The Reds thrashed 10-man ES Setif of Algeria 4-0 in Cairo on Saturday, getting them that much closer to the prestigious tournament’s final for a record-extending 15th time.

“Qualification is not guaranteed yet, as we still have to concentrate in the return match. We still have 90 minutes in Algeria, and we will focus and respect our opponent so that we may reach the final,” El-Shennawi told beIN Sports TV channel after the game.

“We played a strong game that we had a long training camp for. We realise how important the Champions League title is, and we want to write our own history by winning it for the third time in a row to please our fans,” he added.

“There are no excuses for not meeting our fans’ expectations recently, despite the fact that we were playing a game every three days. Today, we played after a six-day break, and so we performed well, and the players were physically fit.”

Ahly are likely to qualify for a third consecutive final when they face Setif on their turf in the second leg next Saturday, as they seek to become the first team to win a hat-trick of straight Champions League crowns. 

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