A triumphant Ahly boss Fathi Mabrouk said that his players were surprised with his formation and tactics just before the game, following the convincing 2-0 win over arch-rivals Zamalek in the Egyptian league on Tuesday.

In a match that saw Mabrouk clearly outclass his counterpart on the Zamalek bench, the caretaker Ahly coach attributed his side's win over the league leaders to his 'surprising tactics'.

"Even my players were surprised with my tactics and playing style shortly before the match," Mabrouk said in a television interview.

Mabrouk played with an unusual formation against Zamalek, having fielded three center-backs in a 3-5-2 formation that featured two attack-minded wing-backs in Walid Soliman and Bassem Ali.

The latter in particular was instrumental throughout, and was involved in his side's first goal which came following his cross that the Zamalek defense failed to properly clear, while Soliman kept Zamalek's right-back Hazem Emam on his toes and won the foul that allowed Moemen Zakareya to strikle the double.

"I gave priority to the experienced players in the squad, and gradually introduced youngsters," Mabrouk added.

"As regarding to my future at the club, the decision is down to the board.

"If they want me to stay, I will stay. If they wish to appoint a foreign manager instead I'm fine with it."

The 64-year-old Mabrouk took charge of the Cairo giants after ex-Villarreal and Real Betis manager Juan Carlos Garrido was sacked following a string of poor results, which saw the Reds lag behind Zamalek in this season's league title race.

The ex-Ahly defender managed to make a turnaround in their fortunes, having helped them to the Confederation Cup last-eight as well as guaranteeing at least a runner-up finish in the league.

He also took over at Ahly in similar conditions the last campaign, and registered his name in the club's history books after leading them to the league title from under Zamalek's nose.

Following their win over Zamalek, courtesy of a Moemen Zakareya brace, Ahly could still hope of an outside chance of retaining the domestic title should their rivals lose in their upcoming games against Talae El-Gaish and Wadi Degla.

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