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An excited Aymen Barkok is sitting at the Mainz team hotel for the winter training camp in Mallorca and is talking about the World Cup in Qatar, which he is watching on the television. In the summer, the German-Moroccan was hoping to earn himself a call up to the Morocco national team and, having just transferred to Mainz, play his way into the eyes of national coach Walif Regragui. However, his first few months on the Rheinhessen haven’t quite gone as he would have liked them to, with Barkok having made just eight competitive appearances for the first team. He wants to keep working hard during winter training, all while staying behind the Morocco team who, having topped their group in the World Cup group stage, beat the odds to knock out Spain in the round of 16 3-0 on penalties.
It’s said that if things aren’t written for you in a certain way, you’ve just got to accept that
It wasn’t meant to be
“I watched the first half upstairs in my room, and then the second half downstairs in the hotel lobby with my teammates. I’m delighted for the lads. It is lovely to see what they are delivering,” comments Barkok from a distance about the game against Spain on Tuesday afternoon. He himself may have been in Qatar, but it just “wasn’t written for (me) that way,” he comments. “I am man of belief. It’s said that if things aren’t written for you in a certain way, you’ve just got to accept that,” the midfield explains. He remains however in contact with his national teammates, with whom he last played in June as part of AFCON qualification, wishing them “all the best”, and hoping they can go another step further as they take on Portugal in their quarter-final (Saturday, 16:00 CET).
Good team spirit and an impressive goalkeeper
“I hope and think that Morocco are going to keep on going. If they keep playing like they did against Spain, it’s a definite possibility, even if Portugal are a tough opponent,” said Barkok, optimistic for his nation’s chances in the last eight. The North African side have already claimed some big victories, not only against Spain, but also Belgium and Croatia in the group stage. Not only that, but they’ve only conceded one goal in the tournament – even keeping a clean sheet in a penalty shootout. The decisive factor there was goalkeeper Yassine Bono, who saved all three Spanish efforts from 12 yards, deciding the game in favour of the ‘Lion from Atlas’.
Everyone fights for each other out on the pitch
“Everyone knows Bono. He was named as the ‘best goalkeeper in Spain’ last year, and has been doing a superb job since,” explained Barkok about the strong performances from the Sevilla man, expressing little surprise. He explains that that the goalkeeper is a “great guy” personally, and that there is nobody that the 31-year-old doesn’t get on well with. “He is always positive and looking upwards, he always spreads good vibes and he is an important factor for the team,” said the Mainz midfielder about his compatriot. The Zerofiver adds that the Moroccan national team fight for one another every time that they are on the pitch. “They’ve done excellently in defence so far, haven’t conceded many big chances and sit very compactly,” says Barkok. “That’s what’s encapsulating their team, their success on the pitch speaks for itself.”
Fresh start in the new year
Barkok himself has been working hard in Mallorca since Monday, alongside his Mainz teammates, having won their first friendly against RCD Mallorca B 3-1 on Wednesday evening. The midfielder played 60 minutes of this clash, before he was replaced by Leandro Barreiro. The long winter break, including both training camps, will be a good opportunity for the German-Moroccan to keep pushing for his breakthrough at FSV, after having missed a lot of pre-season through injury and therefore only making a few appearances – not helping his fight to become a key member of the team.
He remains however highly motivated for the second half of the season, and was motivated by his lack of first-team game time in to play for the Mainz U23s in an away game at VfR Aalen at his own request to get some match practice. Some days later, the 24-year-old scored his first professional goal for the first team in the DFB-Pokal away at VfB Lübeck. In the new year, the Frankfurt-born man wants to show his capabilities at the top level in the Bundesliga, and also therefore keep his name in the hat for the Morocco national side.
An excited Aymen Barkok is sitting at the Mainz team hotel for the winter training camp in Mallorca and is talking about the World Cup in Qatar, which he is watching on the television. In the summer, the German-Moroccan was hoping to earn himself a call up to the Morocco national team and, having just transferred to Mainz, play his way into the eyes of national coach Walif Regragui. However, his first few months on the Rheinhessen haven’t quite gone as he would have liked them to, with Barkok having made just eight competitive appearances for the first team. He wants to keep working hard during winter training, all while staying behind the Morocco team who, having topped their group in the World Cup group stage, beat the odds to knock out Spain in the round of 16 3-0 on penalties.
It’s said that if things aren’t written for you in a certain way, you’ve just got to accept that
It wasn’t meant to be
“I watched the first half upstairs in my room, and then the second half downstairs in the hotel lobby with my teammates. I’m delighted for the lads. It is lovely to see what they are delivering,” comments Barkok from a distance about the game against Spain on Tuesday afternoon. He himself may have been in Qatar, but it just “wasn’t written for (me) that way,” he comments. “I am man of belief. It’s said that if things aren’t written for you in a certain way, you’ve just got to accept that,” the midfield explains. He remains however in contact with his national teammates, with whom he last played in June as part of AFCON qualification, wishing them “all the best”, and hoping they can go another step further as they take on Portugal in their quarter-final (Saturday, 16:00 CET).
Good team spirit and an impressive goalkeeper
“I hope and think that Morocco are going to keep on going. If they keep playing like they did against Spain, it’s a definite possibility, even if Portugal are a tough opponent,” said Barkok, optimistic for his nation’s chances in the last eight. The North African side have already claimed some big victories, not only against Spain, but also Belgium and Croatia in the group stage. Not only that, but they’ve only conceded one goal in the tournament – even keeping a clean sheet in a penalty shootout. The decisive factor there was goalkeeper Yassine Bono, who saved all three Spanish efforts from 12 yards, deciding the game in favour of the ‘Lion from Atlas’.
Everyone fights for each other out on the pitch
“Everyone knows Bono. He was named as the ‘best goalkeeper in Spain’ last year, and has been doing a superb job since,” explained Barkok about the strong performances from the Sevilla man, expressing little surprise. He explains that that the goalkeeper is a “great guy” personally, and that there is nobody that the 31-year-old doesn’t get on well with. “He is always positive and looking upwards, he always spreads good vibes and he is an important factor for the team,” said the Mainz midfielder about his compatriot. The Zerofiver adds that the Moroccan national team fight for one another every time that they are on the pitch. “They’ve done excellently in defence so far, haven’t conceded many big chances and sit very compactly,” says Barkok. “That’s what’s encapsulating their team, their success on the pitch speaks for itself.”
Fresh start in the new year
Barkok himself has been working hard in Mallorca since Monday, alongside his Mainz teammates, having won their first friendly against RCD Mallorca B 3-1 on Wednesday evening. The midfielder played 60 minutes of this clash, before he was replaced by Leandro Barreiro. The long winter break, including both training camps, will be a good opportunity for the German-Moroccan to keep pushing for his breakthrough at FSV, after having missed a lot of pre-season through injury and therefore only making a few appearances – not helping his fight to become a key member of the team.
He remains however highly motivated for the second half of the season, and was motivated by his lack of first-team game time in to play for the Mainz U23s in an away game at VfR Aalen at his own request to get some match practice. Some days later, the 24-year-old scored his first professional goal for the first team in the DFB-Pokal away at VfB Lübeck. In the new year, the Frankfurt-born man wants to show his capabilities at the top level in the Bundesliga, and also therefore keep his name in the hat for the Morocco national side.
