BY: Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS- Vladimir Petkovic, the head coach of the Algerian national football team, held a press conference at the Nelson Mandela Stadium conference center in Algiers on Sunday to address the squad selection for the upcoming FIFA international fixtures in March.
Petkovic began by emphasizing that the selection process was the result of extensive collaboration with the technical staff. He explained, “We initially had a long list of about 70 players, and after extensive discussions with the coaching staff, we narrowed it down to 31 players. Some of these players may have certain issues, but I chose to include them. It’s important to note that the selection remains open to everyone. It’s a matter of performance and trust.”
Acknowledging the difficulty of the task, Petkovic added, “The selection process was not easy for me, especially since I’m not familiar with all the players. That’s why I need to broaden my understanding and vision of the 31 selected players. When I finalize the squad of 23 players, I’ll ensure there’s cover for every position. We may even triple up on certain key positions, especially considering our wealth of talented attacking players. The new players deserve this call-up, and while I may have made some mistakes in selection, the upcoming June fixtures may provide an opportunity to include them.”
Regarding the absence of key players such as Islam Slimani and Youcef Belaili, Petkovic clarified, “I spoke with Slimani, whom I already know is a great player. I believe he should focus on settling in with his new club, but the door remains open for him. As for players like Belaili and Feghouli, they face stiff competition, and we need to assess all profiles. I also need a clear idea about other players, such as Yacine Brahimi, who has been included in the squad.”
Petkovic emphasized his intention to instill a winning mentality within the team during the upcoming training camp. He said, “During this camp, I’ll explain my philosophy of play to the players and outline certain rules to follow. This includes respect, solidarity, positive mindset, and discipline. We must also cultivate a winning culture. Over the past eight days, I’ve attended two domestic league matches and witnessed the players’ high motivation, so competition for places will be intense.”
In terms of preparation for the FIFA Series tournament scheduled for March 18-26, Petkovic outlined, “The training camp begins tomorrow, and I hope there will be no new injuries. The players must commit to the team and make sacrifices, seizing this opportunity to showcase their abilities.”
Petkovic addressed Riyad Mahrez’s absence, explaining, “I spoke with Mahrez over the phone. He’s lacking energy and requested time to recover physically and contemplate his future, so I didn’t include him in this squad. The door remains open for all players.”
Reflecting on the domestic league’s level, Petkovic stated, “I’ve watched some matches and observed the passionate fan base. Some players may still have physical issues, but I’ll continue to monitor the league matches.”
Petkovic concluded by managing expectations, stating, “The results may not be immediate, but the FIFA Series matches against South Africa and Bolivia are important for the team’s development and cohesion. We face two teams with different styles of play, and we’ll adapt accordingly after the first match against Bolivia.”
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