Kwasniok explains why he took El Mala off at half-time against Gladbach

Rising 1. FC Köln star Said El Mala only played 45 minutes against Borussia Mönchengladbach. After the game, Köln coach Lukas Kwasniok explained why.

After earning his first call-up to Germany’s senior national team, Said El Mala started for 1. FC Köln in Saturday’s Rhine derby against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

However, the 19-year-old struggled to make an impact in the first half and was substituted at halftime.

“He wasn’t good,” Köln coach Lukas Kwasniok explained, according to Kicker. 

“That’s why I took him off. It’s as simple as that.”

Kwasniok added that the youngster “didn’t act in certain defensive situations the way I expect.”

Sporting director Thomas Kessler downplayed the half-time substitution, calling it “completely normal.”

“He’s a young guy. We say this every week, even if people don’t like hearing it,” Kessler said, emphasizing that El Mala is still “developing.”

“He has already helped us in many situations – it just didn’t bear fruit today.”