Rabat - Morocco's team head coach Herve Renard has told Moroccan media that his relationship with Dutch-born Moroccan Ajax star Hakim Ziyech has never been good.
Rabat – Morocco’s team head coach Herve Renard has told Moroccan media that his relationship with Dutch-born Moroccan Ajax star Hakim Ziyech has never been good.
Herve Renard called on Ziyech earlier this month to defend his Moroccan jersey in a friendly match against the Netherlands, which will take place today in Agadir.
The youngster however declined the invitation, claiming that as long as Herve is the coach, he will never play for the Moroccan national football team.
“As long as he is there, I am thinking of something else,” said the footballer. “It has become something personal, but in the end, he has the last word concerning selections.”
In a pre-match conference held on Tuesday in Agadir, Herve revealed to Moroccan media that he selected the players all by himself, but “sportively speaking, Ziyech deserved to be there.”
He said that he would be lying if he said that things were perfect between him and Ziyech.
”Despite differences in opinions, we are capable of restoring the situation[ …] this is my point of view. Apparently, this is not the player’s point of view,” added Herve.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s friendly match with the Netherlands, the Frenchman said “We must move forward and trust the 26 players we have, a fantastic group that is making positive headway.”
He went on to add that the Moroccan team is still far from being the best on the continent, but he hopes that the team will one day be one of the best.
