Manu Koné played 90 minutes in the test against St. Truiden (4:1) and scored a wonderful goal. Is the Frenchman ready for the starting eleven again in the derby?
After a long injury before the last step back: Manu Koné. Getty Images
At the end of the game against the Belgian first division team, Manu Koné pulled out the hammer and slammed the ball under the crossbar of the visitors’ goal with a right-footed shot from 25 meters. It was the spectacular end to the final score of 4-1 – and for Koné the end of a successful test. The Frenchman lasted the full 90 minutes.
“I’m glad that he was able to play for 90 minutes, even if a little less playing time was actually planned for him. Manu needed a little bit of positional play on the double six. He prefers to play a little more offensively,” said coach Gerardo Seoane about Koné’s performance continued: “Manu improved over the course of the game, had a better feeling and had a lot more contact with the ball. He also made a few good tackles and scored a wonderful goal. That will give him self-confidence for the next few weeks.”
Patience required after knee injury in June
It’s a long road that Koné has to cover until he’s back to 100 percent. In June, the knee injury (sprained knee and trauma to the kneecap) at the U21 European Championships. The first training session with the team wasn’t until the beginning of September. On September 23rd, the comeback in the home game against RB Leipzig (0-1) with a surprisingly long, 80-minute starting eleven.
Afterwards, not a minute of play in the away win in Bochum (3-1) because the knee reacted after Leipzig and the midfielder had to slow down again in training. Then, before the international break, a partial appearance against Mainz (2:2). Patience is required.
“Manu is in the final step of construction”
“Manu is now in the final step of rebuilding himself after the injury. We’re introducing him to part-time appearances and training intensity. We still have to adjust the load a little bit because it wasn’t a normal injury,” said Seoane after the friendly.
It therefore remains to be seen whether Koné will be ready for the starting eleven again in the derby at 1. FC Köln next Sunday (3:30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker). In the long term, however, there will be no way around the 22-year-old in midfield.
2023-10-15 14:01:21
#Gladbachs #Koné #long
