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Morocco’s Assistant Coach Reveals Reasons Behind Team’s Africa Cup Elimination
Tuesday 16 July 2019, by
The disappointment of Moroccans, following the elimination of their national team, at the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), is still palpable. Moreover, the debates on the departure of the French coach, Hervé Renard, are exacerbating. And, it is his Assistant who is joining the sports debate. On Radio "Mars" this Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Mustapha Hadji provided elements that explain the debacle of the "Atlas Lions".
Flowing revelations about the fiasco of the "Atlas Lions" on Egyptian soil! Mustapha Hadji, Hervé Renard’s Assistant, decided to break the silence and spoke this Tuesday, July 16, 2019, in the morning, on Radio "Mars". Without mincing words, the former international returned to the participation of the national team in the 2019 CAN, whose final opposes Senegal to Algeria, on Friday, July 19.
He did not beat around the bush to deliver his share of truth: "The players played too many matches. Maybe against South Africa, we should have rested 90% of the squad. At some point, we may have made the mistake of managing the group physically. In this respect, we made a big mistake, that’s for sure." Hadji, who thus expresses his disagreement with certain tactical choices of the French technician, did not overlook the controversy around the absence of Botola elements.
In this regard, he confides: "I note that there are four clubs that have been huge on the African level, with great players, today, and there I speak for myself and my vision, it would be logical to call up Botola players to the national team, and I’m not talking about two or three players. I’m talking about a set of players who have lived up to what we expect of them. You can’t go play a final, go to the Tunisians and Egyptians, put them in difficulty and not play in the national team, it’s not normal," he laments.
As for the rumors raised about the astronomical salaries of the technical staff, including his own which would amount to 300,000 dirhams, Hervé Renard’s Assistant exclaims: "It’s totally false, I’m very far from 300,000 DH." And, to add: "I swear to you, if I was making 300,000, I wouldn’t be here talking to you. If I wanted money, I would have gone to Qatar," observes the former football glory.
At the very least, Hadji acknowledges the merit of the French coach who has worked hard since his arrival at the head of the "Atlas Lions" to achieve performances that no one can deny. "He brought beautiful things to the national team, we found an identity. I have my ideas, of course, but I die with him and I will remain faithful to him until the last minute. Today, I say thank you to him, because he made us vibrate, he gave joy to the Moroccans, I take my hat off to him," said Hadji, on Radio "Mars".