Mekki: We tested the reserve players and prepared for the absentees... and the competition is leaning in favor of Ittihad.
Ahmed Hassan Maki, the coach of Ittihad Alexandria, confirmed that the team has greatly benefited from the recent friendly matches, noting that the coaching staff was keen to give opportunities to substitute players and those who had been away from participation lately.
Ittihad will face Wadi Degla at 5 PM today, Thursday, in the first round of the Cairo Capital Cup.
Maki said: "We played friendly matches and the performance was good. We tried out the substitute players, and there were players who hadn't participated recently, and we were trying to prepare them during this period."
All players are ready at Ittihad
The Ittihad Alexandria coach added: "All players are now ready, and there is strong competition among them, which benefits the team, as the competition pushes each player to give their best and maintain their position."
Maki pointed out that the purpose of the friendly matches was not only to maintain the team's readiness but also to prepare as many players as possible and give the coaching staff a chance to assess the levels of all players before upcoming challenges.
The coach emphasized that the complete squad and increased competition among players represent a positive element, providing the coaching staff with broader options in selecting the appropriate lineup according to the nature of each match.
