After the convincing draw against Brazil, Mohamed Ouahbi sought to temper any form of excitement ahead of the second match for the Atlas Lions in this World Cup. Present at a press conference on the eve of the clash against Scotland, the national coach reminded that Morocco has not yet validated anything in Group C.
“To avoid euphoria, we just need to look at the standings. They have three points, we have one. They are ahead of us, so we can do better. We need to be better this time,” said the Moroccan coach, aware of the importance of the upcoming match against a Scottish team that won against Haiti in their opening match.
Mohamed Ouahbi emphasized the need to turn the page on Brazil, while still acknowledging the lessons learned from that first encounter. “We cannot forget Brazil, but we must focus on Scotland. It has been a calm week and all the players are motivated,” he explained. The coach also highlighted that his group still needs to raise their level: “We did everything we could in the first match, but I believe we can do even better. The players know it, and we know it too.”
Against Scotland, Morocco expects a very different opposition. Mohamed Ouahbi particularly pointed out the more direct and physical style of the opponent. “Scotland is a team that plays faster forward. It’s up to us to analyze and see what we can correct. We have a plan, and we will stick to it,” he indicated.
The coach also detailed the demands of this match, particularly regarding second balls and collective organization. “They will put the ball forward faster, they are very generous on second balls. The physical challenge will be on those second balls, on shared balls. We need to be compact to have players around the ball. The most important thing is to have control of the match, to stay calm. We are ready and confident.”
When asked about any weaknesses observed against Brazil, Ouahbi called for a balanced reading of the Moroccan performance. “We faced difficulties, both offensively and defensively. We need to maintain a certain balance in our analysis. We conceded a goal, but that’s also because Vinícius is a very great player. We gave him an opportunity that he was able to exploit. I don’t think we have a defensive problem. Tomorrow will be a completely different match. Scotland will pose us other problems, and we will need to find different solutions.”
Despite the significant absences of Abde Ezzalzouli and Nayef Aguerd, the Moroccan coach sought to reassure. “We lost two important players, Abde and Nayef, but we have solutions everywhere. Believe me, we have solutions for all positions and we are very calm,” he asserted.
Mohamed Ouahbi also mentioned Ayyoub Bouaddi, who stood out after his performance against Brazil. The coach did not hide his confidence in the young Moroccan midfielder, while refusing to isolate him from the collective. “He doesn’t surprise me. You have gotten excited about him, but others had a great match too. It’s true that in this context, you need to keep your head on your shoulders when you’re so young. But I know him. He is very thoughtful. We don’t need to talk to him. In the squad, I am lucky to have experienced players surrounding the young ones. He will stay grounded.”
Finally, the national coach reiterated Morocco’s ambition in this competition. The Atlas Lions do not want to settle for a good match against Brazil but aim to confirm their performance over time. “We need to manage the entire tournament. The competition doesn’t stop after the match against Brazil. We want to go further than we did in Qatar. We approach each match with the same fervor, you will see it tomorrow.”
The message is clear: Morocco respects Scotland, refuses euphoria, and knows that this second match could weigh heavily in the race for qualification.
