Club boss reveals reason behind Chelsea loanee's struggles
Tom Weber
- 17 Oct 2023 20:20 BST
- 3 min read
Union Berlin's sporting director Oliver Ruhnert has revealed why Chelsea loanee David Datro Fofana is currently struggling for form.
The Bundesliga side went into the new season with plenty of optimism. The club's first-ever qualification for the Champions League brought with it new funds and, as a result, new star players. Robin Gosens, Kevin Volland and Leonardo Bonucci joined the East Berlin side ahead of their European adventure.
Also among the illustrious names brought in was David Datro Fofana. The young Chelsea striker, signed during the ridiculous spending spree of last season, arrived on loan to get his career back on track after a tough first year in London. Here, too, the early signs were promising.
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Fofana became an instant starter and even displaced former Celtic man and set-piece specialist Josip Juranovic as Union's free-kick taker, something not many even knew he had in his locker. The early optimism, however, quickly dissipated.
Union Berlin have endured a torrid time of late and Fofana has also been affected.
Fofana's struggles
To date, Fofana has not managed to get on the scoresheet for Union. In fact, despite his apparent importance during the opening stages of the season, the Ivorian mostly flattered to deceive, cutting a largely unimpressive and unfortunate figure.
This has seen him, unsurprisingly, lose his starting spot. The German side's sporting director Oliver Ruhnert, the architect behind the club's stunning success prior to this season, recently attempted to explain Fofana's struggles.
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"The change in results isn't easily brushed off by a young player. He has also had some private issues [which caused him to miss the Champions League clash with Braga]. When it rains, it pours."
"He is missing that goal that will give him confidence." Nevertheless, Ruhnert is convinced that the Chelsea loanee is "someone who can help" the struggling Bundesliga club.
