CAIRO: Ahly coach Hossam Al-Badri does not intend to switch the newly-deployed 4-4-2 formation despite the team s heavy defeats in the Wembley Cup.

The Red Devils suffered a 5-0 defeat to Scottish giants Celtic before losing 4-1 to European and Spanish champions Barcelona in the annual friendly tournament.

Several pundits criticized Al-Badri for his insistence to play without a natural sweeper.

Most Egyptian clubs play with a 3-5-2 formation. Harras Hodoud were the only exception, having successfully deployed a 4-4-2 strategy to win the Egyptian Cup and the Super Cup.

Do not blame the formation, Al-Badri told Al-Hayat TV following Ahly s defeat against Barcelona.

We want to improve through deploying a 4-4-2 formation. Yes there are some mistakes but the players are gradually getting used to the new system.

Portuguese coach Manuel Jose, under whom Ahly won 19 local and continental titles, used to play with the traditional 3-5-2 formation.

We feel that we ve become better under the new formation, added striker Hani Al-Egeizi, who scored Ahly s only goal against Barcelona.