Algeria squad captain: We’ll get back stronger

The Algeria squad captain Yazid Manssouri has declared in an interview posted on “ Foot Afrique 365” that the causes behind the Fennecs’ unexpected defeat versus Malawi were not to be limited to the climate only, hinting to tactical flaws in the defense during the first half.

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• Q: What about the morale of the group after the severe defeat versus Malawi?
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• A: Things are normal though we are still affected by the three goals we have received, especially that we could have won this match and assured a good start in the competition.
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• Q: Some talk about dissentions among the group, can you please relate the events before the match?
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• A: We had lunch at 11.30 then took the bus towards the stadium at 12.15 but we arrived at 13.30 because of the traffic jam in Luanda. Soon after we got in the dressing rooms and each player choose his own way to concentrate on the match.
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• Q: What really happened in the dressing rooms?
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• A: Before getting into the pitch I read the message forwarded to me by the coach Saadane to the players in which he insisted on taking the component seriously and do the maximum. I have asked them to concentrate during the fouls either on our favor or against us.
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• Q: looking at your words, everything was OK before the match, so what happened during and why did the Fennecs appeared so weak?
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• A: I think that the defeat versus Malawi was shameful, especially that we could have won since we started very strong and could have scored twice during the first quarter of the first half.
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• Q: So what happened exactly and how did you received three goals in a row?
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• A: When I replayed the match at night, I came with the conclusion that the goals we have received do not exist even in the Video Games, our defense mad fatal mistakes that cost us a lot.
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• Q: Does it mean that some players were off- form?
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• A: We all have part of responsibility in this debacle and we have to sort it out at earliest and look forward to beating Mali and Angola in order to stay in the competition.
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• Q: Some talk about the weather conditions that hindered your evolution on the pitch?
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• A: It’s true that played under 36° and 80% of humidity but we don’t have to explain our defeat by these two factors and look after the real causes behind our setback rather.
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• Q:  Does it mean that Malawi was better than you?
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• A: the played very well, but they are not better than us I’m sure that we can beat them thousands times. Unlike us, Malawi were more realistic.
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•  Q: You are going to play a decisive match versus Mali, do you think that the Fennecs have chances to qualify?
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• A: We are a big team sometimes we win others we lose, and we will try to come back on track and live up at the Algerian people expectations.
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