LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Sam Morsy of Ipswich Town during the Premier League match between … [+]
Ahead of Ipswich Town’s biggest game of the season at home to Manchester United, their captain Sam Morsy said he doesn’t believe he will play for Egypt under Hossam Hassan.
Morsy has not played for the Pharaohs since 2023 after he reportedly made himself unavailable for selection to the Africa Cup of Nations when he was left out after initially being named among a 55-player preliminary squad by former coach Rui Vitória. It was a claim rejected by Egyptian board member Hazem Emam who stated that Morsy was simply not selected by Vitoria.
Now under new coach Hossam Hassan, Morsy has so far not added to his nine international appearances. It is believed that Hassan is reluctant to select Morsy as the English-born midfielder does not speak Arabic.
Speaking to the media Morsy now believes that Hassan will not now consider him, without closing the door completely on playing for Egypt again. “Yeah, I think, probably not under the current manager. He hasn’t contacted me and probably made it clear that he doesn’t see me in his plans but you never know in football.”
Morsy had represented Egypt at the 2018 World Cup finals, the country’s first experience of playing at the tournament since 1990 when Hossam Hassan was the star striker in the team. Morsy made one appearance at the finals playing for 40 minutes against Uruguay in Ekaterinburg.
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA – JUNE 15: Luis Suarez of Uruguay is challenged by Sam Morsy of Egypt during … [+]
Morsy goes into the game against Manchester United once again walking a disciplinary tightrope having picked up four yellow cards in the first six games of the season, one more booking will lead to an automatic one-game suspension.
However, the last of those yellow cards came two months ago and Morsy believes it is not something on his mind during matches. “No, not really, not now. It would be criminal to get a booking for kicking the ball away or something like that but ultimately now you’ve got to put it in the back of your mind and just play.”
For the majority of the season, Morsy has formed a solid double pivot in the Ipswich Town midfield with Kavlin Phillips. However, Philipps’ own suspension for a red card allowed Morsy to play alongside another new signing Jens Cajuste during the club’s first win of the season away to Tottenham Hotspur a fortnight ago.
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 5: West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus takes on Ipswich Town’s Kalvin … [+]
With Phillips a doubt for Sunday’s game through injury, Morsy said the two players had very different qualities. “They’re completely different players. Kal is more of a natural six and Jens is more like an attacking eight so both have really good qualities but both completely different playing styles which is what you want really.”
“You want to build a team where players can come in but also express their personalities and their abilities as well. You don’t want everyone to play exactly the same way, because people have different qualities.”
Growing up in Wolverhampton, it may seem surprising that the Morsy family supported Manchester City. “My two older brothers, they both supported Man City growing up. But then Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were my heroes so we used to watch Man United as well. It was quite conflicted in my household. It’s an historic football club and some of my favorite players have come from there.”
Asked to identify what he like about Keane and Scholes, Morsy praised their winning mentality as much as their technical qualities. “All very passionate players, leading from the middle of the park. A player like Roy Keane can do everything really, there wasn’t much he couldn’t do.”
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 29: Bastian Schweinsteiger of Manchester United in action with Sam … [+]
Morsy had the opportunity to follow in Keane’s footsteps when he played at Old Trafford in an FA Cup tie in 2017 while at Wigan Athletic. “The result wasn’t good on the day,” admitted Morsy, “but that was the first time, I’d played against a caliber of team like that in a cup competition so it was great to go to Old Trafford and see them. It was a great experience.”
Now seven years later at the age of 33, Morsy has finally realised his ambition of playing in the Premier League but experience has taught him not to let it get to his head. “You can have games where you’re so emotionally invested and really want it, all through the week, and come Saturday you’re flat. It’s just too emotional energy used.”
“In the end, it’s just another game. It’s eleven men against eleven men, the same pitch we played on for three years. The outside bit is a bit more, but actually if you come off social media you don’t even get that. So, in the end it’s the same.”
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