Latest news with #Mazraoui
Morocco World
5 days ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Mazraoui Injury Raises Doubts Over Morocco Call-up
Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui is facing a race against time to be fit for Morocco's upcoming international friendlies against Tunisia and Benin after suffering a muscle injury. The 27-year-old was forced off after just 20 minutes during United's 2-0 win over Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season. He appeared to be in discomfort before signalling to the bench and was immediately replaced. Manchester United confirmed on their official website that Mazraoui is undergoing medical tests to assess the extent of the injury. Omitted from the post-season tour Mazraoui was not included in the 32-man squad named by United manager Ruben Amorim for the club's post-season tour of Asia. The team will face the ASEAN All-Stars and a Hong Kong XI on May 28 and 30. His absence suggests the injury may be more than a minor issue, which could impact his availability for Morocco's June friendlies. Morocco boss awaiting medical reports National team coach Walid Regragui is preparing to announce his squad for the matches in Fez, scheduled for June 7 and 10. Regragui stands to closely review Mazraoui's condition, along with that of Brahim Díaz and Nayef Aguerd, before making any final decisions. The national coach is expected to receive full medical reports in the coming days before confirming whether the trio will be available. Tags: Manchester UnitedMoroccoNoussair MazraouiWalid Regragui
Morocco World
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Mazraoui: No Soda, More Minutes at Manchester United
Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui says cutting out fizzy drinks has helped him deliver the most consistent season of his career. The Morocco international has made 55 appearances in all competitions this term – his highest-ever tally – surpassing his previous best of 48 for Ajax in the 2018–19 campaign. 'I'm not drinking any sodas anymore. Fizzy drinks. It changes a lot, I think, because the sugar, you don't get it in your body anymore. So, just water makes a huge difference eventually,' he said in an interview with the Daily Mail. Mazraoui took the decision himself, rather than relying on advice. 'It was just to try to see if there's any difference,' he said. 'I know sugar is really bad for your body, but it's really nice to have a little drink of it with dinner.' The 27-year-old, who joined United from Bayern Munich last summer for $17 million, has played 2,828 Premier League minutes – more than any United outfield player apart from Bruno Fernandes – and featured in seven different positions under head coach Ruben Amorim. 'To play No. 10? Yeah, it was a surprise,' he said. 'I did it a really long time ago before that moment.' Mazaroui is still figuring out his roles as center-back and wing-back in Ruben Amorim's system. 'In the right center-back, I really like to go forward with the ball, so in the build-up and break the lines. I'm comfortable on the ball,' he said. 'Wing-back, a lot of times you come in a right wing position. For that, you really need like Amad one-v-one skill. That's maybe not my biggest strength.' Mazraoui admitted adapting to Amorim's system took time, especially in his roles, but says the structure is now more familiar. 'In the beginning, some things were not going automatically… But after a couple of months, everybody knows what to do.' Despite United's struggles in the league – they currently sit 16th after an eight-game winless run – Mazraoui believes victory in the upcoming Europa League final against Tottenham would define the season. 'Winning a trophy is never easy,' he said. 'If we win on Wednesday, I think that's what you're going to remember more than the failure in the Premier League.' Should United beat Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, Mazraoui will 'of course' allow himself some alcohol-free sugary reward. Tags: Manchester UnitedmazraouiMorocco
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Mazraoui details what Man Utd lack in Premier League despite Europa heroics
Manchester United can end a disastrous season with a trophy, as the Red Devils have made it to the final of the Europa League while sat two places above the Premier League relegation zone Noussair Mazraoui says Manchester United can be proud of their season if they win the Europa League – despite their shocking Premier League form. United have suffered their worst season of the Premier League era, with Ruben Amorim's under-performing side down in 16th place, after 18 defeats this season. But United can still salvage something from their otherwise miserable season by beating Tottenham in Wednesday's Europa League final in Bilbao. As well as lifting the trophy, the winners will also go straight into next season's Champions League, which is worth up to £100million in revenue. And although their domestic form has been pitiful, Mazraoui claimed that will largely be forgotten if Amorim's players are victorious against Spurs. 'Winning a trophy is never easy,' said Mazraoui. 'I think in any case you don't downgrade that, because you have to fight hard to get into the position to win a trophy. You have to beat opponents who are strong and who are also really hungry to be in that final. 'When you look back at your career, you will look back at this season and you're going to be proud of winning the Europa League, if we win on Wednesday, more than you're going to look at the failure in the Premier League. You can be sure, for sure, you can be proud.' In contrast to losing almost half of their Premier League games this season, United are the only team that started out in the Europa League or Champions League to remain unbeaten. It is something United defender Mazraoui cannot explain. 'That's something really tough to say, because we always manage in the Europa League to eventually win,' said the Morocco international. 'I think the biggest example was Lyon, where we were almost dead in the last 10 minutes of the game. Extra-time, everybody's tired and everything, and you still manage to win. 'I think one of the biggest differences in the Europa League and the Premier League for us this season is how to manage to win. We maybe have that kind of fighting spirit in the Europa League that we maybe lack in the Premier League.' Mazraoui was signed by former United manager Erik ten Hag, who made way for current boss Amorim whose forthright and straight-talking approach has been welcomed by the defender. 'I like him a lot in that respect,' said Mazraoui. 'He's really honest, really straightforward, he's not hiding from anything. That's how I am as well. I'm not hiding behind anything and that's the manager as well. 'He takes responsibility, he knows he's the head of the club eventually, because he's the manager. That's something I like a lot about him.' Tottenham have beaten United on all three occasions they have met this season, but Mazraoui claimed that will have no bearing on the outcome of Wednesday's make-or-break showdown. 'I don't think so, because this is a whole different competition,' said Mazraoui. 'It's the Europa League, it's a final, so the context around it is so different that you can't really compare any previous games with this final. 'Tottenham bring a lot of intensity in their games. We've seen that already this season. That's their biggest quality - they bring so much intensity and pressing in everything they do.'
