“Everyone knows I’m a good footballer” – Super Eagles star opens up on why he struggled this season

There are six rounds of matches left to play in the French Ligue 1, with FC Lorient still battling to remain in the elite division

Nigerian international striker Terem Moffi admits he has struggled to replicate his excellent first season form for FC Lorient so far this term.

Moffi was the revelation of the French Ligue 1 last year when, in only his maiden campaign, he smashed 14 goals to help Les Merlus avoid relegation.

Only costing the French side €8 million to acquire from Kortrijk, Moffi was arguably the deal of the season.

But the 2021/22 season has not been as productive for Moffi, with the Super Eagles star managing just seven league goals with more than three-quarters of the campaign gone.

Moffi agrees that he has struggled to discover his best form, but he insists he has nothing to prove to anyone that he is a good player.

“I didn’t have to confirm anything to anyone,” the 22-year-old told Le Telegramme.

“Everyone knows I’m a good footballer, a good goalscorer, so I just had to keep trying to do what I know how to do and score as many goals as possible.”

Moffi has found top form in recent weeks, scoring in the 5-1 loss to PSG and grabbing a brace and an assist in the 6-2 demolition of Rennes last week.

But the left-footed attacker confesses that opposing defenders have been tougher on him than last year.

“When you score fourteen goals, you are a threat to them,” the Nigerian striker continued.

“So yeah, I think they have more of an eye on me. The defenders tell themselves that they must not take their eyes off me, let me go in the back.”

Despite often playing a striking role, Moffi is always known to help out Lorient’s defenders when under pressure from their opponents.

It may have affected his goalscoring numbers, but he maintains that it is part of his game to be effective at both ends of the pitch.

“If I achieve them, it’s for the team and because I want to,” Moffi added.

“Coming back, to help in defending, is really part of me, of the way I play football.”

And when asked if defending for the team is part of what the Lorient coach asks him to do, Moffi responded: No, what he asks me is to score goals (laughs).

“If there is a counter-attack for the opposing team since I am one of the fastest on the team, I know I can come back to cover spaces and help the defense; I even have to do it, and when it allows the team to avoid conceding a goal, I’m really proud of myself.”

Moffi featured for more than an hour on Sunday, but his best efforts were not enough to help Lorient avoid a 2-1 loss at Nice.