Otto Addo was delighted with several aspects of the team’s performance against Chad on Friday night.

Otto faced the media after the game, and was asked about the match, our first big since October 2020, Benjamin Asare’s performance in the post and the general output of the team.

Here’s a full transcript from his post-match press conference.

On the game

First of all, I am happy that we won, also that we scored a lot of goals but to be honest we have to concentrate on Monday, it will be a different game. It will be much, much difficult and we are already thinking ahead of that game. I think the boys have done well and we want to congratulate them. We want to thank the President, the Sports Minister for supporting, and the media also for supporting us, giving us good vibes and also the people of Ghana for still supporting us despite difficulties in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. But now we looking forward trying to qualify for the World Cup and for this we still need your support. We have a long way to go but I am happy we are now in the first position and this is the position that we have to defend now and with this win, I think it’s giving us much positivity and we have t carry on with it.

On being more offensive from the get go

Looking forward, it depends always on the opponents, like what solutions they give us, what strength and weaknesses they have. We started with by studying our opponents; it was very difficult because they had a lot of new players coming in. It was really tough for us to get the formations. A lot of them were playing together in the team; they know each other in squad. We were very happy that things worked out and the way we scored the goals, we were very happy. We had a good start, this was important. It was easier for us to play than last time in the AFCON qualifiers.

On Benjamin Asare

I think he did well in training, we observed all three, we saw a lot of games from all of them. It was a close race. They all did well in training, I have to say. But Benjamin did a bit better. That's why we decided at the end to play. For me it’s not about where you play or whatever. It's surely about performance in your club, but also in our training. We had three trainings and he did very well, that's why we chose to play him.

On having to play against Madagascar with only two-day rest

You're absolutely right. It's a little bit worrying because also we have to travel. Madagascar is already in Morocco and now they're playing in Morocco again, so for them it's much easier. But to be fair, also their game on Wednesday I think was very tough for them because some of their players played on Sunday and then played on Wednesday. I don't know who's keeping the schedule, but to be honest, also in the past, sometimes I really don't understand why, for example, we can't play on Tuesday. This Monday will give us so much more, especially with the five-hour flight to Morocco. But there's nothing we can do, we have to accept it. Like I said, it will be very, very tough. They have a really, really good team and surely we are also analysing their last game. They had a big, big victory against Central African Republic. Like I said, it's going to be very, very tough for us. But the preparation starts now. It's good that we won and we can focus on that now.

On what win for Ghana against Chad stands to do Coach

Yes, sure. I think it's always easier if you're on top and then playing. If they want to be on top, they have to beat us first. So it's much, much more relaxed for us. But like I said, we want to stay there. This game is going to be a six-point game because they are our direct opponents at the moment. We will try to do everything to beat them and to stay on top.

On leadership responsibility in the team

So, first of all, I think it's good if players want to score. In my life, I also saw different situations where nobody wants to go there. So, it's good that they want to score, they want to do something. I think we don't have to exaggerate these situations. This is normal in football.

On drop in intensity in second half

Surely, we could have done better, especially in the second half, I think with fresh legs. We didn't stick too much on the game plan. But this also sometimes comes when you're leading with five goals. There's a little bit of lack of concentration. So, I was not that happy in the last 20 minutes. But this is something surely we have to improve on.

And handing over of armband when Jordan was substituted

So, after Jordan left, somebody took it, after Thomas left, somebody took it. So, everything is clear.

On playing Ernest in a more midfield role instead of usual wing role

I've known Ernest for a very long time. Since he was 16, we've been playing him in a more attacking position before he moved to the wings. So, I know that he can play. We had a more offensive approach that game. And he did well defensively. Defensively, to be honest, he can do better. But he knows. And, like I said, also the second half when we were leading, Sometimes, in general, I want them to do more. It's good that we scored five. But I know that if we score five, that's six or seven. So, we have to improve. But, like I said, the game has passed. I'm happy we won and we're looking forward to next game.

On additions to the technical team and their impact

So, football is way too complex to blame it on this or that person. Like I also said, when we would have lost, then I know it would be me because I am the head coach. When we win, it's because of somebody else maybe. But the truth is, everything is laid out. It's the players, it's the spectators, it's the media, and it’s me. It's very, very complex sometimes. And some players are going through difficult times in their life. It's so, so complex.  I want to also say, big, big congratulations for the green keepers, for the grass. It was much, much better than the other days before. And I know for you maybe it's not that important, but I know that for the players, it's very important. It was wet, so it's much, much better to pay a big up for the green keepers, for the work that we do very, very well.

And so it's a lot of things, a lot of things. It's not only the technical team, but also, surely, the new members of the technical team, they also have their parts, for sure.

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