Al Ahly head coach Hussein Ammouta is preparing to make full use of the Egyptian Premier League break, with the Moroccan coach planning to give his squad time to recover before starting a new phase aimed at preparing more players for the busy period ahead.

Al Ahly’s coaching staff decided to give the players four days off starting Thursday, September 17, taking advantage of the domestic league suspension during the international break.

The decision came less than 24 hours after Al Ahly defeated Abu Qir Fertilizers 2-0 in the fifth round of the Egyptian Premier League.

Ahmed Sayed Zizo scored Al Ahly’s first goal before Hussein El Shahat added the second to secure another three points.

The squad also trained on Wednesday morning at the Mokhtar El Tetsh Stadium before beginning the four-day break included in Ammouta’s program for the international window.

However, the rest period is only the first part of the coach’s plan. Ammouta is also preparing to use the remaining days of the break to improve the condition of several players who have not played regularly since the start of the season.

New chance for substitutes

Ammouta wants the league break to become a real opportunity for players who have been outside his regular starting line-up.

His plans include players who did not have a complete preseason preparation, those who have recently returned from injury, and others who have been left out for technical reasons.

The coaching staff is expected to focus on improving the physical and technical condition of those players, allowing Al Ahly to return from the break with more options available.

That could become particularly important as the team enters a busy period in which Ammouta will need to rotate his squad rather than depend on the same group in every match.

The Moroccan coach has also delivered a clear message to his substitutes, telling them that opportunities will be available if they continue to work hard in training.

Ammouta wants selection to depend on readiness, commitment and the ability to follow the technical instructions of the coaching staff.

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That approach could lead to changes in Al Ahly’s line-up during the coming matches.

The coach also wants every member of the squad to feel involved, even if they have not played regularly during the opening weeks of the season.

Competition for places

Ammouta’s plan is not simply about giving minutes to substitute players. It is also part of his attempt to create stronger competition for places throughout the squad.

Al Ahly need more than one reliable option in each position, especially during a long season in which injuries, suspensions and physical fatigue can quickly affect the available choices.

Players who have spent much of the early season outside the starting eleven are therefore expected to receive another opportunity to impress in training once the four-day break ends.

Their performances could determine who enters Ammouta’s plans when competitive action resumes.

The league break will also give the coaching staff time to review Al Ahly’s performances during the opening rounds and work on problems that have appeared in recent matches.

Al Ahly started their league campaign with a 3-2 victory over El Sharkia Enppi, followed by a 2-0 win against ZED and a 1-0 victory over Smouha.

They then dropped points for the first time in a 1-1 draw with Al Mokawloon Al Arab before returning to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Abu Qir Fertilizers.

Ammouta now wants to use the pause in competition to build a deeper and more prepared squad instead of waiting until the fixture schedule becomes crowded to search for alternatives.

The message inside Al Ahly appears clear ahead of the restart: no place in the team is guaranteed, and players who prove their readiness in training will have the chance to enter the coach’s plans.

For Al Ahly’s fringe players, the current break could therefore become much more than a few days without competitive football. It may offer several of them a fresh opportunity to change their position in Ammouta’s squad.