Walid Regragui shares light-hearted moment with Hakimi after PSG victory

Walid Regragui poked fun at Achraf Hakimi after Paris Saint-Germain’s 4-2 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League, jokingly questioning the defender’s admission that he was tired during the match.

The Morocco coach shared a light-hearted moment with his former captain during a post-match interview on Canal+, where he appeared as a pundit on the Canal Champions Club programme.

PSG delivered a strong performance on Tuesday night to hand Barcelona their first defeat of the season. Hakimi played an important role in the victory, providing an assist for Fabian Ruiz in the 86th minute.

However, it was the exchange between the defender and Regragui that provided one of the evening’s lighter moments, as the coach teased his former player about his comments on fatigue.

After seeing Hakimi on screen during the interview, Regragui began by praising his French before turning his attention to the defender’s remarks about feeling exhausted.

“He speaks good French, that’s what I like about Achraf,” Regragui said.

The Moroccan coach then questioned when the Paris Saint-Germain right-back had started feeling tired, given his reputation for working tirelessly on the pitch.

“You’re never tired, Achraf? Since when are you tired?” he asked with a smile, before congratulating him on his assist.

Hakimi admits he struggled to score

The conversation then turned to Hakimi’s recent difficulty finding the back of the net, with Regragui pointing out that it had been some time since the defender last scored.

“It’s been a long time since you scored, Achraf, hasn’t it?” the Morocco coach asked.

Hakimi responded warmly to his former coach, expressing his happiness at hearing from him again before explaining how demanding the match had been.

“Good evening, coach, it’s great to hear from you,” Hakimi said.

The PSG defender admitted that he had been exhausted towards the end of the contest but remained pleased with his contribution to the team’s victory.

“I was tired at the end. It’s true that on the pitch, I try to give my all, but in the end, I was exhausted. Very happy about my assist, but it’s been a long time since I scored, as you said. I had many opportunities, but the ball just wouldn’t go in.”

Despite his struggles in front of goal, Hakimi’s assist for Ruiz helped PSG secure an important result against the Spanish side.

Regragui and Hakimi share a familiar bond

The exchange also highlighted the close relationship between Regragui and Hakimi, who worked together for four years with the Moroccan national team.

During that period, the defender became one of the key figures in the Atlas Lions squad and eventually served as captain under Regragui.

Their conversation ended on another humorous note, with the coach reminding Hakimi that he was still expecting an invitation to dinner during the week.

Hakimi responded with a smile, saying, “Inshallah, Inshallah.”

The defender will now look ahead to his international commitments under Morocco’s new coach, Mohamed Ouahbi.

Morocco are scheduled to face Niger in a double-header at the end of November as part of their qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.