Alaa Abbas Reveals Details of His Relationship with Casas

In a new statement that sparked a wave of interaction within Iraqi sports circles, Alaa Abbas, the striker for Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Club, revealed exciting details regarding his relationship with the former Spanish national team coach, Jesus Casas, expressing his astonishment at the way he was treated during the coach's tenure with the team, despite his complete conviction that he deserved to be present and participate regularly in the lineup of the 'Lions of the Tigris'.

During his appearance on a television program, the host asked Alaa Abbas a direct question: 'Were you the player who suffered the most from Casas's treatment?' The player's response was clear and explicit, carrying a lot of reproach towards the Spanish coach.

He said: 'Casas gave opportunities to all the players in Iraq, but sometimes he called up names that no one knows, players who suddenly came to Iraq and were summoned without prior experience or presence in the local league, while I was completely ignored despite my good numbers and consistent level.'

Alaa Abbas added with a tone that was not devoid of disappointment: 'The only opportunity he gave me was for just 5 minutes in our match against Yemen during the Gulf Cup 25 held in Basra, and the match was already settled in our favor with a clean five-goal win, so even that moment was not enough for me to show anything or prove my abilities.'

The Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya striker continued his talk saying: 'There were many periods when I was in my best physical and technical condition, consistently scoring in the league, and maintaining my full readiness, but despite that, I was not among the options of the coaching staff, and this is very difficult for any player who feels he is giving everything he has without being looked at fairly.'

Alaa Abbas's statements bring back to the forefront the discussion that has long revolved around the selection mechanisms that Casas relied on during his leadership of the Iraqi national team, especially regarding his preference for some players who did not have a clear impact at the expense of players with local and international experience and consistent participation in major tournaments.

Alaa Abbas is considered one of the most prominent Iraqi strikers in recent years, having represented the national team on multiple occasions. He has also had professional experiences outside of Iraq in the Kuwaiti and Portuguese leagues, before returning to the Premier League and continuing to shine in the Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya jersey, maintaining his technical and scoring level, which makes his repeated absence from the national team a matter of concern for fans and technical observers alike.