Ribeiro: There is no plan to stop Messi!

Al Ahly coach Jose Ribeiro admitted the difficulty of developing a specific plan to stop Argentine star Lionel Messi, captain of Inter Miami, before the two teams' anticipated opening match of the 2025 Club World Cup. Ribeiro told ESPN: "Honestly, I don't think there is a guaranteed way to prepare for facing a player like Messi. All you can do is play with great discipline and try to reduce his danger before the ball reaches him." Al Ahly will begin their Club World Cup campaign against Inter Miami on Sunday morning, in the first round of Group A matches, which also includes Palmeiras of Brazil and Porto of Portugal. Regarding the atmosphere of the tournament, the Al Ahly coach said: "We are very excited. We feel proud to represent the club and Egyptian football in front of the world, and we are aware of the challenge and responsibility." He added: "We arrived here early to acclimatize to the atmosphere and prepare in the best possible way for very difficult matches against strong opponents." While praising Messi's individual abilities, Ribeiro emphasized the importance of focusing on the entire system: "Messi is an exceptional player, yes, but he cannot be separated from the group. Inter Miami is a complete team with an intelligent coach, and we are ready to face him as one unit." He concluded: "We will give our best and approach every moment of the match with complete focus. What happens on the pitch will determine who deserves to advance in the tournament."