Top Ahly players said they hope to regain fans’ confidence after the team failed to claim any domestic or continental titles last year.
“I hope to win the upcoming Egypt’s 2020-2021 Super Cup against Zamalek. I also hope to reclaim the African title and do my best with my teammates to return to the FIFA Club World Cup next season,” Ahly veteran midfielder Amr El-Sulaya, 32, told the club’s official website early on Friday.
The Red Devils, holders of 10 continental titles, failed to capitalise on the opportunity to set a new record by winning three consecutive Champions League titles, after losing 2-0 to Morocco's Wydad in the final match, which was played in Casablanca last May.
Ahly start this season with their first game in the Champions League campaign on Sunday when they face Tunisian side US Monastir away from home in the first leg of the competition’s round of 32.
First-choice playmaker Mohamed “Afsha” Magdi,26, stressed that the Champions League will be tough this time around.
"We want to achieve a positive result away from home against the Tunisian side to start the season,” Afsha said.
“We hope to have a brilliant one," he added.
Meanwhile, Ahly right-back Akram Tawfik, 24, who recently recovered from a knee injury that sidelined him for 9 months, also promised the fans that the team will have a better season.
"I am happy to return and ready to help the team recoup trophies, I hope to meet the fans' and coach’s expectations " Tawfik said.
“We won't let the fans down like we did in the last season. It was a very difficult season for the players because of the exhausting game schedule and repeated injuries. But, but the players are fully concentrating now,” he added.
“We are shooting to win the CAF Champions League title and all trophies this season since we are a big team and we always have to achieve the best results,” he added.
Last season, Ahly, the holders of 42 Premier League titles, lost the domestic completion title to archrivals Zamalek title for the second season in a row and finished third – their worst ranking in 30 years.
The team also lost the 2020-2021 Egypt Cup title to Zamalek.
On Thursday, Ahly's new Swiss coach Marcel Koller named his 22-man list for US Monastir game, including newly signed players Brazilian forward Bruno Savio and striker Shadi Hussein.
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