Mohamed Ihattaren cannot count on a permanent position at PSV, while his working relationship with trainer Roger Schmidt does not seem to be optimal either. Adam Maher was in the same boat a few years ago, when he was excluded from the starting team in Eindhoven by then PSV coach Phillip Cocu. The FC Utrecht midfielder therefore understands why he is sometimes compared to Ihattaren.
“I understand the comparison. We had to make the same choice, between the Dutch and the Moroccan national team”, Maher opens in an extensive interview with Football International. “But it is difficult to say something about that. I am not short on it and so I do not know exactly what is going on in Eindhoven.” The playmaker immediately points out a difference between himself and Ihattaren. “Moreover, I have never really been negatively exposed by the outside world. Now you also have to deal with social media. I tried to stay very calm and make the best of it. But every person is different.”
Maher was recently in contact with Ihattaren. “Not so much in terms of football. I am mainly concerned with him as a person, not with what is happening at PSV. I try to prevent him from making mistakes and I notice that he is willing to listen”, explains the midfielder in Utrecht. “Becoming a professional footballer is not always easy. You can run into so many things. A first team is very different from youth football.” In that regard, Maher looks back on his first steps in professional football. “When I went from AZ to PSV, I thought that nothing changed. But a lot is changing! Larger club, different dressing room, media. There is a lot more pressure. I try to help young players at FC Utrecht, just like Mo. “
Just like Ihattaren, Maher barely got around to playing at PSV. His contract was eventually terminated in January 2018. At the time, he was relieved to be able to leave Eindhoven. “Every day I did my best on the training field, but I didn’t play at the weekend. That made a difference,” admits Maher frankly. “I was taken as number 10, but was initially moved to a different place. I would have liked more explanation, clarity. I didn’t get it. At that time I sometimes thought: What am I still doing here? I have always done my best, though. The trainer (Cocu, ed.) At one point had different preferences. What I mainly learned is to enjoy the matches you do play. “