Morocco ended their June international training camp with a narrow 1-0 win over Benin in Fez on Monday, a result that may not have dazzled but was enough for head coach Walid Regragui to deliver a strong response to recent criticism of his team’s performances.
Speaking at a post-match press conference at the Fez Sports Complex, Regragui addressed concerns surrounding the team’s level of play, openly acknowledging the lack of sparkle in their latest outing but defending the result and the context in which it was achieved.
“I won’t lie. Today wasn’t our best game,” he admitted. “But we still managed to win. It wasn’t about tactics or strategy.
It’s simply the final game in June, and my players are heading into their holidays after playing close to 60 games this season.”
The Moroccan manager pointed to the broader physical and psychological toll on his squad, highlighting a depleted roster as a major factor in the team’s modest showing.
With several first-team regulars either injured or unavailable, Regragui opted for a significant squad rotation, a move he fully stood behind.
“We had eight starters missing. Most of the usual backup options weren’t available either,” he explained. “That gave us a chance to bring in some high-potential players and assess them in an African match environment. It’s a crucial part of the long-term plan.”
Despite the risk involved in fielding an experimental line-up, Regragui maintained that the experience gained was far more valuable than the performance itself.
“As a coach, I take risks,” he said. “When you do that, you have to accept that you won’t always get the kind of match everyone wants to see.”
Morocco’s modest victory over Benin followed a more convincing 2-0 win against Tunisia earlier in the camp, making it two wins from two for the Atlas Lions in this international window.
For Regragui, that’s the only statistic that truly matters.
“We won both matches,” he said firmly. “That’s the outcome.”
The coach also had choice words for those who questioned his team’s style of play or suggested they were underperforming, given the talent in the squad.
“People say I have Ferrari players,” he said pointedly. “Well, with that Ferrari, I won. What’s the issue? Do you want 4-0? I’ll give you 4-0. Five? I’ll win 5-0. Seven? I’ll win that too.”
Regragui used the platform to remind critics of the journey Morocco has taken since the 2022 World Cup, attributing the current strength of the squad to the foundations laid by that historic semi-final run.
“These players chose Morocco because of what we achieved. If you wanted a better squad, well, now you’ve got one,” he said, challenging the notion that the team’s progress had stalled.
He also compared Morocco’s match to other national sides facing similar fatigue in the June fixtures, singling out England’s narrow 1-0 win over Andorra as an example of the demanding nature of the international calendar at this stage of the year.
“Look at England. They beat Andorra 1-0,” Regragui said. “This is June. Bodies are tired, minds are drained. Coaches use this window to experiment, to test, and to evaluate. It’s not about playing champagne football.”
Ending his remarks with a composed but clear message, Regragui stated, “Every match has its truth. And the truth right now is that Morocco, even running on diesel, is still getting results.”
With back-to-back wins secured, Regragui’s Morocco continue their path of steady progression, undaunted by critique and focused on the bigger picture.
