World Cup 2010

Adel Taarabt: Lemerre Should Have Remained Morocco’s Coach Until The End Of Qualifying

The QPR player believes his country’s football federation erred when they fired the Frenchman halfway through their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Nov 19, 2009 4:25:25 AM

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Adel Taarabt, Morocco (PA)

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Adel Taarabt

Moroccan international midfielder Adel Taarabt recently spoke to French radion station RMC about the Atlas Lions’ failed World Cup qualifying campaign, and indicated that the North African country’s FA made a mistake when they fired former France and Tunisia trainer Roger Lemerre.

“I think that for a mini championship that these World Cup qualifiers really represent we should have left Roger Lemerre in place and then only have taken decisions concerning him at the end of our games,” he explained.

Nevertheless, the Tottenham owned player did admit that it was clear to him that the Frenchman was not at all at ease in Morocco, and that it would have been difficult for him to stay even if he had a desire to do so.

“Still, you have to recognize that the pressure on him was huge. The supporters didn’t really like him a lot and I could see that he wasn’t happy,” he added.

Taarabt finished by saying that now that Morocco no longer has any big events ahead of them, having missed out on both the World Cup and the African Cup of Nations, it is time for the nation’s FA to find a new permanent person for the position to succeed interim manager Hassan Moumen.

“Now the officials are going to look for a new coach. In Morocco the names that are circulating are those of Luis Fernandez and Eric Grets.”

Rami Ayari, Goal.com

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