John Mousinho admits fault for Abdoulaye Kamara developments at Portsmouth
John Mousinho has been hailed for an extraordinary season in charge with Portsmouth.
The 39-year-old guided Pompey to Championship safety at the first attempt despite lingering in the relegation zone in the opening months of the season.
While Portsmouth’s boss has got so much right, he has admitted liability for one forgettable term.
Mousinho admits blame for summer arrival’s form
Pompey carried out some exceptional business last summer with a limited budget, which has kept them afloat in the second tier.
Josh Murphy, Freddie Potts, and Matt Ritchie are prime examples of solid business done by the South Coast outfit.
However, Portsmouth’s most expensive signing, Abdoulaye Kamara, has failed to impress, making just five Championship appearances.
| Abdoulaye Kamara’s 2024/25 Championship statistics | Total |
| Appearances | 5 |
| Touches | 21.2 |
| Accurate passes | 15.8 (94%) |
| Tackles per game | 0.6 |
| Total duels won | 1.2 (46%) |
| Errors leading to shot | 1 |
The midfielder arrived in high esteem from Borussia Dortmund, and Mousinho has admitted guilt for his lack of impact this season.
“He has to come back in pre-season in really good shape, have a full pre-season with us, take on board all the information we are giving him,” he told The News.
“Hopefully, the playing style will suit him a bit more next year as well. I have always taken on board that we brought him in as a certain type of player, which very, very quickly didn’t become obsolete by any means, but almost didn’t suit the way we were playing – and that was on me.”
Portsmouth must retain Mousinho for next season
Given the stellar job that Mousinho has done on the South Coast, it is no wonder he is a wanted man.
West Brom have been linked with the Pompey boss, as they look for a replacement for Tony Mowbray, who was sacked in April.
However, the 39-year-old has since distanced himself from the Baggies job, reiterating his long-term desires at Fratton Park.
While such news will please Portsmouth supporters, it would be unsurprising if moves were made for him this summer.
There are bound to be more departures from the Championship during the summer, with Michael Carrick’s position at Middlesbrough under consideration.
If he were to depart, then Mousinho would surely fit the profile for Boro, given his age and achievements.
However, Portsmouth’s boss exudes calm, poise, and honesty, and therefore, his desire to stay should be believed, with more to be done with this squad of players.
Kamara is one of those, and Mousinho will be desperate to get the best out of him next season.
Whatever happens, Pompey should be proud of their achievements, but will need Mousinho at the helm to progress next season.