INTERVIEW: It’s not advisable to set a target for Super Eagles in Russia, says Mutiu Adepoju

Mutiu Adepoju, former Super Eagles midfielder, is excited that top Nigerian players are active in their European club sides, with just a few months to the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

In an interview with TheCable, Adepoju advised the Nigerian squad to play against Argentina as a team and not make the mistake of concentrating on Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero during the World Cup. Mutiu, who scored against Spain at the 1998 World Cup, said it is not advisable to set a target for the Eagles in the mundial. He also said Gernot Rohr, the technical adviser, should be given a free hand.

The La Liga ambassador in Nigeria described as untrue, the reports that Spaniards always discriminate against Nigerian players.

Nigerian players featuring regularly time in European clubs

I believe it’s a good move for Ahmed Musa and I am so happy that he went back to his former club to get playing time. Iheanacho is now getting more playing time in Leicester. I am also happy over this, because our players need to be playing week in, week out so that they can be in form before the World Cup. I am so happy for all our players playing in their clubs right now. If all our players are playing well, it gives them a good opportunity to be picked for the World Cup.

Suicidal to concentrate on Messi and Aguero in Russia

Unfortunately or fortunately, only Messi and Aguero cannot play against Nigeria. It’s a game of 11 against 11. But special attention should be given to those two because they can ruin a team they play against. Nevertheless, we have to work many aspects to curb the excesses of Messi and Aguero, and other players that are dangerous in the team.

The risk of setting a target for Super Eagles

I will rather want to go step by step, game by game as far as preparation is very good and all the players are in good shape without crisis. One will want to go as far as possible in any competition but setting a target might bring in some sort of pressure, I’ll rather say we should take it step by step in Russia.

Rohr should be left to concentrate

Well, like I said earlier, everyone has their opinion and everyone is a coach in Nigeria but Rohr is the one who knows what he wants and we have given him the job. If Rohr talks to Enyeama and he comes back, I’ll say Bien venido, that’s welcome and if he doesn’t want to come, life goes on. The team has to be at the World Cup. Whether with young or old goalkeeper, Gernot Rohr is the one who knows what he wants. Uzoho has been very superb, judging from the matches he has kept for his club at Deportivo and the friendly game against Argentina in Russia. He was composed and as a young goalkeeper, it is left for Rohr to decide on who to go with. All that we desire is for the team to do well at the World Cup.

Super Eagles need a Psychologist

Football is now scientific. It needs every support it’s going to need. The team needs a psychologist in case a player or the team need to be psyched up. Every department must be in place to work hand in hand to achieve success at the World Cup. A team needs everything to succeed.

Spain doesn’t discriminate against African players

The people thinking like that way should think inward because I played in the La Liga. I still have my family in Spain. I still go to Spain. I am a La Liga ambassador in Nigeria. If they don’t like Nigerian or black players, how could I have spent 20 years in Spain playing and even still living there? I have Spain nationality. Finidi played in Spain. Amunike played in Spain. Wilfred Agbonivbare, Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, all late, played in Spain.

Four of Nigerian top players are now playing in Spain, where Las Palmas has Etebo and Emenike, Malaga has Ideye and Success. And that is what we want. There are so many other young Nigerian players playing in Spain. If La Liga doesn’t like blacks, they wouldn’t have partnered with the League Management Company. So, saying they don’t like blacks or Nigerian players is not true.