Wydad Casablanca head coach Rulani Mokwena has defended his decision to start 'unfit' Thembinkosi Lorch after a goalless draw against COD Meknes at home.
Wydad's five-game winning run in Botola Pro came to an end after a goalless draw against COD Meknes on Saturday.
The side had won five games in a row for the first time since 2019 after hammering Chabab Mohammedia 5-1 in Mokwena's absence last weekend.
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From that encounter, the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach, who was granted compassionate leave, made four changes upon his return, which included new signings Lorch and Mickael Malsa making their first starts.
With the race to finish second and qualify for the CAF Champions League tight, with five teams separated by four points in the standings, the Wydad press and supporters criticized Mokwena for changing a winning line-up.
Particularly, Lorch Lorch and Mickael were singled out for being 'unfit' to start matches at this crucial stage of the campaign.
The Martinique international has only started playing competitively this season after he was signed by Wydad, having not played official games since leaving Real Valladolid in February last year.
"Because I'm very silly and I want to play tactics? If you watch Meknes play, they've got a very aggressive long ball, they have no wingers, they all converge into the centre," Mokwena said in explaining reasons behind his tactics in his post-match press conference.
"So, ideologically and thinking about it tactically, it makes a lot of sense to have numerical superiority in the centre, not only to fight for the first ball but also to regain the second ball and maybe have possibilities for faster outlets with Cassius (Mailula) and Lorch.
"They are good players. Malsa is a very good player, he will help us. We have to be patient and support him, and Lorch is a very good player also. Today they didn't play well, but it's not only Lorch and Malsa who didn't play well, even I didn't play well."
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The young tactician also had to answer questions why he dropped forwards Mohamed Rayhi and Saifeddine Bouhra and midfielder Mehdi Moubarik.
"Rayhi is not playing today because I cannot allow Rahyi to pick up a fourth yellow card and we're playing Berkane next week.
"Bouhra is injured, I can't play an injured player. Moubarik, there's a little bit of a complication... I don't want to explain everything, guys. That criticism of 'we changed the line-up' is not fair," explained a visibly agitated Mokwena.