Not only did Mido fail to regain his match fitness and goalscoring touch, but also to maintain composure amid heavy criticism of his form. The 27-year-old is bound to end the season at a low ebb after spending two dull spells at Cairo giants Zamalek and Premiership minnows West Ham United. It was no surprise that a host of critics in Egypt and England came down hard on him. However, what was rather unexpected is that he couldn't stand the media pressure. Mido, whose season has already finished, released some fiery statements that could well turn up the heat on him. The former Ajax hitman first launched a scathing attack on Daily Mail for no good reason. The English tabloid labeled Mido's stint at Upton Park as 'poor', which is certainly a suitable word to describe his short adventure with West Ham. It also conjectured that he would either return to Championship side Middlesbrough or join Egyptian champions Ahli in the summer. It was just a report full of speculations over the future of the Hammers' players, and yet; Mido's reaction to it was a bit extreme. "This paper has absolutely no credibility in England," he said, as though it falsely reported that he was already holding talks with Ahli. "I have always been maligned by Daily Mail even when I used to play at Tottenham Hotspur, although I was doing great back then.
A well-rounded and experienced footballer like Mido should be a lot more rational and mature. "This is because they (the newspaper) don't like Arabs, especially Egyptians." The troubled frontman then took his frustration out on the pundits, his own fans and West Ham owners! "Actually, I couldn't care less about what pundits, supporters or even West Ham owners think. I never pay attention to what they say," Mido stated the next day. "The only person whom I care about his opinion is my Italian coach Gianfranco Zola, because he's the only one who reasonably assesses my performances." A well-rounded and experienced footballer like Mido should be a lot more rational and mature. It's quite obvious that the towering frontman is not the same player he used to be five years ago, and it's fair to say the criticism he has been subjected to is totally justifiable. No doubt that Mido has been trying hard to redeem himself, having earned praise from Zola and Zamalek coach Hossam Hassan in the process despite his goal drought. But hitting back blindly at everybody and having a strained relationship with the press would surely diminish his chance to resurrect his career. Mido has to bear in mind that the majority of those who are dissatisfied with his current form, football experts and fans alike, have watched and enjoyed his stunning displays when he was at his best. They cheered for him back then and now he needs their support more than ever.
