Zamalek’s Fathallah denies departure rumors

Mahmoud Fathallah denied being unhappy after sitting on the bench during Zamalek’s last two Egyptian Premier League matches. The former Ghazl Mahalla man has been one of Zamalek’s key defenders since joining in 2007. He played all Zamalek’s league matches last season but a recent dip in form prompted coach Hassan Shehata to leave him out of the two successive wins over Arab Contractors and Bani Suef Telephones. ‘’Being at the bench is not a big issue. The priority for me is that the team wins and I will do my best to regain my place in the team’s starting lineup,” Fathallah told Zamalek’s official website. In Fathallah’s absence, Shehata preferred to field Salah Soliman and Hani Said in the heart of Zamalek’s defence. However, the 29-year-old said he is ready to play against Masry in Friday’s league game after shrugging off a minor injury. “I am fit to play against Masry but the final decision lies in the hands of the team’s technical staff and I have to respect it,” he added. Fathallah, who extended his contract with Zamalek last season, has two years remaining on his current deal. ahramonline .