One To Watch
Amine Gouiri: “I must have a killer instinct mentally"
Having joined Olympique de Marseille from Stade Rennais in the winter window, Amine Gouiri's strong form has helped Les Olympiens reach the Champions League -- read more in our latest interview.
"Very happy" and "very fulfilled" after a successful half-season leading OM's attack, Amine Gouiri revealed in an interview that Marseille "really wanted to finish second" in Ligue 1 McDonald's.
You only arrived three months ago, but you've adapted quickly to OM...
Everything happened quickly, and I didn't have time to think. I was immediately in the squad, and I think that helped me. Arriving in the winter transfer window isn't like the summer. You don't have preseason; you have to be ready right away. Mentally, I was ready, and that translated onto the pitch. Honestly, it was a very good choice to join OM. I'm very fulfilled, I'm really enjoying it.
How do you rate your stats?
I'm very happy. I said that scoring ten goals would be great, and I've achieved it. We know that we strikers are never satisfied. I don't focus on that, because when you want to score too much, you sometimes miss. But scoring builds confidence. Against Brest, after my third goal, I wanted my fourth. There are two games left, so I hope to score a few more.
Regarding that hat-trick, can you tell us about your overhead kick? With a pass from Greenwood that wasn't perfect...
That's exactly it. If he had played it a little lower, I probably would have shot straight away. But the ball was a little high, and when I controlled it, it stayed high. So I had no choice. My mind was racing, and I told myself I was going to try it with an overhead kick, instinctively. I didn't see the ball go in, but the crowd's reaction made me understand. And then, it was funny because they showed the goal in slow motion on the big screens. The crowd applauded a second time, and I saw the gesture. And I thought, "Oh yeah, that's not bad..."
Ladies and gentlemen enjoy the UNFP Best Goal of the Season by Amine Gouiri! 🤯🇩🇿 pic.twitter.com/FQbu5Btxz9
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 11, 2025
What does Roberto De Zerbi ask of you?
He wants me to score even more. He knows what I can bring to the game and he often says I'm a number 9 with the qualities of a number 10. He wants me to become a sniper, as he says, a finisher, a fox in the box, who will also score ugly goals. It's not just overhead kicks! I have to have a killer mentality. What I like to do is touch the ball, combine, contribute to the team, and score. So today, I'm very comfortable playing as a number 9 in this organization. I participate in the game, I can play deep, and be at the beginning and end of plays.
And Medhi Benatia?
He's often there and he talks to me a lot. That's what's good here, is that no one will let me down. There's always this pressure, in training or in matches, to maintain a certain consistency, a certain level of rigor. I like it when people don't give up on me.
Being more consistent over a season is precisely where you need to improve...
Of course. It's impossible to perform at your best all season, but you have to be as consistent as possible, have as few moments of poor form as possible. And if that happens, it shouldn't last long. That's what I have to work on. That's why Medhi says I shouldn't rest on my laurels. But I'm perfectly happy with people on my back, even if it's up to me to keep that in mind. And that goes for stats too. We need more, of course. If I score ten in six months, the standards have to rise over a full season.
Amine Gouiri at Marseille. BALLER. 🇩🇿⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/nts7mXKcgc
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 11, 2025
How are you preparing for the rest of the season?
Honestly, no pressure. We're second and we hold our destiny in our own hands. We know that qualifying for the Champions League is crucial, for everyone: the fans, the city, us... We really want to finish second. I think finishing third would leave a bit of a bitter taste in our mouths.
How do you imagine the Champions League at the Vélodrome?
With the new format, we can host four big teams. Hosting those kinds of clubs at the Vélodrome would be huge. The atmosphere is already incredible. So against those teams, I can't even imagine...
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