Moroccan football star Adel Taarabt caused a stir this week with his outspoken criticism of national coach Walid Regragui’s tactics.
In an interview with Hespress, Taarabt called for a more aggressive approach and accused Regragui of being too passive on the field.
Taarabt said that Regragui’s tactics are not suitable for the Moroccan team and that they should adopt a more attacking style of play.
“We need to be the ones dictating the game, not sitting back and waiting for our opponents to make the first move,” Taarabt said.
He added that Regragui’s conservative tactics were particularly unsuitable for weaker African teams, which Morocco should dominate rather than play cautiously against.
“We need to adopt a direct and attacking style of play, especially against weaker African teams. We cannot allow weaker teams to dictate the pace of the game,” Taarabt said.
However, Taarabt acknowledged that it is acceptable to use a more defensive approach against stronger teams.
Despite his criticism of the coach, Taarabt praised some of his teammates. He lauded the performances of several current Moroccan national team players, including Brahim Diaz, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, and Nayef Aguerd. He also expressed his admiration for young player Ilyas Ben Seghir.
“Rahimi is also a great player. I don’t say this because he is my friend, but because he deserves the respect he earns. I cannot hide my admiration for the level of Ilyas Ben Seghir, who has great potential. As for Ayoub El Kaabi, he deserves more playing time and better opportunities than he is getting in the national team,” Taarabt added.
The interview also shed light on Taarabt’s own international career. The footballer revealed his previous refusal to play under former coach Badou Zaki due to a lack of personal connection.
As his playing career draws to a close, Taarabt spoke about his future plans. Although he is unsure about his next step, he hinted at an interest in coaching while recognizing the importance of spending time with his family.
HESPRESS ENGLISH
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