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Quietly installed in the armchairs of a hotel in Hurghada in Egypt, accompanied by one of his assistants and the president of the federation, Djamel Belmadi, named Best Male Coach of the Year 2019, answered RFI's questions.
In front of an audience of African football legends, Djamel Belmadi received the trophy for Best Male Coach of the Year 2019 at the CAF Awards. A new consecration after the coronation in Egypt for the one who arrived at the head of the Fennecs in 2018. Almost 30 years after their only African title on their lands, the "Fennecs" have won a second star . Algeria celebrated the victorious epic of Djamel Belmadi's men in popular jubilation.
“ It was a very beautiful year for Algeria. Without false modesty, my reward is not the most important. The one that matters to me is the one for the team (Algeria has also been named National Men's Team of the Year), "says the former Marseille player.
" The main players are the players "
How to explain such a success? " The main players are the players," says Djamel Belmadi . Once you are convinced of this, you are more likely to get results. If we think that the technical manager is the most important, then we get into trouble. All the work has to be done around the players. After 2014, we may not have put forward 'the player project'. But that does not mean that we will protect them and pet them in the direction of the hair . With his outspokenness, discipline and closeness, Djamel Belmadi succeeded where all of Vahid Halilhodzic's successors failed.
The Algerian selection was at the bottom of the hole since the 2014 World Cup and the departure of the Franco-Bosnian technician who had hoisted the Greens in the second round (round of 16 against Germany). In 2017, Algeria had experienced a glorious elimination from the first round of the CAN in Gabon . And the non-selection for the 2018 World Cup in Russia had sounded like a new failure. There followed a chronic instability around the position of coach (six in the space of five years).
Guide your group
Djamel Belmadi, humble, therefore fades behind the players. And knows very well how to guide his group. The joy of victory in Cairo against Senegal is now an ancient story. " Since then, we have won the first two matches in the CAN 2021 qualifiers. We are staying in the dynamics of CAN 2019, but we have our feet on the ground ," argues Djamel Belmadi. You have to stay focused, otherwise it is again guaranteed failure. We are not in the idea of prolonging the euphoria. I'm here to send this message. It is with work that we won the CAN. So we quickly got back to basics: work. "
For Djamel Belmadi, the title of African Champion does not " guarantee in any case " a qualification for the next World Cup. But it gives " strength " and " confidence " to qualify for such a prestigious competition. Not going to Qatar would be " a failure " and Belmadi would be " the first responsible ".
2022 Global Goal
“ If someone asked me what my main objective is, I would say qualifying for the World Cup , says the technician. The qualification for CAN 2021 and the final phase is very good preparation for the World Cup. We would continue to play high-level matches and this would allow us to discover and install new blood for the 2022 World Cup . "
Popular hero, Djamel Belmadi had been the subject of all praise with the qualification for the final of the CAN 2019, the first since that of 1990 won at home. The coach lived to the rhythm of the "Belmadi president" in full demonstration against the Algerian power. " To the Algerian people, I want to say that I am not a politician, not a miracle worker, not a sorcerer, but that we will fight as we have fought so far. This is what I can promise. We will do our best, "he said. " I am the symbol of nothing at all. I leave the comments to others , ”says Djamel Belmadi today, with confidence.
Interview conducted in Hurghada, Egypt, Tuesday January 7.