Bahrain Coach: 'They Called Me Crazy for Morocco Friendly'

Dragan Talajić, head coach of the Bahrain national team, made strong statements during the pre-match press conference ahead of their encounter with Algeria. The match is scheduled for the second round of the Arab Cup group stage, and Talajić affirmed his team's readiness to deliver a strong performance despite the challenging task.

Talajić revealed that his previous decision to play a friendly match against the Moroccan national team had raised many questions at the time. He stated, "When I decided to face Morocco in a friendly during the FIFA window, some said this coach was crazy. Everyone knows Morocco's level and global ranking; they are one of the best teams. But I wanted to prove to the federation president and the players that we are capable of facing big teams."

The Croatian coach added, "We are a small country, and we must be united. This was evident in our previous two matches against Morocco and Uzbekistan, but against Iraq, we were not at our best, which is normal in the first month of a new job."

Talajić explained that his halftime talk with the players during the Iraq match had a significant impact on their reaction in the second half. He then asserted, "In the upcoming match against Algeria, we will be ready from the first minute and will show the true face of the Bahrain national team."

He concluded his statement with a clear message: "Some might think I speak with overconfidence, but I am simply positive with my players. For me, they are the best, and I always defend them with a smile. Perhaps this doesn't please everyone, but I take responsibility for protecting the Bahrain national team players."