Appointed as the starting goalkeeper at the beginning of the season at only 19 years old, Mouez Hassen shows real progress with each Ligue 1 match. This Tuesday, he faced the press for the first time. Here’s a look back at his first six months wearing the red and black jersey.
How did you experience your appointment as the starting goalkeeper?
At the start of the season, during the preparation camp, Joris (Delle) and I were on equal footing. Then he got injured, and the coach played me. He trusted me, and I thank him for that.
It wasn’t easy at the beginning…
Yes, I had a challenging start. I wasn’t confident, and there was a lot of pressure. As the matches went on, I improved and gained confidence. I think I’ve made much progress in my aerial plays. When you’re 19 and facing professionals aged 34-35, it’s not easy to be calm.
Tell us about the contributions of Lionel Letizi (goalkeeper coach) and Simon Pouplin (second goalkeeper)…
Lionel supports me a lot. He reassures me before matches, tells me to stay calm and follow my instincts. Simon talks to me a lot during training and before matches. I’m glad to have him by my side every day. I gain experience with him.
“A blessing in disguise”
How did you feel about being “sidelined” at the end of the year?
The club was going through a tough time, and there was a lot of pressure surrounding it. At that time, it was a good choice to use an experienced goalkeeper. Initially, it was “a shock,” but in the end, it was a blessing in disguise. I reflected and worked harder.
On the field, a big blunder at Valenciennes, but since then, the team has been on a roll…
After that defeat in Valenciennes (2-0 in the Coupe de France), we talked and realized we needed to step up. Everyone self-criticized, and we worked hard. Since then, the results have followed, but we haven’t gotten a big head.
Against Nantes, you were just shy of a win…
We expected a tough match between two closely ranked teams. I only touched the ball 2 or 3 times. Up front, we weren’t effective enough. It was a game that could be decided by a single goal; we lost two points but continue our good path in 2015.
You come from Fréjus, and other players on the team are from the Mediterranean region…
This shows that the club doesn’t recruit players from everywhere. We take them from the Coast and the region. We all know each other well, having played against each other (with Amavi). It’s like a family, and it shows on the field.
“Lloris, Ospina, it’s inspiring…”
When you mention Lloris (starting at Tottenham) and Ospina (starting at Arsenal), it must give you chills…
Of course, it gives me ideas and aspirations. You have to work harder than usual to follow their path and maybe do even better. I watched their match last Saturday during Tottenham-Arsenal (final score 2-1). Both played a great game.
What is life like at 19 as a starting goalkeeper in a professional club?
Sometimes I don’t realize how lucky I am. It’s true that I don’t have the same life as others my age, but I’m happy with my choice. I haven’t changed. I don’t stress over it; I play Wii and PlayStation with my pals.
Photo credit and more information at www.ogcnice.com
