Ahly's technical staff is working hard to prepare the team to overcome the pressures of the dense match schedule, according to head coach Patrice Carteron.

"We will play many successive matches in a limited time starting with Thursday’s match against the UAE’s Al-Wasl," Carteron was quoted as saying by Ahly's official website on Tuesday.

After the recent loss of the CAF Champions League title to Tunisia’s Esperance, Ahly awaits a busy schedule in the Egyptian Premiere League. 

The Reds played just six league matches as opposed to 14 played by other teams due to participating in both the Champions League and the Arab Club Champions Cup (Zayed Champions Cup).

The Cairo giants will be hosted by the Emirati side Al-Wasl in the second leg of the Arab Club Champions Cup round.

Ahly will be on the back foot after a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Alexandria on 28 October.

"We started to prepare our players for these intensive matches since our return from Tunisia after the Champions league final," the coach explained.

"We strive to survive and beat the busy schedule on top of achieving our other main targets. 

"I reviewed digests for more than 10 matches of Al-Wasl. We will play only to win to continue our campaign in the tournament successfully.

"The current period needs much concentration. I realise that the club fans will stand behind us to clinch titles in the coming period including achieving the Zayed Champions Cup title," he concluded.

Holders Ahly currently lie at 17th place on the league table with 11 points from six matches, 15 behind archrivals Zamalek, who played five matches more.

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