German media reports have highlighted the decline in performance of Moroccan international Bilal El Khannous, the midfielder for Stuttgart, following his return to the team after participating with the Moroccan national team in the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

The German newspaper Bild reported that Khannous no longer performs at the same level he showed during the first half of the season in the Bundesliga, noting a decline in his mental and physical readiness, particularly in defensive aspects and playmaking.

The newspaper explained that Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß's decision to substitute the player at halftime during the match against St. Pauli was due to his dissatisfaction with the player's performance on the field. The coach expressed this openly by saying, "I was not satisfied with his performance, and we felt the need to make a change that would give the team a new boost."

The newspaper considered this early exit to carry a clear message to the player about the necessity of regaining his focus and quickly returning to his usual level, amidst strong competition within the team, while simultaneously affirming the coaching staff's continued confidence in his abilities and his capacity to overcome this phase.

Bilal El Khannous, aged 21, participated in 15 matches with Stuttgart in the Bundesliga during the current season, scoring 3 goals and providing 3 assists.

Khannous' loan contract with Stuttgart extends until the summer of 2026, with an option to purchase under specific conditions, while the player is under contract with the English club Leicester City until June 2028.