OM: THE CAUSE OF OUNAHI'S PROBLEMS, AS DEPENDING ON GASSET
Since joining OM in January 2023, Moroccan midfielder Azzedine Ounahi has frequently been the subject of criticism, rarely to his benefit. Before his team traveled to Rennes on Sunday, the 26th day of the Ligue 1 season, his coach Jean-Louis Gasset offered some explanations for his subpar play.
In 26 games in all competitions, there have been two goals and no assists. This season, Azzedine Ounahi's stat line with OM is not impressive. We must also include in the game's lack of impact and influence to this extremely depressing balance sheet. And attention issues, such as his too light tagging of Etienne Capoue on Thursday in the Europa League match against Villarreal (3-1). A far cry from the promises made by the 23-year-old Moroccan international (24 caps) when he signed for the club in January 2023 for eight million euros, following an incredible World Cup with his country.
Gasset is hoping it's "short-term."
Jean-Louis Gasset, who took over as manager of OM a few weeks ago, knows that the former Anger midfield player isn't performing to his full potential. However, Laurent Blanc's former deputy has a justification. "He had a toe injury which slowed down his progress after a World Cup during which he was extraordinary, like his entire team," he clarified on Saturday ahead of a crucial encounter on Sunday in Rennes, on behalf of the 26th day of Ligue 1. "Despite having surgery, he continues to treat this toe. He wasn't with us last week (against Nantes) due to knee trouble, but it turned out to be a toe injury. It has to be short-lived.
Before joining the CAN at the beginning of the year, Azzedine Ounahi was questioned by RMC Sport. He recapped his struggles: "I am a very critical person of myself," the Moroccan admitted. "I am not well when I am not well. Together with someone else, I work before and after games. He talks to me immediately as soon as he notices that I'm losing a tiny bit of my performance. I had the impression that I was not the "genuine Ounahi" and that I was ill. I wasn't myself, and I wasn't 100%." The "real Ounahi" is still on the waiting list, two and a half months later.