Cup Victory and Unpredictable Nights
Ahmed Abdel Raouf, the Zamalek manager, expressed great satisfaction after their 1-0 win over Baladiyya Al-Mahalla in the Egypt Cup, noting that cup matches defy fixed metrics and are always full of surprises.
He paid a special tribute to Baladiyya Al-Mahalla, noting that the club has had a significant influence on his coaching career after he previously worked there as a manager before moving on to other duties.
He described the harsh conditions at Zamalek, saying the situation inside the White Castle is tough at all levels.
He revealed the squad's technical strain, explaining that recent matches were played without a clear center-back pairing until Mahmoud "El-Wensh" Hamdi returned recently, underscoring how recurring injuries have made squad planning very hard.
He stressed that financial crisis remains the main factor behind these difficulties, noting players have shown patience despite some not receiving salaries for nearly six months, while acknowledging money cannot be ignored in professional football.
Regarding absences and the sudden departure, he dropped a surprise about the Moroccan talent Bentayig, confirming he is not with the team at the moment and that the club has only his word about a unilateral contract termination.
On the left-back issue, he denied any bias toward youth players, saying the problem lies in readiness and that players like "Isho" now have no real alternatives in the current squad.
He closed by addressing medical matters, expressing perplexity over repeated injuries to Mahmoud Jihad and praising striker Ahmed Shreef, while awaiting the medical report to determine the latest problem.
In a decisive tactical move, he declared that Ahmed Hamdi will not be in his plans for the near future, a decision he says reflects his assessment and strategic view.
