Bilal El Khannouss earns praise for defensive improvement at VfB Stuttgart

Bilal El Khannouss is earning recognition at VfB Stuttgart for his growing defensive contribution, with the Moroccan international developing into a more complete midfielder under head coach Sebastian Hoeneß.

The 22-year-old has regularly demonstrated his technical quality and attacking influence, but his improvement without possession has become increasingly noticeable this season.

His defensive qualities were particularly evident during Stuttgart’s impressive 4-2 Bundesliga victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, where he won 17 duels, the highest tally among Stuttgart players.

The performance attracted praise from sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth, who highlighted the midfielder’s work rate and willingness to contribute defensively.

“Bilal is always among the players who cover the most distance and are at the forefront in duels. He also helps defensively and can sometimes be found further back,” Wohlgemuth told Bild.

This represents a significant improvement from the beginning of last season, when Stuttgart’s management had identified his defensive positioning and tracking back as areas requiring development.

El Khannouss has since become more disciplined without the ball, combining his creativity and technical ability with greater responsibility in defensive situations.

His performances against Leverkusen also demonstrated his attacking importance. He scored Stuttgart’s third goal in the 51st minute with an excellent finish from the edge of the penalty area before providing the assist for Ermedin Demirović’s second goal.

El Khannouss attracting interest from European clubs

His development has also increased his attractiveness in the transfer market.

Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad and Turkish giants Galatasaray were among the clubs interested in signing him during the previous summer transfer window.

However, the Moroccan midfielder opted to remain in Stuttgart, believing the Bundesliga club offered the right environment to continue his development.

Galatasaray’s director of development, Fatih Demireli, previously confirmed that the Turkish club had held discussions with El Khannouss, Stuttgart and his representatives before eventually pursuing another target.

Defensive statistics highlight his progress

El Khannouss’ improvement is also reflected in his defensive statistics, with his numbers across several categories showing considerable progress compared with last season.

According to the figures provided, his defensive duels have increased from 3.25 to 7.38 per 90 minutes.

Successful tackles have also risen from 1.07 to 1.69, while counter-pressing actions improved from 0.81 to 1.05 per 90 minutes.

He has also increased his number of second balls won from 2.80 to 4.64 per 90 minutes.

However, there have been slight declines in certain areas. His high ball recoveries have dropped from 0.30 to 0.21 per 90 minutes, while opposition turnovers forced during build-up have decreased from 0.56 to 0.42.

Despite those reductions, his overall defensive contribution represents an encouraging development for Stuttgart.

For fantasy football managers, the increased involvement in defensive actions could also translate into additional points, even on occasions when the midfielder does not contribute directly to goals or assists.

El Khannouss’ growing influence in both phases of the game makes him an increasingly valuable figure for Stuttgart as he continues to establish himself in the Bundesliga.