Combined images of (From L to R) Ahly coach Jess Thorup and Ceramica Cleopatra coach Ali Maher.
The victory secured Ahly’s place in their 14th consecutive final in the competition.
The Danish coach described the performance as the best since his appointment last month, noting that his side had controlled the match despite missing several clear chances.
“It was our best performance since I arrived,” Thorup told reporters at the post-match press conference.
“We controlled the game and missed four clear chances. Perhaps we were under some pressure in the last five minutes, but in the end, we won.”
Since taking over in October, Thorup has led Ahly to three wins in six matches.
Despite earlier concerns about his team’s defensive vulnerabilities, the coach praised his defenders' efforts against Ceramica, although he acknowledged the need to improve their physical condition.
“I don’t agree that we struggled defensively today. Ceramica had only two chances in the game, and the players performed well," Thorup said.
"We're working on the physical side because I knew there were issues there."
On the other hand, Ceramica Cleopatra coach Ali Maher voiced his frustration with the result, calling for fair treatment across all clubs.
Maher was particularly aggrieved by what he felt was a clear penalty in stoppage time, but the referee dismissed the appeals.
“I won’t speak about the penalty to avoid suspension,” Maher said at the post-match conference.
“The ball was clear, and the referee saw the action. We have to feel justice. We worked hard and put in the effort to earn what we deserve.”
Maher thanked his players for their efforts but lamented the loss, adding: “Unfortunately, we lost the game.”
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: