Ziani to Echorouk : “I wasn’t impressed by the Egyptians when I was 22 how can I be now”

The Algerian international midfielder who plays to the German club Wolfsburg, Karim Ziani has revealed that he’s recovering from his injury rapidly and will start running on Tuesday pending his return to the training sessions with his club on Thursday.

• Ziani has also added that he will be ready for the match versus Egypt asserting that one week training with the Algerian squad will be enough to recover all his physical resources. In a wide-ranging interview Kari Ziani has discussed several questions on top of them those related to the match versus Egypt insisting on the fact to play for the win.
• Q: The Algerian fans are wondering whether you are going to take part o the match versus Egypt on November 14, what are the latest developments concerning your injury?
• A:  First of all, I’d like to thank the Algerian people for the interest they show in the players , thanks God I’m recovering rapidly and will start running in a day or two and all it seems that I’ will get back on the pitch before the end of the coming week.
• Q: Does it mean that you participation versus Egypt is confirmed?
• A:  My participation will depend on the doctor’s judgment and nothing is certain in football, but I think I will be ready for the match versus Egypt at more than 90%.
• Q: In case of your return to the training sessions with your club Wolfsburg, is there any chance to see you on the pitch versus Hoffenheim next Saturday?
• A: In football no player can assert that he will start the match, as I’m concerned I have to wait until Friday to get fixed. After all, my participation is bound to the coach decision.
• Q: Don’t you fear the lack of competition ahead of the match versus Egypt in case you are counted out next Saturday?.
• A: I’m used to play blue -chip matches after an injury and frankly speaking I hope the lack of completion will not impact on my performances and I will try to offset this by my resilience , especially that the matter deals with the Algerian squad.
• Q: Are you in touch with your team mate Madjid  Bouguerra who suffers an injury also?
• A: We are talking to each other on daily basis; I know that he is recovering well and he will be ready for the match versus Egypt.
• Q: Don’t you know that Bezzaz is suffering from an injury also?
• A: No, I wasn’t aware of but I wish him the best of luck because he’s a top class player and can give  lot for the Algeria   squad.
• Q; Much has been said on the match between Algeria and Egypt and the psychological war reached its peak, do you feel this pressure before moving to Cairo?
• A: Personally I have never paid attention to pressure either with the Algerian squad or the different club where I played; I’m this type of players who, whenever they enter the pitch they make abstraction of what happens on the bleachers.
• Q: But some are afraid of Cairo stadium?
• A: Who has already played at July5 stadium or the Velodrome in Marseille, will not be impressed by the Cairo stadium; the Egyptian fans have the right to support their squad, and it’s up to us to concentrate on the pitch and forget the bleachers.
• Q: What can you say for those who think that pressure will be tremendous in Cairo?
• A: I would simply advise the player or the fan that fears pressure to stay at home the day of the match, because football is a Men’s sport.
• Q: Some fear the Egyptian squad that gained momentum recently, any comment?
• A: How can we fear a squad we trounced by three goals to one in Blida (away match in Algeria); moreover, we will go to Egypt with three points ahead and two goals difference which means that our chances to qualify to the world cup are big.
• Q: The Algerian squad will prepare the match in the Italian town Florence, do you think that the choice of the location is appropriate especially that the climate is cold in comparison to Egypt?
• A: I think that the Algerian Football Association has done the best choice because this center has an excellent reputation in Europe and the “Squadra Azura” (the Italian squad) are regularly training there. As to the climate, I would say that the training camp will not last long and will be devoted to concentration only that’s why the weather conditions are minor factors in this case.
• Q: You have defeated the Pharaohs twice in the past, the first time it was in the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia in June 2004 and the second was in Algeria in 2009, do you think that you can renew the achievement this time around?
• A: (He smiles) indeed, I beat them (Egyptians) in Tunisia when I was 22 and did it again last June; there is a saying which says “ No twice without three “ and I hope to beat them in Cairo to assert our supremacy and prove to the world that we deserve to go to South Africa.