Morocco coach Ouahbi says knockout phase demands different mentality against Netherlands

Morocco's coach Nabil Ouahbi believes his team must adopt a different mentality and find new solutions to overcome the Netherlands in the World Cup last 32. Despite an impressive unbeaten group stage campaign, Ouahbi stressed that the knockout phase demands a distinct approach.

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In the last three matches, we showed that we are capable of producing good performances and that we have a strong personality on the pitch. But tomorrow's match is different and requires different solutions. That is the mentality with which we will enter the game.

"In the last three matches, we showed that we are capable of producing good performances and that we have a strong personality on the pitch," Ouahbi told reporters. "But tomorrow's match is different and requires different solutions. That is the mentality with which we will enter the game."

Morocco secured their spot in the knockout rounds by earning seven points, drawing with Brazil and defeating Scotland and Haiti. The coach also revealed that the team strategically managed player minutes in their final group game against Haiti to ensure the squad is in peak physical condition. "From a physical point of view, in the third match we succeeded in managing the playing time in the way we wanted," he said, having rested key players to distribute minutes across the team.

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From a physical point of view, in the third match we succeeded in managing the playing time in the way we wanted. I was keen to distribute the playing time across the squad so that every player had the opportunity to participate. That also allows the whole team to be in the best possible condition.

Ouahbi expressed confidence that Morocco will continue to rely on their inherent strengths. "We will continue to do what we are good at in the best possible way," he stated, without disclosing specific tactical plans for the match against the Dutch. Both teams reached the knockout stage with seven points, and with no margin for error, the encounter is expected to be a close contest.

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We will continue to do what we are good at in the best possible way.