Croatian coach Dragan Talajic, head coach of the Bahrain national team, stated that he was aware that the Moroccan national team wanted to win during the friendly match held at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, which ended with the ‘Atlas Lions’ winning 1-0.

Talajic said during the post-match press conference: “I knew Morocco wanted to win this match to continue their winning streak, and the level shown by their players confirms that. The Moroccan team has huge capabilities and put us under great pressure throughout the match, ultimately achieving their goal by scoring in the final moments.”

The Croatian coach added, praising his opponent: “I congratulate Morocco on the win; you have a very strong team with high-quality players and excellent physical and tactical presence. We wish you success in the World Cup, as you will appear as one of the strong teams in the tournament.”

He continued: “I apologize for not playing offensively, as it was not possible against such a high-level opponent, although the players delivered a great defensive performance, were organized, and fought hard on the pitch. We need to develop more in the future.”

Talajic also expressed pride in his players’ collective performance, saying: “We made Morocco worried throughout the match, which makes me proud. The winning goal came only in the last minute, our defense was brilliant, and the goalkeeper performed well. All the players who participated today are from the local league, which gives us confidence in our project.”

The Bahrain coach concluded his statement: “I wanted to win against Morocco but couldn’t. We benefited greatly from facing a team ranked 11th globally, possessing great strength and discipline. I thank the Moroccan team for giving us a new lesson in football; we really needed to face such a great school.”