Yasser Rayan: Beautiful football is missing at Al Ahly under Ammouta, and my son will decide his future

Former Al Ahly star Yasser Rayan said Hussein Ammouta is getting good results with the team, but believes his defensive focus may limit the attacking football Al Ahly fans are used to seeing. He added that Ammouta’s spell should be judged in light of the results the coach achieves.

Rayan believes Al Ahly will not need to strengthen its defence in the winter transfer window if Ashraf Dari regains full fitness and continues to stay clear of injuries. He also said Ali Maaloul’s departure does not leave Al Ahly unable to cope with a player’s absence, while acknowledging that it can sometimes be difficult to find a replacement with Maaloul’s abilities.

Speaking about the Egyptian league title race, Rayan said the competition would be strong between Al Ahly, Zamalek and Pyramids, but expected it to come down to Al Ahly and Pyramids, adding that it would be difficult for Zamalek to win the title this season. He praised Pyramids’ squad, describing it as the strongest in Egypt at present.

Rayan stressed that his son, Ahmed Yasser, is the one who will decide whether to move to Zamalek or choose another club, noting that Zamalek currently has a registration ban. He also backed Moatamed Gamal staying on, saying that losing one big match alone does not justify changing the coaching staff, given the financial circumstances and the need for stability.

Rayan estimated that his contract would be worth 70 million pounds per season if he were a player today, while noting that each generation faces different circumstances.