In an interview with “Compétition”, former Algeria star Salah Assad shared his thoughts on national team coach Vladimir Petkovic.
The national team managed to secure a victory in Uganda after a lackluster first half, drawing criticism from the former international.
Assad did not mince words when analyzing the first half performance of the Greens. “They were not good. In the first half, they were too fragile with a lot of technical mistakes and an over-reliance on poorly executed long balls. You can’t afford that when you’re playing at a high level,” he stated. Despite the eventual win, he emphasized the need to review several aspects of their game.
He also suggested that communication between the coach and players might need adjustments. “At this pace, with this approach, we cannot go far,” he asserted, while acknowledging some positives such as the team’s collective response early in the second half. However, he cautioned against potential dangers when facing more experienced opponents.
The upcoming match against Botswana, currently third in the group with 6 points, was also discussed. Assad highlighted the significance of this game to truly assess the team’s potential following their loss to Guinea. “We will see how our team reacts against Botswana. It’s after this match that we can determine if the defeat to Guinea was an anomaly or not,” he concluded, stressing the need to address certain issues for optimal preparation.
Finally, he underscored the importance of Riyad Mahrez in the team, stating that his presence remains invaluable for the younger players. According to him, Mahrez provides necessary authority, akin to that of Fergani for the 1982 generation.
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