Azzedine Ounahi, the 23-year-old Moroccan midfielder, has candidly addressed the challenges he has faced at Olympique de Marseille (OM) since his arrival last winter from Angers SCO. Despite an impressive World Cup performance with the Atlas Lions, Ounahi has struggled to meet the expectations of Marseille supporters.
Having made only 26 appearances in 2023, contributing three goals and no assists, Ounahi has faced additional hurdles, including changes in coaching staff, with Igor Tudor, Marcelino, and Gennaro Gattuso all taking charge within a single year. His journey at OM has also been marred by a series of physical setbacks.
In an exclusive interview with beIN Sports, Ounahi delves into the factors contributing to his inconsistency at Canebière, drawing comparisons with his standout performances for the Moroccan national team.
“I analyze the video, before and after matches. I’m hard on myself: if I’m not good, I’m not good. I’m not saying: ‘wait, it’s the supporters, I wasn’t well…’. My arrival was a little hard, I wasn’t playing my position,” Ounahi reflects on his challenging initiation at Marseille. He continues, “Afterwards, I go to the selection, before going there, I was really good. Unfortunately, I injured my toe, I lost my support.”
The midfielder reveals the personal struggles he faced, including the loss of his best friend, which profoundly impacted his mental and emotional well-being. “It took me a while to come back; the fact of having lost him affected me enormously. I visited him after the matches against Ivory Coast and Liberia. I never imagined seeing him like this in front of me,” he shares.
Ounahi emphasizes the human aspect of the game, urging a deeper understanding of the challenges players face off the pitch.
“There are a lot of things people didn’t know. We are human beings,” he concludes, shedding light on the complexities of an athlete’s journey beyond the realm of football.
🇲🇦🎙️ Retrouvez l’interview complète d’Azzedine Ounahi dans le #ClubCan dès 17h30 sur beIN SPORTS 1 !#beINSPORTS #Interview pic.twitter.com/2k2nOT0SDB
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 17, 2024
