Former Morocco captain Romain Saïss has opened up about the incidents that sparked tensions between former national team coach Vahid Halilhodžić and players Noussair Mazraoui and Hakim Ziyech.
Speaking on the Club des 5 podcast, Saïss recalled a training ground dispute that led to Mazraoui’s fallout with the coach.
“We were in training. After a drill, Vahid told us to drink water. Mazraoui didn’t move. The coach told him again. Mazraoui replied, ‘Thanks, but I’m not thirsty.’
“Halilhodžić insisted. Mazraoui declined again, saying he had already drunk water. Under pressure, he picked up a bottle and mimed drinking. Halilhodžić realised and ordered him off the pitch.”
The fallout resulted in Mazraoui being excluded from several national team camps. However, he was later recalled once tensions began to ease.
Saïss also revealed the roots of the rift between Halilhodžić and Hakim Ziyech.
“Halilhodžić had asked a staff member to call Ziyech in. The reply came back: Ziyech was having a massage. Halilhodžić felt insulted. He believed the player had ignored a direct order.”
Ziyech chose not to return to the squad as long as Halilhodžić remained in charge.
It wasn’t until the coach was dismissed in August 2022 and replaced by Walid Regragui that the former Chelsea star made his return, rejoining the squad in time for the 2022 World Cup preparations.
