Carteron Reveals Extent of Wydad’s Fitness Crisis Before First Match
Less than two weeks after his appointment as Wydad’s head coach, Patrice Carteron is not hiding his concern over the physical and mental condition of the players, describing the state of the squad upon his arrival as deeply alarming.
The French tactician offered a worrying first assessment of the squad he inherited at Wydad AC during his pre-match press conference ahead of his first game, describing the state of the squad upon his arrival as deeply alarming. Carteron, who replaced Mohamed Amine Benhachem following the club’s elimination in the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup, said the team had been heavily affected by both the disappointment of the continental exit and the constant pressure surrounding the club.
According to the coach, mental fatigue was directly reflected in the players’ physical performances on the pitch.
During the press conference ahead of his team’s clash with Fath Union Sport, he pointed to a significant drop in intensity and fitness levels, reportedly describing the overall physical state of the group as “catastrophic.”
For Carteron, however, the issue goes beyond simple fitness concerns.
He also spoke about the psychological burden carried by the squad, describing Wydad as a “volcano” – because of the immense expectations from the fans and the constant scrutiny that comes with coaching one of Morocco’s biggest clubs.
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— Wydad Shorts (@wydadshorts) April 3, 2026
Read also: Wydad’s Nightmare: The Disastrous Fall of Morocco’s Most Decorated Club
In response, one of his first moves was to reshape the technical staff. The Frenchman quickly brought in his own team, including fitness coach Johan Deran, to lead what appears to be a complete overhaul of the club’s athletic preparation.
From his first sessions at the Mohammed Benjelloun complex, Carteron organized internal training matches aimed at urgently assessing both physical responsiveness and tactical cohesion.
The goal, according to the new staff, is to rebuild the players physically while also restoring confidence after a difficult period.
Carteron also said that part of his role will be to absorb the pressure himself. He wants to shield the players from the negative atmosphere surrounding the club so they can focus entirely on their recovery and return to form.
Despite those efforts, his first official match ended in disappointment on April 3, with Wydad suffering a 1-0 defeat to FUS.
Carteron later admitted that the preparation for his debut had been complicated by the late return of several international players, which limited the work that could be done in the days leading up to the match.
For the French coach, the challenge now is at least now clear: rebuild a squad he believes has been left physically drained, mentally fragile, and far below the standards expected at Wydad.
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