Bayer 04 Leverkusen's victory over FC Köln saw an impactful performance from Jeremie Frimpong, the 23-year-old right-back who not only scored a crucial goal but also displayed his defensive skills.
However, his early substitution at halftime raised eyebrows among fans and football pundits alike. Addressing the decision, Bayer Leverkusen's head coach, Xabi Alonso, shed light on the tactical reasoning behind the move.
“There was a danger in this emotional match that Jeremie would make a mistake. We didn't want to finish with ten players. Those were the reasons,” said Alonso after the game.
Jeremie Frimpong's fifth yellow card of the season, accumulated during the match, meant he would be suspended for Leverkusen's next Bundesliga encounter against Wolfsburg. With this in mind, Alonso opted to replace him with Nathan Tella to avoid the risk of a red card in the heated derby clash.
Jeremie Frimpong has made 23 appearances, scored eight goals, and assisted six goals in the German Bundesliga this season.