Raja AC coach Paco Jiménez admits shortcomings despite positive start to Moroccan league campaign

Raja Club Athletic head coach Paco Jiménez has expressed satisfaction with his side’s points tally at the start of the Moroccan Botola Pro campaign but insists the team must improve its consistency after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against FUS Rabat.

The Spanish tactician acknowledged that Raja have made a reasonable start to the season, collecting five points from their opening three matches, but stressed that there is still considerable work to be done to address weaknesses in their performances.

Raja were held to a draw by FUS Rabat at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat in a fourth-round fixture, with the result leaving the Casablanca-based club with more areas to improve as they seek to establish themselves among the leading sides in the Moroccan top flight.

Speaking after the match, Jiménez said he was encouraged by the points accumulated so far but emphasised the importance of maintaining the team’s progress through continued work on the training ground.

He acknowledged that correcting the problems affecting the team’s performances would take time, urging patience as the coaching staff seek solutions and work towards building a more consistent side.

Jiménez also explained that his team selection against FUS Rabat was influenced by the absence of several players and the lack of match fitness among others. Those circumstances limited his options and forced him to select the lineup he considered best suited to the demands of the encounter.

The Raja coach was particularly pleased with his side’s first-half display, describing it as a strong performance. However, he admitted that the team struggled to maintain the same intensity and level of play after the interval.

According to Jiménez, the drop in performance highlighted the need for Raja to become more consistent over the full 90 minutes, rather than produce their best football only in certain periods of a match.

He stressed that the players must improve their ability to manage games, maintain the right balance and sustain their performance levels, especially when opponents begin to apply pressure.

The coach also addressed concerns surrounding the recurring injuries within the squad, admitting that it was too early to identify a definitive explanation for the problem.

Jiménez said the club needed to assess several aspects of its daily routine before reaching any conclusions, including training intensity, the amount of rest players receive and the effectiveness of their recovery programmes.

He indicated that the issue required a careful review rather than an immediate assumption about the cause, as the coaching and medical teams seek to ensure that players can maintain their fitness throughout the campaign.

The Spanish coach further acknowledged the physical demands being placed on the squad, noting that although the players work hard during training, fatigue remains a factor that must be managed carefully.

Finding the right balance between training loads and recovery will therefore be important as Raja attempt to improve their collective performance and avoid further setbacks caused by injuries.

For Jiménez, the immediate priority is to address the shortcomings exposed against FUS Rabat while building on the positive aspects of the team’s early-season performances. He believes patience and continued work will be necessary for Raja to make the adjustments required.

The 1-1 draw saw Raja move to five points and fifth place in the Botola Pro standings, while FUS Rabat also added a point to their tally.

Although the result extended Raja’s search for greater consistency, Jiménez remains focused on improving the team’s performance and finding solutions to the challenges that have emerged during the opening weeks of the season.