BVB loan is at a disadvantage
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It was another setback for Youssoufa Moukoko and another clear nod from coach Franck Haise to the 19-year-old BVB loanee: In the 2-2 draw against Lille on Sunday, the even younger attacker Victor Orakpo (18) was given a place at OGC Nice in the final phase the preference over Moukoko, who only had to cope with a substitution after 45 minutes in the Europa League on Thursday. Seven weeks later, there seems to be little left of the euphoria after the strong starting eleven debut with two goals and one assist for the DFB young striker.
“These are difficult times for a football player,” said Coach Haise, referring to Moukoko. In the last three league games he sat on the bench almost continuously. He came on for the final seconds of the 1-0 win in Brest earlier this month, when there was virtually nothing on the line. Shortly afterwards came the fateful appearance in the European Cup against FC Twente from the Netherlands. There, Haises Aiglons were 0-1 behind at half-time. The coach took out the young professionals Moukoko and Issiaga Camara (19). Mohamed-Ali Cho (20) came on for the ex-Dortmunder – true to position. In the end it was 2-2, with Moukoko substitute Cho among the scorers.
Nice coach: Moukoko will “get his chance again at some point”
“There are no gifts in sport at the highest level,” explained Haise. “That’s how it is. You have to keep working, improve, don’t ignore the principles, and then, at some point, he will get his chance again” – but it is questionable when that will be, given the young striker was left out against Lille when Orakpo came instead. Coach Haise had already substituted him for Moukoko when he was in the squad for the first time after moving from Dortmund at the beginning of September. The U21 national player is back at the beginning.
After his first joker appearance in a 2-0 loss at Olympique Marseille on matchday four, the Cameroon-born player made his big appearance. Moukoko scored twice between the 26th and 39th minutes to make it 4-0 and 6-0 in the 8-0 win against Saint-Etienne and also prepared the 5-0 in between. The game also caused a stir in Germany, but the starting signal for the big breakthrough that Moukoko had been denied for so long in Dortmund did not follow. The loan deal with BVB is valid for the current season. OGC then has a purchase option.
