Samir El Mourabet’s difficult start to the season took another painful turn at Jean-Bouin, where an early error helped Paris FC beat Strasbourg 2-1 and left the 20-year-old midfielder facing a growing fight for his place.
Strasbourg coach Hugo Oliveira moved quickly to shield the academy product after Saturday’s defeat. Asked about the misplaced pass that led to Paris FC’s opening goal, the Portuguese coach accepted the blame himself rather than isolate his player.
“The only person making mistakes is me,” Oliveira said. “He has my complete trust. When mistakes happen, we must still show courage and keep pushing. That is also how players learn.”
A difficult return after an intense breakthrough
El Mourabet is enduring the after-effects of an extraordinary first full professional campaign, in which he played 48 matches. The Strasbourg-born midfielder, raised in the city’s northern Cité de l’Ill district, has become one of the few remaining local figures in a rapidly changing Racing squad.
His rise began in unusual conditions. Liam Rosenior handed him an opportunity in the fog at Thaon in a Coupe de France last-16 tie, a 2-2 draw Strasbourg won 7-5 on penalties. Rosenior encouraged him, while Gary O’Neil subsequently placed further faith in him, helping El Mourabet establish himself within the first-team group.
His summer, however, was far from straightforward. Called into Morocco’s World Cup squad, he appeared in five games and returned late to Alsace after remaining among the substitutes for the quarter-final defeat to France, 2-0.
His pre-season consisted of only two starts, against Freiburg and Newcastle. Interest from clubs including Leipzig, together with a change of representation to the Vesper group, added further distraction during the break.
Marseille warning followed by Paris FC setback
The warning signs were visible from Strasbourg’s opening league match, a 4-0 loss at Marseille. With Valentin Barco having departed, El Mourabet had greater responsibility in the construction of play and was caught by Olympique de Marseille’s pressing.
He was at fault for the first goal and appeared frustrated by the physical attention of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. The Danish midfielder was later kicked by El Mourabet, who was sent off and subsequently served a two-match suspension.
When he returned against Monaco on 12 September, in a 1-1 draw, he did not immediately reclaim his starting role. He played only nine minutes in the second half and left the mixed zone without speaking to reporters.
A month after the Marseille errors, his start against Paris FC suggested that the slump has not yet lifted. El Mourabet was unable to impose the driving runs or line-breaking distribution that had marked his emergence. The experienced Lees-Melou-Lopez partnership again controlled the midfield battle, while his attempted clearance at the beginning of the match gifted the hosts their first goal.
He was replaced in the 67th minute by Pape Diop, whose introduction brought more energy to Strasbourg’s late push. El Mourabet retains clear room to develop, but competition is now tightening around him and his position in Oliveira’s side can no longer be considered secure.
