No way to prepare for Messi: Ahly coach

Ahly boss Jose Riveiro admitted it will be nearly impossible to contain Lionel Messi when his side faces Inter Miami in the opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday.

Ahram Online , Tuesday 10 Jun 2025,
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Jose Riveiro
Ahly boss Jose Riveiro. Photo courtesy of Ahly Facebook page.

 

"There's no way to really prepare for Messi," Riveiro told ESPN on Tuesday.

"You have to be disciplined against him. Our job is to make sure he doesn't receive the ball easily."

“Once he has the ball, he does what he's always done,” he added.

“He needs special attention, but he's used to that kind of pressure.”

Egyptian champions Ahly will make their Club World Cup debut in the clash against Inter Miami, led by Argentina's World Cup-winning captain.

"Messi is a great player in a strong team, but we are ready for the challenge,” said Riveiro.

The Spanish coach also expressed excitement about competing on the world stage and pledged to give everything to make a strong impression.

"I'm very enthusiastic and happy to be playing in the Club World Cup,” he said.

“We will face tough teams, but we arrived early to prepare and adapt.”

Ahly have been drawn in Group A alongside Brazil’s Palmeiras and Portuguese champions FC Porto.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)

 

 

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Group A W D L P
Palmeiras
1 1 0 4
Inter Miami
1 1 0 4
Porto
0 1 1 1
Ahly
0 1 1 1
Group B W D L P
Botafogo
2 0 0 6
Paris SG
1 0 1 3
Atletico Madrid
1 0 1 3
Seattle Sounders
0 0 2 0
Group C W D L P
Bayern Munich
2 0 0 6
Benfica
1 1 0 4
Boca Juniors
0 1 1 1
Auckland City FC
0 0 2 0
Group D W D L P
Flamengo
2 0 0 6
Chelsea
1 0 1 3
Esperance
1 0 1 3
Los Angeles FC
0 0 2 0
Group E W D L P
River Plate
1 1 0 4
Inter Milan
1 1 0 4
CF Monterrey
0 2 0 2
Urawa Reds
0 0 2 0
Group F W D L P
Fluminense
1 1 0 4
Dortmund
1 1 0 4
Mamelodi Sundowns
1 0 1 3
Ulsan HD
0 0 2 0
Group G W D L P
Juventus
2 0 0 6
Manchester City
2 0 0 6
Wydad
0 0 2 0
Al-Ain
0 0 2 0
Group H W D L P
Real Madrid
1 1 0 4
RB Salzburg
1 1 0 4
Al-Hilal
0 2 0 2
Pachuca
0 0 2 0