Exclusive: Phillips claims player is now ‘major force’ in Europe after West Brom exit in 2016
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips has defended former West Brom boss Tony Pulis for his infamous comments about Serge Gnabry during the attacker’s failed loan spell at The Hawthorns.
Gnabry, 24, was signed by the Baggies on a season-long loan in 2015 but was recalled by Arsenal in January 2016 after earning just three first-team appearances.
As quoted by the Express & Star during Gnabry’s loan spell in the Black Country, Pulis said that the German winger was not at the level to play in the Premier League as he’d been held back by playing too much reserve football at Arsenal.
At the time, Pulis seemed to be right as Gnabry had next to no impact in his few appearances for both the West Brom first-team and their Under-23s.
However since leaving Arsenal to join Bayern Munich, Gnabry has become one of the top attackers in the Bundesliga.
He scored twice as Bayern Munich won 2-0 at Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday night, taking his tally of goals for the season up to 17.
Pulis’ comments about Gnabry are often brought up whenever the Germany international does well but ex-Baggies striker Phillips has claimed the Welshman was spot on at the time to say what he did.
“He probably wasn’t [good enough] at that time,” Phillips told West Brom News, in defence of Pulis’ comments about Gnabry.
“I suppose the way Tony wanted to play and what he was demanding from his players going forwards and backwards didn’t suit Gnabry, so at that time, he’s probably right and he had every right to say that because he worked with him day in, day out.
“He probably would’ve read those comments but to go and do what he’s done and become a major force of a player in Europe is a credit to the player.
“I love seeing success stories like this.
“Not everyone suits every club. Look at [Callum] Robinson at West Brom now. It just hasn’t happened at Sheffield United but you go somewhere else and you turn it on.
“But to go and do it in major football, in the Champions League, that’s credit to the player.”
Gnabry has taken the Bundesliga by storm since he left Arsenal in 2017.
He’s scored 30 goals in 72 total appearances for Bayern Munich and has a mouthwatering 13 goals in 13 caps for Germany.
Who really predicted Gnabry to have the rise he did?
Pulis cannot be blamed for his comments about the winger because, at the time, he was right – he wasn’t at the level needed for West Brom.
However the baffling thing was that Pulis decided to sign a player who clearly didn’t fit in with his tactics.
That’s the only thing the Welshman should be criticised for over Gnabry.
In other West Brom news, Slaven Bilic was wowed by this player’s display against Preston.