Football can be a game of quick changes and sudden twists. One player can go from the hero to the villain within a matter of days. This was the case for Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Alassane Plea, who made an incredible sliding tackle to prevent the opposition from scoring and help his team secure a point in a match against Freiburg.
Although Plea did not score or provide an assist during the game, his teammates and fans celebrated him for his defensive efforts. Christoph Kramer, a teammate, called it a “world-class rescue operation” and highlighted how difficult it was to make such a tackle while avoiding scoring an own goal.
Just a week later, however, Plea’s fortunes changed drastically. He scored a penalty, but then caused a penalty with an unnecessary tackle in his own penalty area, which led to his team’s defeat. Coach Daniel Farke acknowledged Plea’s experience but reminded him that he did not need to struggle in such situations.
Despite the ups and downs, Plea’s defensive abilities have become more apparent. At 30 years old, he has likely never done as much defensive work as he has in recent games. However, the challenge now is to use his sliding tackles in a way that benefits his team consistently.
Finally, it is worth noting that Plea’s experience is not unique. Only two other players in the Bundesliga have missed and caused penalties in the same game in the last 35 years.
