From Patro Eisden to bogeyman Manchester City: Anis Hadj Moussa continues writing his fairytale story

He was one of the scorers at Feyenoord yesterday who ensured the great comeback against Manchester City. The name Anis Hadj Moussa may not ring a bell to the general public, but the Algerian did play in Belgium in the previous two seasons: at Patro Eisden and Olympic Charleroi. This is his remarkable story.

Fairy tale stories, who doesn’t enjoy them?

No one even thought yesterday that Manchester City would still give away its 3-0 lead against Feyenoord. Yet the unthinkable happened. In the last fifteen minutes Feyenoord leveled, partly thanks to Anis Hadj Moussa.

The 22-year-old Algerian, born in Paris, heralded the turnaround with the 3-1. It gave Feyenoord new hope and most likely put a smile on the faces of all Patro Eisden supporters.

Hadj Moussa played for the Challenger Pro League club last season. Patro even brought the Algerian international from a division lower. At Olympic Charleroi, Hadj Moussa scored 8 goals in the 1st National.

The winger was immediately dropped into the team at Patro, but it was only from matchday 10 that he was able to fully convince coach Stijn Stijnen to let him start permanently in the starting line-up. With 1 goal and 2 assists, Hadj Moussa did not have great statistics, but Vitesse decided at the end of the winter mercato to rent him for the rest of the season.

There too, the Lens youth product was not entirely convincing with 1 goal and 2 assists, but Feyenoord took a chance and signed Hadj Moussa for a transfer fee of 1.8 million euros.

At the Dutch top club, currently 4th in the Eredivisie, Hadj Moussa mainly had to rely on substitutes. That was also the case against RB Salzburg in the Champions League. He came on at half-time and scored a late tying goal. That was to no avail, as Feyenoord still lost 1-3.

From the Belgian second division to scoring in the Champions League in one year. It can hardly get much more beautiful. But for Hajj Moussa it is.

Because that goal meant the start of a series of starting places for Hadj Moussa. He started the last two games in the Eredivisie and did not betray the trust of coach Brian Priske. He proved his worth with goals against Almere City and Heerenveen.

He deserves all the credit.

Brian Priske

And he did that yesterday against Manchester City. After the match, he received praise from all sides as man of the match.

At the press conference afterwards, Priske told how Hadj Moussa asked for more playing time. “I then told him to pick up the gloves. He deserves all the credit. Not only in an attacking sense, but also in a defensive sense. Anis adapts very well. It is not easy to join a top team.”

Wesley Sneijder, as an analyst at Ziggo Sport, also contributed to Hadj Moussa’s turnaround. “Do you know what I like best? That he keeps the faith. He keeps walking (at 3-1) and shoots it in fantastically. He really took the lead at that moment. That boy is taking steps. “

2 seasons ago in the 1st National and now the hero in the Champions League. Could the players of KVK Tienen, Sporting Hasselt or Belisia Bilzen already be dreaming?

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