during Barcelona’s preseason preparations.
The former Al Ahly player expressed his pride in what the young Egyptian striker has achieved with the Catalan club, particularly after his impressive performances in friendly matches and his important goals.
He also highlighted the positive reception Hamza has received from Barcelona supporters, who have begun to view the player as one of the young talents capable of making an impact for the first team in the future.
Hamza’s progress represents a remarkable journey for the Egyptian player, especially after his move from Al Ahly to Barcelona and his subsequent appearances with the first team during preseason, giving him a major opportunity to prove himself at one of the world’s leading football academies. ✨
📸 A Special Meeting with Yamal and Raphinha
At the end of his comments, Ahmed El-Sheikh praised Spanish youngster Lamine Yamal, expressing his admiration not only for the player’s footballing ability but also for his personality, humanitarian attitude and support for others.
El-Sheikh revealed that he was keen to take commemorative photos after the match with Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Hamza Abdelkarim, in a memorable moment bringing together one of Barcelona’s biggest current stars and the rising Egyptian talent.
The Barcelona match remains an important experience for Al Ahly ahead of the new season, not simply because of the result but because of the high-level technical test that exposed the team’s strengths and weaknesses against elite opposition.
With the official competitions approaching, the real challenge for the coaching staff will be to turn the lessons learned from the Barcelona match into clear improvements, particularly defensively, while giving the new players opportunities to prove themselves. 🏆
Can Amr El-Gazzar secure a starting place with Al Ahly during the new season? And can Hamza Abdelkarim continue his impressive progress at Barcelona? Share your opinion and predictions for the upcoming season. 🔥
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