National coach Vahid Halilhodzic discussed the lack of Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui in the Moroccan national team during a press conference. Halilhodzic is very hard in his explanation for the players of Chelsea and Ajax respectively, who have spoiled it with the trainer. The two internationals do not have to count on a quick return to the national team.
Halilhodzic already left Ziyech out of the selection in the previous international match. He also explained why and the ex-Ajacied responded via social media. “Honestly, I regret not taking this decision sooner,” said the national coach. “It is not one case of ill-discipline. We tried to talk to him, but you have to draw the line somewhere. It’s sad, it’s a mess, but also a shame.”
At the beginning of this month, the national coach indicated that he wanted Ziyech to show more discipline. “He didn’t look like a player competing with the national team for World Cup qualifiers,” he said of the Chelsea midfielder at the time. “For the first time in my career I saw a player in the national team who doesn’t want to train and pretends to be injured. Although tests have shown that he can play. I will not tolerate this behavior as long as I am the national coach of Morocco.”
“Next time you talk, speak the truth!” Ziyech wrote on Instagram. He does not seem to be in the picture with the national coach for the time being. “Ziyech has reached various limits. It is not one case, but an accumulation. After a while you just have to put a stop to that,” Halilhodzic said during the press moment on Thursday.
Like Ziyech, Mazraoui has not been called up either. The absence of the Ajax right-back is striking, as he is in excellent form. Mazraoui appears to be not in good shape with the national coach due to an earlier incident. “He said he was injured, but the medical staff just told me he was fit. I can’t tolerate that kind of behavior,” Halilhodzic said.