‘Never got an explanation’ – 24y/o admits he is ‘confused’ by failed West Brom stint in 2015
Serge Gnabry has claimed that he is still “confused” as to why his failed loan spell with West Brom went wrong.
The 24-year-old now plies his trade with German giants Bayern Munich, where he has struck 18 goals and 11 assists in 34 outings so far this season.
The winger also has 13 goals in 13 games for Germany at international level, but was limited to just three appearances for the Baggies back in 2015.
Gnabry was famously written off by Albion manager Tony Pulis at the time, who has since stated that the wide man had issues with his fitness.
But the player himself has admitted that he is at a loss last to what went wrong.
As quoted by the Express and Star, he said: “You know what’s funny? For everything that’s been written in the papers about my time at West Brom, and what the manager thought of me and everything, I think I’m still just confused
“I sat in the stands for six months, doubting myself, and I never got an explanation why.
“I wasn’t a perfect player. I was 19 years old. I was probably making mistakes in training.
“But, genuinely — and I am being 100% honest — I was giving everything I could. I can look at myself in the mirror today and say that.”
There’s no denying that Gnabry has gone on to become a lethal asset for Bayern this season.
29 goal involvements in 34 games is some record, and he looks completely unrecognisable from the player we saw in the English game as a teenager.
Not that we saw much of him at the Hawthorns in particular, of course.
Gnabry registered just 12 minutes in the Premier League, managing a brief cameo against Chelsea in a 3-2 loss.
The truth is that if even he is unsure as to what went wrong, the rest of us will probably never know for certain either.
But what’s interesting is how Gnabry’s mindset has clearly changed in the years since his doomed spell with Albion.
Later in the same interview in which he expressed his confusion, he stated: “To come home after leaving all my friends at 16, and to be at clubs that actually wanted me, it was incredible.”
Sometimes players, and young players especially, just need an arm around them and a bit of guidance.
Maybe with a little bit more support and some more communication, Gnabry could have been a much bigger contributor for the Baggies.
In other West Brom news, ‘Very soon’ – Sun journo issues update that would be big boost for Albion promotion bid.