Nadir Belhadj : “I don't see any problem having an Israeli coach at Portsmouth, my sole objective is to promote my sporting career”

Algeria International Nadir Belhadj has affirmed he sees no problem having an Israeli coach at Portsmouth after the recent dismissal of Tony Adams, stressing that his main concern is to preserve his place within the English outfit.

•    In an exclusive interview with “Echorouk Al Yaoumi”, Nadir Belhadj evoked, among other things, the staggering offers he had received from several prestigious European clubs notably from FC Barcelona and Liverpool. 
• Q : According to latest reports, Israeli coach Ibrahim Grant is tipped to be at the technical helm of your club Portsmouth,…Do you confirm that? 
• I can’t confirm such information, but I should say that Ibrahim is well known on the European football scene and he could bring a lot to the team of Portsmouth.
•  Q : But he is Jewish ?…
•  It does not matter, the main thing for me is to safeguard my slot within the squad and to give the maximum on the pitch. 
• Q : You made a great performance versus Liverpool and you scored a second goal for Portsmouth but eventually Liverpool carried the day, thanks to a last – minute goal?… 
• I pulled all the stops versus the team of Liverpool which is very difficult to deal with, despite the fact that I played on the right flank contrary to my habit.Playing on the left side is more propitious for me.
•  Q : In fact, this is not the first time that you sustain a fatal goal in the last minutes of the game?… 
• It is true, we lost several matches in this way but I hope that the next coach will find the best solution  to deal with this kind of mishaps because Portsmouth should garner more points in the hope of averting the hovering specter of relegation. 
• Q : Did the giant Spanish club of FC Barcelona contact you to join the Catalan outfit as reported by the sporting press ? 
• Yes, I received an offer from FC Barcelona last December but I preferred to stay in Portsmouth because I don’t want to have the status of substitute player, a thing I unfortunately experienced before with the French team of Lyon.
•  Q : Do you also confirm your reported contacts with Liverpool ?… 
•  No, I have had no contact at all with Liverpool.I deny such rumours.But I must say that no player in the world does not dream one day to be part of this prestigious English squad.
•  Q : Let’s talk now about the Algerian national team.Do you think that playing Benin in a friendly match in Blida stadium this Wednesday is judicious ahead of the combined qualifying matches for the 2010 World cup and Africa cup of nations football contest?
•  We should overlook the fact that Benin has qualified to the 3rd and last round of this competition and this friendly international game will allow us to put the final touches to our team’s preparation ahead of the crucial qualifiers. 
• Q : The absence during this training camp in Algiers of 3 key players including Ziani, Saifi and Antar Yahia could disadvantage the national squad ?…
•  It’s true, these 3 players have a solid spot within the Algeria line – up but we will strive hard on the pitch to make a good showing in the upcoming confrontations. I wish Antar Yahia and Rafik Saifi a good and speedy recovery from their injury hoping they will rejoin the Greens in very good conditions.
•  Q : With only one mouth and a half to go before the first qualifier versus Rwanda, what are the chances of the national squad during this upcoming match to be played in Kigali ?
• We will travel to Kigali with a sole motto, that is to win. I am confident that our team has the required means to make a good showing there and snatch the 3 points of victory.
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