Dundee United defender Bilel Mohsni has revealed the burning desire for revenge that is driving his promotion push.
Mohsni believes he was written off by critics and doubters, who felt his career was over following the infamous incident that followed Rangers’ play-off loss to Motherwell in May 2015 when the then Ibrox player retaliated against Lee Erwin of the Steelmen.
Now back in Scotland for a second spell, Mohsni finds himself a key player for the Tangerines as they aim to negotiate the Premiership play-offs.
They came back from East End Park on Tuesday night with a 0-0 draw against 10-man Dunfermline and host the Pars in the second leg of the quarter-final tomorrow.
Mohsni’s intention is to get over that hurdle and show all and sundry that they were wrong about him by helping take United back to the Premiership.
The Tunisian international said: “I don’t want my season to end after 11 matches – I want to play 16 games.
“I want to get promoted because that would be revenge on the people – managers, other players and supporters – who thought my career was over.
“I know people didn’t believe in me and thought I was finished so getting Dundee United promoted is my goal now.
“I’m not finished and neither is this play-off campaign.
“I really want this but I don’t feel any pressure. Instead, I am loving it.
“I don’t know what pressure is. It is football and I love playing football.
“If anything there was more pressure in the first leg because if you did badly in that one then you would go into the second having to chase it.
“We don’t have to do that because it’s 0-0 and it’s all about the next 90 minutes now.
“I was hoping we would go back to Tannadice with at least a 1-0 victory for the second leg but we were not able to do it and we will have to go again on Friday night.
“We have to play more football in the second leg because we put the ball in the air too much at Dunfermline and that is how they like to play.
“We didn’t play like we can and we should get the ball down and do our thing rather than let them dictate it.
“The match is still very much alive for us and we are confident of going through on Friday.”
Rather than be nervous or anxious about the play-off challenge, Mohsni really does seem to be relishing it after being out of the game for so long.
“Playing again has been fantastic because, after a year out, I was really missing it,” he said.
“So I am enjoying every minute of it and I am happy.
“As part of this squad and being in this atmosphere, I find it fantastic.
“I have gone from nothing – never playing and without a contract – to playing in important games in front of good crowds.”
Mohsni was asked if even he has been surprised by his ability to hit the ground running at Tannadice.
He replied: “No, I haven’t surprised myself by how much I have been able to play because I trained very hard when I was out of the game.
“My fitness coach in Paris was very, very good and he got me in great shape.
“I was training twice a day with him, going through the traffic jams in Paris in the morning and afternoon.
“That part of it was a nightmare but I enjoyed it so much it was worth it because I am playing again and I feel good.”
