**Algerian Players Back Gourcuff Amid Fan Pressure**
Christian Gourcuff, coach of the Algerian national football team, has faced mounting pressure following a friendly defeat to Guinea and continued scrutiny after a subsequent win over Senegal. Some supporters even displayed a banner reading “Gourcuff out,” intensifying the debate over his future.
Despite the fan backlash, senior players within the squad have voiced strong support for the former Lorient manager. Speaking to *Lebuteur.com*, a senior national team official highlighted the positive impact Gourcuff has had on the team: “With Gourcuff, we work better. Honestly, there is no comparison with the former coach. Tactically, we’re learning things with Gourcuff, and the national team’s game is improving. However, we need to give this team time. I’m convinced that if we give Gourcuff time between now and the 2017 African Cup of Nations, the squad will have made a lot of progress. Also, the majority of the players, if not all of them, are very comfortable with him. Christian respects us and vice versa. Unlike the Halilhodzic era, where there was a whole debate about the respect the coach owes to the players.”
Players have also drawn contrasts with Gourcuff’s predecessor, Vahid Halilhodzic. “With Halilhodzic, there were players who felt sidelined. Yacine Brahimi, for example, was rarely used. Other players, like Ishak Belfodil, also endured difficult situations,” the official said. “But with Gourcuff, it’s completely different. No one feels cheated. There are disappointments for those who don’t play, and that’s natural, but they were understanding.”
Although Gourcuff has the backing of the team and the support of Algerian Football Federation president Mohamed Raouraoua, he will have little margin for error in Algeria’s upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifying matches against Tanzania. His continued tenure appears contingent on achieving positive results on the pitch while maintaining harmony within the squad.
The contrast between the current atmosphere under Gourcuff and the tensions of the Halilhodzic era underscores the importance of player-coach relationships in shaping team performance. As Algeria prepares for its crucial qualifiers, the squad’s endorsement of Gourcuff may prove a stabilising factor amid ongoing fan criticism.
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