“They are more technical than the English”: Marcelo Bielsa praises Algeria players

Algeria dubbed by Marcelo Bielsa. This Monday, on the eve of the friendly match between the Fennecs and Uruguay organized in Turin (8:30 p.m.), the 70-year-old coach was full of praise for the style of the Algerian players at a press conference.

A few days after hanging England (1-1), the Uruguayan coach compared the two opponents of Celeste during his preparation tour for the 2026 World Cup. And despite the difference in status, Bielsa did not fail to promote the North African nation.

“These are two European teams,” he said before explaining: “Players from Algeria like those from England play in European championships. They are less fast but I would say that the Algerian players perhaps have more calm and technical development (than the English),” estimated the former coach of Olympique de Marseille.

Relaunched on his analysis, Bielsa made it clear that he “does not identify [ait] not European players to African players”, but that the majority of the Greens squad presented characteristics adapted to football on the Old Continent.

“It’s hard to imagine that they won’t have a good World Cup”

“The European leagues choose their players by prioritizing technical aptitude and the Algerian players are very good technically,” detailed the one who qualified Uruguay for its 15th World Cup final phase. “Another characteristic of European leagues is that after detecting the talent, they add the profiles specific to European football: intensity, transitions, rhythm, movements without the ball. »

Explaining that he does not know the names of the Algerian players but can find his way using their numbers, Bielsa then targeted the profiles to fear among Vladimir Petkovic’s list. “Who doesn’t know Riyad Mahrez? There is also this other left-hander who wears number 11 (Anis Hadj Moussa),” he quoted before continuing his list: “Number 18 (Mohamed Amoura), number 14 who plays in France (Hicham Boudaoui), number 6 who plays in the Netherlands (Ramiz Zerrouki). The 10th or the 17th (Farès Chaïbi), or even the 22nd (Ibrahim Maza). They are all very creative players and capable of making a difference. »

If he did not wish to launch into a clear prediction on the course of the Algerians at the World Cup, the former idol of the Stade Vélodrome finds it “difficult to imagine that they would not have a good World Cup with first-level players and a coach with a lot of experience”.

Enough to reassure Fennecs supporters, who are returning to the premier competition of international football after twelve years of absence and will challenge Argentina, Austria and Jordan in the group stage.