Regragui on 'Saddat Salat': 'If I Have to Defend to Win AFCON, I Will'

Walid Regragui, head coach of the Moroccan national team, revisited his famous phrase "Sddat Salat" (It's closed, it's over), affirming that he sees no issue in adopting a defensive strategy if it leads the "Atlas Lions" to clinch the Africa Cup of Nations title.

Speaking at the press conference following their qualification for the AFCON quarter-finals, Regragui stated, "To wake up and avoid an accident, and go directly to the goal, that is what's important. They understood the message, and that is the most important thing. They delivered a high-level second half that resembles the standards we aspire to. We will forgive them and forget the first half."

He continued, "As I said, the match was not entirely good. We will focus on what's next, because it will be a different pace with a different opponent. We will be ready for everything. It will be another strong match, a new final for us, and this is the mindset with which we approach every game."

Regarding his famous phrase "Sddat Salat," Regragui clarified, "By the way, you cut it in the editing, because the full phrase is: 'Kmlat Sddat' (It's complete, it's closed), but before that, I had said: 'We dominated possession throughout the match, and in the end, we had to 'close down' (sddat).' I had also told him (a journalist) that the previous week, we had possession throughout the match and lost, yet he didn't ask me: 'Why didn't you fall back to defend and preserve the result?'"

He added, "This is a kind of clarification, because after editing, you create the image you want, and you portray me as defensive. Ask my players if that is truly the case. But it's good that you asked the question this way, so I can clarify that famous phrase 'Sddat' a little. You know me, 'If I have to close down to win this Africa Cup, I will close down.'"