Hakimi said in statements to the Spanish newspaper “Marca”: “We have always been playing for victory since the start of the World Cup. We will face Spain with great confidence. We will try to play with our style to defeat them.”
He added, “Let’s see how the coach (Walid Regragui) will deal with the match. We know that Spain likes to keep the ball to impose control, but we will try to manage the entire match and impose our style.”
He continued, “Morata looks in very good shape, and scored several goals. We did not talk, but we will say hello. Each player will focus on himself and what he will fight for. On the field we are competitors, but on the outside we are friends.”
And he continued, “For me and many of my colleagues, our match against Spain is special, because we were born, lived, and played there, and above all, we have good relations and friendships there. It is a special matter for us. We will fight for our colors and the Moroccan fans and we will try to pursue them.”
Hakimi was asked: Will the confrontation be your most special match? He replied, “Maybe I should say that about the final match, and we can get there, God willing, but well, it can be said that facing Spain is the most special right now, because I will be playing against a country that made me develop and gave a lot to me and my family. It will be nice.”
And he continued, “I had a chance to represent Spain and there were contacts, and I went to the Spanish national team as well to try that with de la Fuente for two days, but I saw that it was not the right place for me.”
He explained his situation, saying, “I didn’t feel at home. It wasn’t because of anything in particular, but that’s how I felt. I didn’t find what I was living in at home: it’s the Arab culture, I’m Moroccan and I wanted to be here.”
