Renard: Proud to Coach Salem Al-Dawsari.. I Will Return to Africa After My Experience with Saudi Arabia

French coach Hervé Renard, head coach of the Saudi national team, expressed his pride in leading a player like Salem Al-Dawsari, confirming that he is one of the most prominent stars in the Asian continent, during the press conference ahead of the Saudi team's friendly match against Algeria today, Tuesday.

Renard said: "It is a great honor to coach a player like Salem Al-Dawsari, who was recently awarded the Best Player in Asia. I expect more from him, and young players should follow his example because he is a role model both on and off the field."

The French coach added that the match against Algeria comes as part of a strong preparation plan before participating in the Arab Cup, pointing out that the Algerian team is "strong and developed, just like Ivory Coast," which the team faced a few days ago.

Regarding the criteria for selecting players, Renard confirmed: "What matters to me is that the player continues to perform at a high level, regardless of the name of his club. The current list includes players from various clubs, and performance is the key to joining the national team."

Renard expressed his gratitude to the Saudi Ministry of Sports, saying: "I work to be an influential coach in the Saudi national team, and teamwork is the secret to my continuity. I thank the Kingdom and the Ministry of Sports for the great trust they have given me."

Concerning the Green Falcons' participation in the Arab Cup next month in Qatar, Renard emphasized: "We enter every tournament with the goal of winning, and that is always what we strive for."

Regarding his choice to face Algeria and Ivory Coast during the international break, he explained: "I chose these two teams because of their different approaches, and I have special memories with them throughout my coaching career."

He concluded his speech by referring to his coaching future, saying: "After my work in Saudi Arabia ends, I will return one day to Africa, where I have led the national teams of Angola, Zambia, Ivory Coast, and Morocco."