“Algeria fans are wonderful,” says former captain Yazid Mansouri

Algeria’s former captain Yazid Mansouri said the Algerian fans are wonderful and he will never forget their attachment to the national team and their hearty welcome after the World Cup qualifying match in Sudan.

• Has Yazid recovered his capacities and is he ready for this experience in the Gulf?
• Yes, we have just finished up with the preparatory training in Germany after a hard season. Thanks to God, I am doing well and ready for a new competition with Al Siliya.
• Was language a problem in the beginning?
• Thanks to God, I speak Arabic and French and a little bit of French. I start learning Arabic especially the Golf dialect which if different from the Algerian one. I will adapt by time.
• Talks were secret and unannounced. How were they held?
• It was fast and they were held during the Algerian team’s training in Switzerland. Officials came to me after they had sent me a fax.
• Are you satisfied about the national team’s performance in the World Cup?
• As professionals, we can not be proud of that performance. Capacities were there and we could have qualified to the second round. The first match was behind our exclusion from the race to qualify to the second round. In the African Cup, we lost our match but we knew how to catch up. That was about to happen in the match against England. It was a nice game.
• Why didn’t you ask about the reason behind your exclusion from the national team?
• Coach Rabah Saadane was not courageous to talk to me. Two days before the match against Slovenia, he came to my room and we talked to each other. He told me there were many competitors to get my position. I said to him ‘yes, this is not a problem. It is encouraging.’ Four months ago, I played the African Cup and I played the decisive match against Egypt. I was congratulated for that and everything changed. I helped my country to qualify to the World Cup and I did my best. You coach, you thank me like that. I don’t agree with you.
• Did the president of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) talked to you?
• He told me ‘remain professional.’ I was training regularly and I played my role as if I was the captain to help my country’s team.
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• Algerian fans showed sympathy to you and did not like the way you were excluded.
• When I signed with Al Siliya and I came back to Algeria, I saw fans and told me about their anger. I am grateful to them.
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• Do you think that you were excluded after Yebda had arrived?
• I played with Yebda in the African Cup and we did a good collective job. He is an excellent player and welcome to him. If I did not show what you were expecting from me, you should exclude but if you did not test me, you should not exclude me.
• Your exclusion may be the worst memory in your career.
• Yes, it has been my dream since my childhood but it’s ok. Thanks to God, life continues and I hope to succeed in my nex experience. I will be with my family and I will honour my contract.
• Are you for or against the dismissal of national coach Rabah Saadane?
• Regardless my situation with Saadane and my story in the World Cup, the FAF’s decision to maintain him was right. It is important to ensure stability.
• Do you think it is necessary to have another experienced assistant to the technical staff?
• Yes, I see it is important to vary tactical choices.
• Algeria did not score any goal in the World Cup. Is it the responsibility of the coach, the strikers or is it a collective one?
• It is the fault of no one. We did not seize the opportunities we had. That’s all. We need to work hard for the friendly match against Gabon.