The Guardian
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Mazraoui believes cutting out fizzy drinks helps him reach no-sugar high at United
Noussair Mazraoui has revealed that cutting out fizzy drinks has helped him to make 55 Manchester United appearances this season, the most of the defender's eight-year career. Mazraoui's 48 games for Ajax in 2018-19 constituted his previous highest number. With two matches left he could end on 57 and the 27-year-old explained why. 'I'm not drinking any sodas any more – fizzy drinks,' he said. 'It changes a lot because of the sugar; you don't get it in your body any more. So just water makes a huge difference eventually. It was just to try to see if there's any difference. I know sugar is really bad for your body but it's really nice to have a little drink of it with dinner.' His appearance tally comes despite being taken off at half-time of the draw with Aston Villa in October owing to heart palpitations that required a minor procedure. He was able to play again 13 days later, in the 2-1 win over Brentford. 'It feels like ages ago,' he said. 'Everything was just fine. It was nothing big or huge. It didn't make any difference [to my season]. I've managed to play a lot of minutes, playing in different positions.' Though Mazraoui has operated mainly as a centre-back or wing-back, he has featured in seven positions this season, including at No 10 in the draw at Fenerbahce, Erik ten Hag fielding him there in the Dutchman's penultimate match. 'It was a surprise,' Mazraoui said. 'I did it a really long time ago.' United will record their lowest Premier League finish but face Tottenham in Wednesday's Europa League final as the only unbeaten team in competition. Mazraoui said: 'The Premier League is a tough league but out of two chances in every Europa League game, we score a minimum one. Out of the 20 chances we get in the Premier League we don't manage to score one. That's the biggest difference, so I don't think that has something to do with the league. I don't think that the goalkeepers in the Europa League are that much worse than in the Premier League.' In the league United have managed 42 goals in 37 games, while in the Europa League they have 34 in 14. The Moroccan also cited a difference in attitude. 'We always manage in the Europa League to win,' he said. 'The biggest example is Lyon, where we were almost dead in the last 10 minutes of the game [4-2 down]. Extra time, everybody's tired and you still manage to win [5-4]. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion 'We have maybe the kind of fighting spirit in the Europa League that we lack in the Premier League. I cannot really tell you what the reasons for that are, because that's something in the mindset that should be there, but many times this season it was not.'
New York Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui says diet change behind career-best longevity
Noussair Mazraoui has revealed his career-best longevity this season is down to cutting out fizzy drinks from his diet. The full-back has made 55 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United this campaign, already seven more than his previous highest for Ajax in 2018-19. Mazraoui averaged 31 games in his six seasons as a first-team player at Ajax and Bayern Munich, but he has dramatically increased his output despite moving to a league considered the toughest physically in Europe. Advertisement 'Yeah, you would say that it's strange to play even more games,' Mazraoui accepted. 'I changed some things, some small details. I think in the top of football, details really matter. 'I'm not drinking any sodas anymore. Fizzy drinks. It changes a lot, I think, because the sugar, you don't get it in your body anymore. So just water makes a huge difference eventually.' Mazraoui took the decision himself, rather than rely on advice. 'It was just to try to see if there's any difference,' he said. 'I know sugar is really bad for your body, but it's really nice to have a little drink of it with dinner.' Should United beat Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, Mazraoui will 'of course' allow himself some bubbles, non-alcoholic due to his Muslim faith. Signed from Bayern last summer in a deal worth £12.8million plus £4.3m in add-ons, Mazraoui has enjoyed a positive debut season on a personal level, hitting 2,828 minutes in the Premier League, second only to Bruno Fernandes for outfield players, and featuring in seven different positions — right and left wing-back, full-back, centre-back and, unexpectedly, No 10 when United faced Fenerbahce. 'To play No 10? Yeah, it was a surprise,' he said. 'I did it a really long time ago before that moment.' Mazaroui is still figuring out his roles as centre-back and wing-back in Ruben Amorim's system. 'In the right centre-back, I really like to go forward with the ball, so in the build-up and break the lines. I'm comfortable on the ball,' he said. 'Wing-back, a lot of times you come in a right wing position. For that, you really need like Amad one-v-one skill. That's maybe not my biggest strength. He added: 'In the beginning, some things were not going automatically. So instead of going forward, you had to go on the break and stay in your position. But eventually, now after a couple of months, this system, everybody knows what to do.' Advertisement Amorim has delivered some brutal words about his United team, currently 16th in the Premier League on an eight-game winless run, but Mazraoui appreciates the honesty. 'I like him a lot in that [respect]. He's really honest, really straightforward, he's not hiding for anything.' Mazraoui has won titles in the Netherlands and Germany, and believes that even though United have sunk to unprecedented lows domestically they can be proud should they beat Tottenham Hotspur to win the Europa League. 'Winning a trophy is never easy. I think in any case you don't downgrade that, because you have to fight hard to get into the position to win a trophy. You have to beat opponents who are strong and who are also really hungry to be in that final. 'Eventually, I think if you look back at your career, at this season, you're going to be proud of winning, if we win on Wednesday, the Europa League, more than you're going to look at the failure in the Premier League.' ()
