Akor: I am on track but must do more

Former Flying Eagles and Montpellier striker Jerome Akor Adams is back on track in a new French Ligue 1 season…

Montpellier beat Auxerre 3-2 victory to earn a first season of 2024/25 campaign in the French Ligue 1, thanks to a brace from Nigerian striker Akor Adams.
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— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) September 23, 2024

A little over a year ago, on August 13, 2023, his double in one minute and 42 seconds against Le Havre in his first match with MHSC (the fastest double by a player for his first in Ligue 1 since Opta began analyzing the competition, in 2006-2007), had taken La Mosson by storm.

The first player in the history of MHSC to score a double in his first match in Orange and Blue, he even became, by scoring again in the success in Lyon a week later (4-1), the first Montpellier player to score 3 times in 2 matches.

Akor scores for Montpellier

“I didn’t know these records existed and I must admit that it was difficult to live a better debut”, smiles Akor Adams. “Even more in a new club, a new country and a new championship. I couldn’t have hoped for better.”

But the clouds gradually gathered in this radiant sky and after scoring five goals in the first seven days of the league, Akor Adams had to face a long period of drought in the championship. 

“Any striker is judged on the number of goals he scores, it’s part of the game,” assures the former Lillestrøm player. 

“But I think that here, in Montpellier, I have to give much more than that. I work for the team, to free up spaces, so I know that I was still useful at certain moments during this goalless period. That said, it is certain that I should have scored more.”

Away from the cameras, Akor then increased the hours of “extra” after training to try to regain confidence… To the point of arousing the admiration of his teammates and the respect of an entire club. 

“I must thank the staff and my teammates who continued to believe in me” , emphasizes Akor. 

“The coach, Michel Der Zakarian, never gave up on me either. He was a player before me, he saw that I worked hard every day and how much the whole team worked so that I could improve and score. This period was long, I’m not going to hide it. I prayed and I told myself that with hard work, it would end up paying off.”

Jerome Akor – 3 goals in Ligue 1 this season already

A resilience that commands respect and which ended up in a goal scored during the final home match of last season against FC Nantes.

“I always thought that if you really believe in something and work for it, it will eventually happen ,” Akor says. 

“I gave my all on and off the pitch and when that famous goal came, I was extremely happy.

“I experienced it as a relief and the reward for a long period of work. It really did me good.” 

A joy shared by all of his teammates who warmly celebrated the goal with him.

Recruited to take over from Elye Wahi, Akor Adams has similarities but also big differences with the current OM striker.

Bigger, more powerful but less skillful than his predecessor, he had to learn a lot last season, all while playing two consecutive seasons since he started the Norwegian championship in February.

While he recognises that this lack of rest “could have weighed” on his performances, he does not hide behind this excuse.

Akor in Ligue 1 Team of Week by L’Equipe

“Here, I am used as a real number 9, the one who must score goals, but if I constantly stay up front, I will only be confronted with duels,” he explains.

“My goal is to be mobile. I know that I can’t necessarily keep all the balls with my back to the game. If I manage to do that, so much the better, but if that is not the case, I must at least get to one of my teammates, that is the minimum.

“The main thing is not to lose the ball in one way or another,” he explains before adding: “It’s not a question of playing system. Being alone up front in a 4-2-3-1 is not always easy, but I was playing in the same way in Norway. I just have to keep working to be better.”

Akor was also able to count on the advice of his compatriot and MHSC legend, John Utaka. 

“We met outside of Grammont and we talked a lot. It was very generous of him to give me time and his advice was very useful and valuable to me ,” says Akor. 

Akor when he signed last year for Montpellier along with ‘Super Agent’ Atta Aneke

“The coach, Michel Der Zakarian, has also taught me a lot and is still teaching me a lot. Even though he is a former defender, he explains a lot to me about my role as an attacker and what he expects of me.” 

When asked to discuss where he needs to improve, the Montpellier striker explains: “I am aware that I still have to improve in many aspects of the game and one of them is to have more influence on the game and on the match by scoring goals, but not only that.

“Every time I touch the ball, I have to create something, whether it is space, a pass, a shot or a goal. It’s something I really want to improve on this season.”

The transition is perfect for discussing the current season and the difficult start of the MHSC in this 2024-2025 season. But, here too, Akor Adams wants to remain positive. 

“A season is a marathon. We can’t stop today and take stock after four days, it’s much too early ,” he insists. “Obviously it’s important to win, we can’t say otherwise, that’s obvious, but we’ll wait until May to take stock.

“In a marathon, there are good times and others when you’re not so good.” 

And when asked if he’s worried, his answer comes in a split second: “No! I believe in my team. We have quality players, with a lot of experience at the top level and the club have already experienced situations like this. I know that they will know how to do it and that we will know how to get through it all together ,” he continues. 

“We did some things well, some things less well, that’s for sure, but I see that this group works hard every day and the results will eventually come. I believe in it.

Akor Adams, who scored against Nantes during the last home game of the Pailladins three weeks ago, believes he is “on the right track” , but he knows that he “can and must do even more and better”.

Akor -Big, strong and direct-playing striker

“I will obviously not say no, but I do not only play for myself but for a team, for a group, for a city and its supporters” , he replies. 

“Every time I have the chance to play at the Stade de La Mosson, I feel the strength and support of the public, which is deeply enjoyable. Even if I know that this match will be difficult like all the others, the identity of the opponent is not more important than that. Every time we play, our only goal is to win to make our supporters happy.

“We are aware that, until now, we have not been able to bring them the results they want, but I ask them to continue to believe in us and in the vision of the club.

“We know that they make a lot of sacrifices during the week to come and support us and I promise you that we give our all to satisfy them. I am convinced that together, with the supporters, we can have a great season. We know that they are behind us and that brings us a lot of positive energy.”

At that very moment, Birama Touré arrives in the interview room alongside Sporting Director Bruno Carotti and introduces himself to Akor who says to him, in French in the text: “Welcome my brother!” 

It is an opportunity to tease him about his learning of the language of Molière. 

“It’s important because when you don’t feel at home somewhere, it affects your performance. I came here to be a better player, but also to enrich myself as a person and learning the French language is part of this.” he says before concluding: 

“I need to understand what is said in the locker room, to joke, to laugh and I feel better and better.

“My teammates must not only be my teammates but also my friends. I fight for Joris, for Téji, for Arnaud and for each of the members of this group… and each of them fights for me too. That’s what a team is!” 

When we talk about resilience, this is the right word.

Adapted from mhscfoot.com