Mourad Meguenni to Echourok : “ We can work it out”

The international midfielder Mourad Meguenni has missed the first match of the Algeria squad versus Malawi on account of an injury, but he was in a state of shock after the surprise setback. Like his teammates before him, he accepted to talk about the match and try to explain this defeat.

• Q: You didn’t take part to the match versus Malawi, were you surprised by the outcome?
• A: Actually, starting a major competition by a defeat in the first match is not an easy matter especially that we were counting on a large success likely to enhance our chances, but in football only the logic of the pitch counts.
• Q: You were out of the pith and may be your analysis of the match is better than that of your comrades who took part to the fixture, what did you notice?.
• A: I think that the team evolved in difficult conditions, I also noticed that the weather was not appropriate for a football match especially when you play under high temperature and humidity
• Q: Do you think that it’s main the cause for this setback?
• A: This factor is very important and it affected the players’ movements on the pitch, when you play under these circumstances, you lose a lot you abilities.
•  Q:The coach Rabah Saadane has mentioned high temperature and humidity prevailing in Luanda, do you consider that the acclimation period was not sufficient?
• A: The training sessions were designed to acclimatize the players to these conditions since our arrival here in Angola.
• Q: But both teams played under the same conditions…
• A: that’ right but Malawi are used to play in these conditions and the coach has mentioned this point before the match.
• Q: Did you expect such a large defeat versus a squad that experts considered as a modest one?
• A: I don’t think that there are small squads in this competition, all the teams deserve respect and Malawi played an excellent match and turned conditions on their favor.
• Q: Undoubtedly, this defeat is putting your chances to qualify to the second round at stake; do you think that the next latch versus Mali will be tougher?
• A:  We have to forget the defeat and concentrate on the upcoming match versus Mali. The conditions will be different and we will play at 5pm.