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Omar: "It is a very beautiful challenge that we have ahead of us"

The defender returns from international success with the Morocco Under-23s

Just a few days after he and Morocco won the Under-23 African Cup, Omar El Hilali joined up with the first team in Marbella. The defender, who is facing his fourth preseason with the senior squad, sees the new campaign as "an exciting challenge."

“The team are working very well and have a very clear objective. Espanyol are a Primera Division club and we have to get back to a division that we never should have dropped out of. I face this year with the utmost enthusiasm. It is a very beautiful challenge that we have ahead of us, and we are working and preparing ourselves for that," he told the media.

Omar finished last season with RCD Espanyol B, with whom he fought for promotion.

“You know that in football things can change from one day to the next. I was told that I had to drop down to help the B team. I took it well, was willing to help and wanted to continue working hard to have the chance to be back with the first team and start preseason."

As for his international exploits, Omar commented that “We were demanding on ourselves after the showing by the senior side in the World Cup. We responded to all of that. We wanted to bring joy to families and to our country. There were games with 80 and 90 thousand people in attendance. We managed to qualify for the Olympic Games and it's a great opportunity, but I know that the priority is to do my best for the club and then see what happens," he concluded.