Sports broadcaster Ahmed Shobeir has shed light on the tactical approach being adopted by Al Ahly’s new head coach, Spanish manager José Ribeiro, regarding the starting lineup for the team's opening match in the Egyptian Premier League against Modern Sport in the coming days.

In a post shared on his official page, Shobeir stated that the players who will feature in tonight’s friendly against Petrojet are the most likely to form Ribeiro’s starting eleven for the league opener. He explained that these players have been a consistent part of the final phase of the team’s pre-season preparations, reflecting the coach’s growing confidence in them.

Al Ahly’s first team is set to play two friendly matches this evening, Sunday, at Al Salam Stadium, marking the final stage of their physical and tactical preparations under Ribeiro, who has carefully crafted the pre-season program since taking charge.

The first friendly will be against the Egyptian Youth National Team at 6:00 PM, followed by a second match against Petrojet at 9:00 PM—both on the same pitch. Ribeiro is expected to grant his players full minutes on the field to assess their match fitness and tactical execution, as these two games serve as the final dress rehearsal ahead of official competition.

The Spanish coach has followed a three-phase preparation plan to achieve optimal team cohesion and fitness. The first phase took place at Mokhtar El-Tetsh Stadium and lasted five days, featuring detailed fitness assessments and a variety of technical drills aimed at evaluating individual player capabilities.

The team then traveled to Tabarka, Tunisia, for a nine-day training camp that included two friendly matches against Stade Tunisien and CA Bizertin. These matches were crucial for the coaching staff to evaluate several tactical options and refine player roles.

Al Ahly concluded the third and final phase of their preparations back in Cairo with intensive training sessions at El-Tetsh and a strong friendly against ENPPI, followed by today’s double-header against the Youth Team and Petrojet. These matches are expected to provide the clearest picture yet of Ribeiro’s preferred starting eleven for the upcoming season.

Ribeiro is determined to implement his own footballing philosophy and maintain a smart squad rotation policy to ensure consistent performance across all competitions while preserving players' fitness throughout a demanding season.