Algerian international Ismaël Bennacer defended Djamel Belmadi in relation to the disappointments of the national team in the 2022 World Cup play-offs and during the last two CAN 2021 and 2023.
African champion against all odds in 2019, and author of a record invincibility series in Africa 35 matches without defeat in the process, Algeria then experienced a painful fall.
The Greens were overthrown in the 2022 World Cup play-offs by the Cameroon (0-1, 1-2 ap.) and systematically eliminated in the first round of the CANduring the last two editions 2021 and 2023.
“Belmadi always tried to protect us”
This negative spiral ended up costing former coach Djamel Belmadi his placeparty on bad terms with the Algerian Federation (FAF) end of January 2024. Passing through an interview for So FootIsmaël Bennacer (AC Milan), one of the technician's favorites at the time, did not overwhelm the former boss of the Qatari selection.
-“We were under a lot of pressure, whether it was the pressure from a whole people, but also internally. It really wasn't easy for us, coach Belmadi always tried to protect us, and we tried to do the best we could. But football is also about details, we didn't lose many matches (6 defeats in 66 games, under the Belmadi era, editor's note) but we lost those we shouldn't have lost. These failures are hard to take, especially when you play for your country. But like injuries, it allows us to gain experience, understand our mistakes and move forward. We won’t make the same mistakes again.” The native of Champigny-sur-Marne will appreciate it.
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