Why did Manchester United become Morocco's 'secret weapon' at the World Cup?

Coach Mohamed Ouahbi views Noussair Mazraoui as Morocco's most versatile option for the 2026 World Cup, despite concerns about the Manchester United defender's fitness.

Mazraoui (in white shirt) has become a strategic player for Morocco at the World Cup.

The announcement of Morocco's 26-player squad for the 2026 World Cup has sparked considerable debate, particularly regarding the defensive line. The focus of these discussions isn't Achraf Hakimi or Nayef Aguerd, but rather Noussair Mazraoui.

Coach Mohamed Ouahbi only called up four central defenders, even though Nayef Aguerd is still racing against time to recover from injury. This decision surprised many, as Morocco had three options for the left-back position.

The reason lies in Mazraoui, the Manchester United star. At the press conference announcing the squad, Ouahbi admitted he sees the MU player as a "versatile asset." According to the Moroccan strategist, Mazraoui can not only play left-back but is also capable of playing center-back when needed.

"I won't lie to you. We brought four center-backs and thought the fifth could be Mazraoui," Ouahbi explained.

The Moroccan coach stated that the coaching staff had thoroughly studied Mazraoui's previous performances in the center of the defense. He assessed that the 28-year-old player performed well and was always ready to adapt to any position on the field. This versatility makes Mazraoui a crucial link in Morocco's plans. However, this is also a significant gamble ahead of the World Cup.

Last season, Mazraoui was sidelined for a total of 76 days due to injury. Although he started all matches at AFCON 2025, he missed several national team training camps due to fitness issues.

Injuries have also affected Mazraoui's journey at the 2022 World Cup and AFCON 2023. If the Manchester United star experiences fitness issues, the North African team will face a difficult defensive challenge right from the first matches of the 2026 World Cup.

Source: https://znews.vn/sao-mu-thanh-bai-tay-cua-morocco-o-world-cup-post1655891.html