After 56 days
©IMAGO
After 56 days, Youssoufa Moukoko (19) was finally able to cheer again. In the duel with Denmark, the Joker scored for the U21 national team to make it 3-0. He was denied a brace by a controversial foul whistle from referee Alex Bos. Nevertheless, it was finally a sense of achievement for Moukoko again after the euphoria quickly fizzled out after the strong starting eleven debut for OGC Nice against AS Saint-Étienne (8-0) with two goals and one assist.
“Somehow it fits,” said Moukoko beaming at the “ProSieben Maxx” microphone after the final whistle. He could “play freely”. “It’s fun to play with Ansgar (Knauff; editor), Nick (Woltemade) and everyone else up front. We score a lot of goals, we celebrate together – and in the end I’m happy that I made it 3-0.” It was the 13th goal in the 14th U21 international match, only five goals behind record goalscorer Pierre Littbarski. In Nice, however, things aren’t quite right for the BVB loan.
Since the strong starting eleven debut, Moukoko has only been in the first eleven in Ligue 1 once, he came in as a joker three times and not at all twice. In the Europa League he was allowed to start in three out of four games, but Nice only got two points. The duel against Twente Enschede is significant: Nice was 0-1 behind at half-time, coach Franck Haise took out the young professionals Moukoko and Issiaga Camara (19). Mohamed-Ali Cho (20) came on for the DFB junior – true to position. In the end it was 2-2, with Moukoko substitute Cho among the scorers.
DFB junior Moukoko with problems in Nice
“These are difficult times for a football player,” said Haise afterwards, referring to Moukoko. “In sport at the highest level there are no gifts. 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.” Moukoko also had to be content with the role of spectator with the DFB juniors. Against Denmark, 96-talent Nicolò Tresoldi (20) started in the center of the attack – and took the lead. It was the fifth goal in the fifth game. Moukoko replaced him after 65 minutes.
He accepted the role of the Joker “professionally. The coach spoke to me, in the end I have to provide answers on the pitch,” explained Moukoko, who had missed the last four games after consultation in order to better settle in in Nice. U21 coach Antonio Di Salvo said: “Competition stimulates business. Everyone has to show themselves and play well.” Because there is a U21 European Championship waiting next summer.
On Tuesday (6:15 p.m.) Moukoko is hoping for another chance against France, ideally with even more minutes of play. “We have to go one step further to win,” he emphasized. “The guys there are definitely very good. In the end, we want to prepare calmly and compete against the best to see where we stand.”
