Regragui hails 'deserving' champions Wydad
The coach of Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca says they are the deserving winners of the TotalEnergies 2022 Champions League after clinching the title on Monday night.
Walid Regragui congratulated his players for their impressive display during the match that secured them their 2-0 victory over Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
"It was not the best final on a tactical level but we put the players in the necessary state of mind to win this trophy," said the tactician who won his first continental title.
"And this victory is all the more beautiful as it was won against Al Ahly, a great team that played well," Regragui said in the post match press conference.
''Tonight, in addition to the good state of mind, the luck of the champion with beautiful goals and success came to us,'' added the Moroccan coach who aspires to win the league title and the CAF Super Cup in addition to this continental title.
On his side's victory, Regragui said he was happy for striker Zouheir El Moutaraji who had almost been fired from the team in the recent past for an inappropriate gesture.
"He agreed to question himself and work harder so he is an example for other players," the Wydad coach said.
Regragui said they are worthy champions having beaten some of the top clubs in African football including Zamalek, Petro Atletico and CR Belouizdad from Algeria on their way to clinching the title.
"We are the deserving champions of African football and we can be proud because we managed to reach the top without any recruitment. We won the title with products of the club's academy," he said.
Despite not taking the easy option of recruiting players from other clubs he revealed that he had to convince his wife of the title success before she allowed him to work with Wydad.
“I managed to convince her. I promised her this Champions League trophy, the first of my career, but this trophy is more the work of the players,” he insisted, stressing that securing the title against Al Ahly makes it even more special
“And I am happy to have been the coach who allowed Wydad to win this third title,” he added.