Borussia Monchengladbach coach Marco Rose is backing reported West Ham United target Alassane Plea to bounce back after a poor run of form in front of goal, as reported by L’Equipe.
The struggles of this £30 million-rated Frenchman appear to reflect those of his club.
Gladbach lost for a seventh game in a row on Tuesday night, steamrollered by the Manchester City machine, and are now facing up to the very real prospect of no European football in 2021/22.
BILD reports that the likes of Denis Zakaria, Florian Neuhaus and Plea will leap into the lifeboats if the German giants miss out on continental competition.
But while Zakaria and Neuhaus continue to stand out in a side performing well below expectations, Plea looks a shadow of his former self at the moment.
Mario Balotelli’s former Nice strike-partner has not scored in nine games now. And, tellingly, he was left out of Gladbach’s XI against Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering City side in the Champions League round-of-16 second leg.
“Alassane Pléa is a player with exceptional qualities,” said Rose. “We know that and we always want him to be able to show them.
“During the last two matches, he had some difficulties with finishing. If he had been more skilful, he would have taken his opportunities. This is what we hope for because he has the quality to do it.
“Right now he’s going through a rough patch, as are a lot of other players. But I’m sure he will come back.”
Form, as they say, is temporary.
Not so long ago, Plea was scoring a Champions League hat-trick against Shakhtar Donestk. And he has still produced a respectable nine goals and five assists in 2020/21.
Although if Plea is keen on testing himself in England, with West Ham long-term admirers, that barren run cannot continue (Mirror).
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