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…