Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh: Morocco will bounce back at the 2012 Afcon

Goal.com: Are you disappointed with Morocco’s 2-1 loss to Tunisia?

Chamakh: Yes and no. Yes, because we needed to win our first game to ease the path towards the rest of the completion, and no, because we tried our best but Tunisia were a better side.

Goal.com: Many pundits had tipped Morocco to carry the day; can we say they failed to live up to expectation?

Chamakh: I don’t think so. We tried our best. Tunisia were strong and competitive. They had a very good defense and goalkeeper and they did not let us develop play in the midfield. You know, a meeting between the two north African sides is always a cracker, and maybe we will learn from this once more.

Goal.com: Fans and some officials say you didn’t play well, that you were almost invisible throughout the game. What really happened?

Chamakh: To me, I played my game. I tried to contribute my quota of energy to push forth the team, but it didn’t work out. Losing a match doesn’t mean one did not perform well. So many things can be the cause.

Goal.com: But your side began playing better after you were substituted in the second half with El Arabi Youssef, which later brought the goal?

Chamakh: You think so?

Goal.com: That’s what we saw.

Chamakh: (Laughs) Well, it’s team work and everybody can contribute. I’m not indispensable.

Goal.com:  Your next game is against co-host Gabon, and your team will likely lose the strong support local fans gave you against Tunisia because of Gabon’s First Lady, who’s originally from Morocco.

Chamakh: We’ll concentrate on our game bearing in mind that any further fumbling will push us out of the competition. Morocco will bounce back. Our objective will be to pick up three points and then top off our qualification against Niger.

Atlas Lions under pressure | Chamakh believes Morocco will progress

Goal.com: Back to the Premier League. How do you judge Arsenal’s recent losses?

Chamakh: Naturally it’s painful because it’s my club, but there’s nothing I can do really.

Goal.com: Nothing you can do really because you are at the 2012 Afcon or because you no longer get enough playing time at the Emirates Stadium?

Chamakh: None of the above. Arsenal have good players to do the job in our absence, so being here makes no big difference, to me.

Goal.com: So, by the end of the tournament, will you get back to London and still be sitting on the bench, or will you seek to go to where you can be more useful?

Chamakh: (Laughs) I can’t answer that question.

Goal.com: Why?

Chamakh: For now you and I are in Gabon. Let’s finish the event here before talking about my future at Arsenal?

Goal.com: But your fans in Africa and beyond want to see you play as in the old good days in Bordeaux, and not warming the bench.

Chamakh: We have so many good players now and I think the coach is the best person to choose who comes in or not.

Goal.com: Do you personally feel you are not good enough, or others are better than you?

Chamakh: (Laugh) It’s left for you to judge.

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