Fiery Frenchman Bilel Mohsni says he’s working on his temperament
FIERY Frenchman Bilel Mohsni is prepared to calm down his volatile on-pitch antics – but has assured Ipswich Town supporters he will always remain a bad loser.
The 25-year-old joined the Blues on a three-month loan switch from League Two side Southend United last week with his reputation of being something of a hot-head preceding him.
Plucked from the park pitches of Paris at a relatively late age, the all-action player – whose long hair, staggering versatility and towering 6ft 3in stature has contributed to his cult hero status at Roots Hall – picked up 19 bookings and three red cards during his first two seasons in English football.
Once described as ‘a walking foul’ by Shrimpers boss Paul Sturrock, there was a well-documented incident where Mohnsi had to get a lift home with a director after team-mates had reportedly voiced their anger at his double booking in the opening 38 minutes of an important FA Cup tie at Oldham.
And after he didn’t take part in pre-season training this summer following Southend’s defeat in the play-off semi-finals, the Essex club decided to place their star man on the transfer list.
“I know my temper is not the best,” said Mohsni, with a sheepish smile. “I have to work on that. It’s very hard for me, but I will work on it.
“Outside of the pitch I try to be a nice and relaxed person – I just like to sleep! My temper comes because I’m a bad loser.
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“It comes from frustration, a hunger to win and to give my best. When I make a mistake I beat myself up a lot so this is why it happens. I have to work on it and it will be fine.”
He added: “I want to win because it means so much to the fans and also you have to repay the faith in the people who have given you a contract. You have to give everything. I’m not happy unless I come off the pitch very tired and just want to sleep.”
With West Ham failing to come up with the requested transfer fee in the summer following an impressive trial, Mohsni went on trial with Town at the start of last month.
However, manager Paul Jewell says the player went back to France ‘in a bit of a huff’ after the Suffolk club asked to extend a week-long trial before making their decision.
Moshni, who went off and had another trial at Championship rivals Birmingham before returning to complete his Ipswich switch last Thursday, said: “I had some trouble in my family, private problems, so this is why I went back to France before. I’m very, very happy to be here now though.”
