If you do not win, you do not exist – Yacine Brahimi

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Apr 17, 2018. 17:00

Porto playmaker Yacine Brahimi says the current ‘golden generation’ of Algerian players must win trophies to be remembered by football history.

Brahimi, along with the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani, Sofiane Feghouli and Faouzi Ghoulam, has been talked up as a highly-talented crop of players for the Fennec Foxes.

However, this generation of players has failed to impress in recent years, with Algeria unable to reach the final four in either of the last two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, while they also bombed spectacularly in a tough qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup.

Brahimi acknowledges that Algeria have some “great players” at their disposal, but believes that only success will earn them a unique chapter in history.

"For me, there are two different things: we have great players, that's clear,” he told Onze Mondial.

“After, I think we will be the most beautiful generation if we win things. What makes you the best is the titles.

“If you do not win, you do not exist. I hope at first that we will qualify for the 2019 African Cup and behind everything to win. The goal is to win a title with this generation.”

The 28-year-old added that the players must take their share of responsibility for Algeria’s struggles, but also suggested that the constant chopping and changing of coaches has been detrimental.

"Frankly, it's complicated. We were coming out of an extraordinary 2014 World Cup. We were in the eighth finals, it was historic,” he explained.

“We lost against the world champions [Germany, who went on to win the tournament] in overtime.

“Then we resumed well. With [then coach] Christian Gourcuff, everything was going very well.

"Well, it's true that we do not win the African Cup [2015], we lost in the quarterfinals against Ivory Coast, the future winner.

“For many of us, it was the first African Cup. And CAN, we all know how it is. It is not easy.

“After that, there is a succession of coaches, four in a year. That hurts the selection. Instability did not help the national team.

"After, we too, players, have our share of responsibility because we are on the ground.”