Aston Villa fans know from experience that, on big occasions, Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan tends to make his mark.
The Egypt international scored only nine goals in Villa colours. One of those was a last-gasp decider to send Dean Smith’s side to the EFL Cup final.
There was a brace against Crystal Palace. A winner against Arsenal too, as Villa dodged the drop by the skin of their proverbial skin in 2019/20. So with Trabzonspor needing a result in order to keep their hopes of Europa League knockout-stage football alive, anyone au fait with Trezeguet’s hero complex probably knew what was coming.
After supplying the cross for veteran Marek Hamsik’s opener, guess who lashed home the odd-goal in three during a hard-fought 2-1 win over Red Star Belgrade on Thursday night; nearly liberating the net from it’s hinges with a thumping right-footed drive into the top corner?
Trezeguet shining in Europa League after Aston Villa exit
“First of all, thank God we won,” sighs Trezeguet, doubling his Trabzonspor tally in just one afternoon following that £3 million move to the Turksih Super Lig champions in June.
“We needed to win and we did it. What I felt was not actually pressure. I just wanted to help the team. (The occasion) doesn’t affect me. I knew the goals were coming.
“Trezeguet is a proven player,” adds head coach Abdullah Avci; delighted to put that 3-2 matchday one defeat to Ferencvaros behind him (Fanatik).
“I knew he would do it one day. Let the fans continue to support him. He’s a special player.”
Stumbling along in eighth after the first six games of the new Super Lig season, Trabzonspor’s focus will now turn to domestic commitments this weekend. And, if they and Gazientep are locked at 0-0 with 89 minutes on the clock this Sunday, who would bet against Trezeguet popping up inside the penalty area and steering home the winner?
He’s hardly the most prolific of goalscorers. But when Trezeguet does find the net, it’s usually worth the wait.
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