INTERVIEWS Ali Maamar initially didn't want to comment right after the game. The right back preferred to wait for the postgame meeting with coach Vitor Bruno first. Still, he later offered a clear explanation for Anderlecht's difficult start.
“We didn't start the match well. Especially when it came to pressing, we didn't execute the coach's instructions well enough,” said Maamar. During halftime, the principles were reemphasized. “The coach clearly explained what needed to be improved. After the break, we came out of the locker room with much more motivation and discipline.”
Continue reading below the article
Continue reading According to Maamar, the crowd also played an important role in the turnaround. “The fans really helped us. Thanks to them, we were able to turn the game around.”
Maamar himself was one of the standout players. He provided the assist for the equalizer and continued to pose a constant threat in the second half. “Am I tired? Yeah, I guess so,” he laughed. “I wouldn't be able to handle a second game today. I got a lot of passes and saw that the opponent was getting tired. I tried to take advantage of that.”
The up-and-coming Moroccan international also took a moment to look back on his summer. Maamar was invited to train with the national team during the World Cup, though he didn't make the final roster. “I only had a short vacation, but it was a fantastic experience. It was very educational to train with such great players.”
And, of course, the conversation turned to Achraf Hakimi. “Did I get any tips from him? I talked to everyone. Above all, I have a lot to learn from them.”
