Ouahbi Amrabat World Cup Playing Time Morocco Coach

Mohamed Ouahbi does not want to turn the Sofyan Amrabat case into a major issue. Questioned about the statements made by the player’s brother, unhappy with his playing time during the World Cup, Morocco’s coach chose to calm things down.

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First, Ouahbi recalls that this outburst came after the competition and therefore could not have influenced his choices. He especially assures that he knew Amrabat’s profile perfectly before selecting him.

The staff had warned him: if Sofyan Amrabat came, he would want to play. And if he didn’t play, he would need to be managed, because the midfielder shows every day in training that he wants to be on the pitch. For Ouahbi, this was precisely a positive point.

"The only question I asked was: does he work on the pitch? I was told yes. I said: I’ll take him," the coach explained.

A family reaction

Mohamed Ouahbi acknowledges that Amrabat was disappointed not to play more. A discussion had even taken place before the match against Brazil, when the player felt he might not start. The coach says he explained to him that he would need him, without yet knowing when or in what role.

According to Ouahbi, Amrabat never stopped working. Even frustrated, he trained hard the next day. This is also why he eventually got playing time.

Regarding his brother, the coach refuses to make it a conflict. He says he understands the emotion of families, which he has often experienced in his career with young players. For him, relatives sometimes speak under the weight of frustration.

Ouahbi also insists on Sofyan Amrabat’s character. He describes him as a player who dares to speak, confront things and say what he thinks. But he emphasizes that Amrabat never came to express a personal problem to him.

The coach therefore believes it was mainly a disappointment related to playing time. He finally recalls that competition is fierce in midfield, with Bouaddi, El Aynaoui, El Mourabet and other players expected to establish themselves.

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For Ouahbi, the matter is closed. He assures that Amrabat’s brother’s comments did not affect him and that they change nothing in his reading of the situation.