What We're Reading
Fabian Johnson's 'Spat' with 'Gladbach Coach Favre
- ESPN FC, Friday, January 16, 2015 6:19 PM
According to Bild, USA defender Fabian Johnson is in a “spat” with Borussia Monchengladbach coach Lucien Favre regarding his favorite position. In comments published by the German paper last weekend, Johnson admits that he has endured a disappointing first half of the season with the Foals, starting just seven games out of a possible 29, adding: "My favorite position is at right back. I played there before my transfer [from Hoffenheim]."
As ESPN notes, Johnson has said this before, but apparently this is news to 'Gladbach coach Favre, who prefers to use the German-American as a left midfielder. "He has always told me that his favorite position is on the left,” Favre tells Bild. “That's a problem; he tells me this and [tells] others that his favorite position is at right back. I wasn't aware of that."
Favre recently played Johnson at both positions in a 3-2 friendly loss to Werder Bremen during 'Gladbach’s winter training camp, and according to the German paper, playing at right back didn’t go so well for the USA defender, as the Foals conceded two goals in the final 25 minutes on Johnson’s watch. "He played well in left midfield against Bremen," Favre said after the game. Asked about his right-back performance, the Swiss coach added: "You all saw it."
