“Celebrated by everyone in the locker room.”

orussia Mönchengladbach trainer Gerardo Seoane and defender Maximilian Wöber made sure to lend attacker Alassane Plea extra praise after the Frenchman helped the team earn its first win of the season yesterday. 

After going nearly a year without scoring a goal, French attacker Alassane Plea woke up to net two in Borussia Mönchengladbach’s 3-1 win over VfL Bochum yesterday. The 30-year-old also pocketed an assist during an impressive first half that saw Gladbach rush out to a 3-0 lead over hosting VfL Bochum; another team that sought its first win entering the 2023/24 Bundesliga’s sixth matchday.

The importance of Gladbach’s first win of the season could not be understated. Five points from six fixtures enabled the foals to distance themselves from the relegation pack. Gerardo Seoane’s team can take something from the fact that they remain undefeated away from home thus far this season, having also taken a point from their trips to Augsburg and Darmstadt.

Seoane called the result “good for the emotional state”. Plea’s fellow goal-scorer Florian Neuhaus labelled it a “pleasing Saturday afternoon”. Plea himself wasn’t tapped for a post-match interview with the Sky microphones, but BMG starter Maximilian Wöber made clear that everyone in the locker room was behind the man whom Seoane dropped from his XI last week against Leipzig.

“Maybe the brief break was good for him,” Wöber told his post-match interviewer, “He brought his individual class and attacking qualities to the pitch today. He’s being celebrated by everyone in the locker room now and has definitely earned that. This is a relief. We’re headed back to Gladbach with a good feeling.”

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