Michel Answers About Morocco Soccer
Coach Henry Michel has been getting a lot of criticism for Morocco’s team losing in their quest for the African Cup in Ghana. He gave his explanation for the losses and put forth his plans for the future of the Atlas Lions in Morocco at a news conference held last Thursday.
As he rehashed the games that the team lost, he told reporters that he had come there in response to the criticism in the media and to make some suggestions. He began by reminding that most everyone was saying that Morocco would win the African Cup of Nations. However, no one had a plan on how to do it realistically.
Coach Michel of Morocco feels that he should not shoulder the blame for the Morocco Atlas Lion’s Defeat. He reiterated that he is not a miracle worker. He took over the team a short four months ago. He explained that no one could bring together a new group in such a short time. That takes time, working together season after season, year after year.
Coach Michel went on to tell that he had no illusions about winning the match against Ghana team in their own country. Morocco’s team is lacking in quality players. He used the goal keeper as an example saying Morocco has not had a good one since Zaki or a player to rally the other such as Naybet in the past. Coach Michel noted that Morocco has no big players that were local stars before joining prestigious foreign sides. None of Morocco’s players have reached that stature. Henri Michel feels that although a lot of work was done by the various coaches in the past, but there has been a lack of continuity and no follow up.
Coach Michel feels that Morocco has no clear sporting strategy for achieving excellence. He proposes a technical policy which would require pitches, trainers, coaches and finance. The coach said he will re-think the team line-up and include more local players.
Morocco’s Communication Minister and spokesman, Khalid Naciri says that Coach Michel is in no position to make a judgment on Morocco’s sport strategy. He was appointed to run the Moroccan team last August replacing Mohammed Fakhir who left the team at his own request. Michel first coached the Moroccan team in 1995 taking them to the world cup. He was forced to resign after the team performed poorly in the Can 2000.
Coach Michel has ruled out leaving the Morocco Atlas Lions saying that he has a contract until 2010. He is looking forward to taking Morocco to the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. He said that Morocco’s clubs will have to put a priority on training.
by Carole Morris
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