Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana has released a statement apologising to his loan club Union Berlin after an incident in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Fofana was playing for the Bundesliga outfit in their 1-0 defeat to Napoli and he was forced to issue a grovelling apology for his actions after snubbing coach Urs Fischer when he was substituted.
The 20-year-old joined the German club on a season-long loan in July in order to get regular first-team experience. But the Ivorian youngster has struggled to hit his best form with Union as the club’s struggles on the pitch worsen.
Fofana was handed a start in their Champions League group stage match against Napoli at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterer and played for 70 minutes without scoring. His coach Urs Fischer decided to turn to his bench in search of an equaliser and called for Fofana to come off.
But the striker, clearly unhappy with his substitution, gave his manager the cold shoulder as he walked straight towards the bench without acknowledging the German boss, leaving Fischer incensed as he confronted Fofana over his actions.
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On Wednesday morning, Fofana issued a statement which included a grovelling apology to his coach and team-mates at his temporary club: “Following my behavior during my exit from the field, I wanted to apologize to the club, the coach, my teammates and the supporters,” he wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
“This gesture was not intended and in no way does it represent my attitude, all this was generated as a result of frustration because I wanted to continue helping the team to obtain a positive result.
We will continue to work and come back even stronger in the championship and in this great competition. DAVID DATRO FOFANA EISERN UNION.”
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Fofana was later seen being given a stern talking to by Union’s coaching staff and the striker bowed his head into jersey as his frustration showed on the touchline.
It has been far from a happy time at Union, with last season’s Bundesliga surprise package on a horrible run of nine straight defeats in all competitions. They currently sit 15th in the league standings and are bottom of Group C after losing to Napoli.
Likewise, Fofana’s struggles on the pitch have not helped their cause, as the Ivory Coast international is yet to score or assist in his 10 appearances for Union since arriving on loan.
The former Molde starlet joined Chelsea in a £10million deal in January last year after bagging 22 goals in 39 appearances for the Norwegian side. He has been tipped for a bright future in the game and made four appearances under Graham Potter last season before his sacking.
But he has had a tough time in Germany since his loan switch, with Union’s sporting director Oliver Ruhnert revealing that he has been hampered by “private problems” away from the pitch.
“Changing the results is not that easy for a young player,” Ruhnert told German outlet Tag24 earlier in October. “He also had private problems at times. A little something came together. He also lacks a bit of goal to give him self-confidence.”
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