Wydad Athletic Club head coach Mohamed Amine Benhachem is confident that he side will deliver a “competitive” performance against Manchester City in their opening game of the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Moroccan side will go head-to-head with the Premier League giants at the Hard Rock Stadium with kick off scheduled at 19:00 GMT.
The Red Castle came off a difficult 2024/25 season. Having started the season under the tutelage of Rulani Mokwena, the South African was replaced following poor performances and a disappointing league campaign.
Benhachem was brought in to steady the ship and was tasked with leading the team at the Club World Cup. According to Le360Sport, Benhachem encouraged his players to prepare for a tough challenge.
“All players must be ready,” Benhachem said. “Some have already played at this level, while for others it’s their first time on such a big stage. They need to rise above themselves. What we ask is that they enjoy these games. Every match will be tough.”
He added: “We’ve seen many matches where teams arrived and played without seriousness. We’re not here to do that. We’re here to compete and fight. We’re here to honour our flag.”
Benhachem did not shy away from the task ahead of his team and anticipated a difficult match.
“The match will be difficult. Let’s not fool ourselves. We’re playing Manchester City. Everyone knows they’re a tough team, comfortable in possession, and it’s hard to take the ball from them,” he said.
The Moroccan coach said City’s threat was more than just Erling Haaland and prepared his defenders for a big test.
“Omar Marmoush, Ilkay Gündoğan, Jérémy Doku. Haaland is just one of many problems. I believe tomorrow will be a big test for us — for our defenders and our entire defensive system.”
He concluded: “Even so, we have our chances. We have a specific game plan, and we need to execute it as best as we can to be competitive. We want to make the match difficult for them. We won’t be easy opponents.”
