After scoring a brace against Poland U21s, Germany U21 international Youssoufa Moukoko spoke to media, via Kicker, on his role in the squad and also the pressure of expectation on the 17-year-old forward.
“You just have to learn to deal with it,” said Moukoko. “I have people around me who keep saying something. My parents, advisors. I think I can deal with it. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone, just myself. That I learned.”
Moukoko was handed his Germany U21 debut in September 2021 at the age of 16 but has scored four in three games: “My role is to score goals,” added Moukoko. “This is where the coach trusts me, he told me from the start: ‘I’m counting on you.’ That gave me a lot of self-confidence.”
The Borussia Dortmund forward is entering the final year of his contract at the Bundesliga club but his future remains undecided, with a potential departure an option, but that’s not Moukoko’s focus for now.
“I definitely want to gain more match practice, score more goals and definitely stay injury free,” said Moukoko. “Now that I’ve got a break I can catch my breath and then I can attack fully next season. I’m extremely motivated.”
