Manchester United’s Mazraoui Reflects on Premier League Challenge and Eyes AFCON Glory

"On a personal level, thanks to my physical condition and the number of matches I played, I can say that I had a good season," says Noussair Mazraoui in an interview with The National News. "I changed my mindset: being fit and ready. I think that helped me play so many matches. I already knew that if I reached my true level, I would play a lot." He discusses the specifics of the Premier League, especially the lack of a winter break and the overall quality of the championship: "It was the first time I didn’t have a winter break. On the contrary, there are even more matches. And then, there’s the speed of the game. It’s high, but that’s also due to the quality of the other teams."

Collectively, the season was disappointing. But the former Bayern Munich player is pleased to have had enough playing time, which he lacked in Germany. "I played more minutes last season than in the previous two and a half years combined. I also reached my first European final. Not winning it hurt, but just getting there was already a first step." Noussair had no trouble adapting to his new environment: "I’m a calm person. I try to be kind to everyone. Outside of football, I like to spend time with my family. This summer, I tried sea fishing, but I didn’t catch anything."

His toughest opponent is Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma. There are "Mohamed Salah, Kaoru Mitoma, Anthony Elanga... but Mitoma was the toughest. In the first match, I had him well under control. But in the second, he scored two goals, and I really blamed myself." He also praises the human qualities of his coach Ruben Amorim: "He’s a great coach and a great person. I really enjoy working with him. He has a lot of values, which are also mine." He regrets that his club lost the final: "We were able to control the game, have a lot of passes, but collectively, we didn’t find the solution to score. It was a bit of a summary of our season."

Morocco will host the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in December: "I think it will be incredible, an exceptional AFCON in our country. It’s been a long time since we won it, so the pressure and expectations are high. We have a great team, a great coach." The Moroccan right-back is pleased to see that Morocco is actively preparing for the AFCON and the 2030 World Cup. "The federation and everyone are working to make it a unique experience, for us, for the other countries and for the supporters. And with the prospect of the 2030 World Cup, it will be even bigger," he added.