El-Mehdi Maouhoub: "The current position in the table is not a place for Dynamo"

— In the last round we played a very bright derby with Lokomotiv with 8 goals, 5 of which were scored against us. Did you work more on defense during this pause?

— Yes, the match turned out to be very interesting – both in terms of emotions and content. The coach placed special emphasis on the opponent's counterattacks, but, unfortunately, we made mistakes, including individual ones. We have studied them, discussed them and, I think, we will fix everything.

— Eighth place after a third of the championship is not the result that everyone expected before the start of the season. What should I do to fix it?

— I agree, the current position is not the place for Dynamo. Our team should always fight for titles and be at the top of the standings. We all understand what is expected of us. However, we have a new coach, a number of new players, so it took time for us to adapt. Of course, we want to finish the season with a trophy. God willing, it will be so.

— Injured players are gradually starting to return to the field – Konstantin Tyukavin, Yaroslav Gladyshev. Should their return help with the set of points and goals?

— Tyukavin and Gladyshev are very important players for our team. We are all waiting for them to get in better shape. I am one hundred percent sure that those players who will be ready will do everything possible to achieve the desired result.

— Last month turned out to be a good one for you – you started to play in the starting lineup, scored two goals and gave two assists. Do you feel that you have finally gained top form?

— I was injured at the beginning of the season, and the preparation period fell just on my injury. Thank God I'm fine now and I'm back in the clip. I understand what the coach is telling us and I try to follow the instructions he gives as much as possible.

— In recent matches, Valery Karpin uses you in a new position – from the right flank of the attack. How comfortable are you there?

— To be honest, this is the first time for me to be in the position of a right striker. Usually I played a central striker or acted on the left. I am interested in trying myself in a new position, and the main thing is to do what the coach says.

— Ahead of the match with Akhmat, which is right behind our team in the table. What kind of game can the fans expect this Sunday?

— All teams strive to win three points. Definitely, a big game awaits us, but we are playing at home and intend to win.

— Two of your compatriots, Amin Talal and Anas El Mahraoui, are playing in Akhmat. Did you manage to get to know them and discuss the upcoming match?

— Yes, I know them. I met Amin Talal here and played against him last year. I played against Anas El Mahraoui in Morocco, so I know him well. However, we are rivals on the pitch. I will be glad to meet them on the field and hope to beat them.

— In the first 30 years there were only 9 Moroccans in the Russian championship, and in the last two years 7 came at once. How can you explain this fact?

— I came to Russia last year and then I only heard about three or four teams, including Dynamo. And over the past two years, a lot of people have asked me about Russia, including the players who came here. So the RPL is an attractive league in which you can develop. I can say that in Russia, as well as in Morocco, there are a lot of young guys playing, and there are optimal conditions for their growth.

In recent years, reforms have been carried out in our country in terms of training young players, and their results are already visible: the Moroccan national team took third place at the Olympic Games, fourth place at the World Cup in Qatar, reached the final of the Africa Youth Cup, and on Monday will play with Argentina in the final of the World Youth Championship. I hope that those Moroccan players who will come to Russia will make the best use of this experience for their future careers and will show their best side.

— Are you following the tournament in Chile closely? Can the Moroccans' entry into the final be called a sensation?

— Of course, I watch the matches of Morocco and I know many of those who are playing there now. When I was 12 years old, and I was just starting to study at the football academy, even then work began for the future, to get the results that we have seen in the last four years. We have worked hard to achieve this. A good preparation in the end gives a good result, so there is nothing surprising in the fact that we beat the big teams.

— That is, is it worth waiting for the great success of the main team of Morocco at the 2026 World Cup?

— I think next year we should expect at least a repetition of the result of 2022, and maybe we can take a swing at something more. The fans definitely want more, they are no longer satisfied with the result of four years ago, they want to see titles – be it the African Cup or the World Cup. If you work hard and believe that it is possible, then the guys can achieve it.

— Is it realistic to be called up from the Russian championship and go to the USA next summer?

— Today we have four strikers in the national team. With one of them, Hamza Igaman, we made a joint journey in the younger age categories, and I even scored more than him. Then he went to Glasgow Rangers, and I went to Dynamo, and today he plays in the national team. I am constantly on the extended list of the head coach of the national team, but for him one of the main criteria by which he calls the players is participation in European competitions. I really hope that the Russian teams will return to these tournaments as soon as possible and show what they are capable of. 

It is clear that you always need to work hard, help your team achieve results, and the coaches will see this. You need to be ready for a call at any time. If I get such an opportunity and they give me a national team T-shirt, then I will do everything in my power to make the most of this chance and not return this T-shirt back. I will be very happy if I get a call-up to the national team and play at the World Cup.

— During this pause, your photo flew around the Internet, where you were cooking kebabs against the background of village houses. Did you like such a typical Russian holiday?

— I like this photo too. The coach gave us four days off, and I have long wanted to know what a summer vacation is. My wife and I decided to go to a holiday village and experience the Russian countryside. We really liked it, we felt very good, enjoyed the hospitality. The atmosphere is just great!

— Did you go to the bathhouse?

— It has not been possible yet, but I know that the Russian bath is very interesting. Therefore, in the next four days of rest, I will definitely include it in my program.

— Your marriage went unnoticed by the media and fans. Tell us about your new status.

— Yes, I recently got married. In our culture, it is not customary to advertise this, everything is quite modest, only a narrow circle of people knew about it. In the status of a married man, I feel very comfortable and stable, it helps a lot in everyday life.

— Have you been in Russia for more than a year, have you managed to adopt some Russian habits? Maybe you fell in love with Russian cuisine?

— I feel very comfortable in Russia, it's like my second home. I like hiking in parks, and everything, in principle, is great. If you take the kitchen, then I like borscht and pilaf. These two dishes are my favorites.

— How are things going with the study of Russian?

— Of course, some words that are used in everyday life are already in my dictionary. I can explain myself in the store. I also understand a lot in training. I hope I will have more time to learn Russian in more detail. I would like to learn how to read and write.