The 31-year-old Swiss midfielder was one of Bayer Leverkusen’s star acquisitions this summer, and he has already had a significant impact; lately, a journalist dubbed him the best player in the Bundesliga this season.
FEATURED VIDEO
Granit Xhaka made it clear in an interview with NZZ am Sonntag that he did not transfer to Bayer Leverkusen in order to take on a “boss” role but rather in order to take on a fresh challenge.
Boss? What does that mean? The word is somewhat large. I came to Leverkusen not to be a boss but rather to take on a fresh challenge, said Xhaka.
“After seven years in London, I thought my time at Arsenal was up.
“I arrived here as a person and a player with experience. The other players can tell that I can impart some of what I’ve learnt to them. That’s a responsibility I have here.
The Swiss international, who has represented his nation in 117 international games, also denied rumours that he returned to Germany because of his wife.
“Occasionally, it was stated that the reason I was returning to Germany was because of my wife. That is not accurate. She was content in London, just like I was, he underscored.
“I made the choice purely out of athletic and football interests. I went to a prestigious club in Germany that had goals and a plan. Naturally, the transition was simpler for us because, like me, we had previously resided in Düsseldorf, which is near to Mönchengladbach, the hometown of my wife.
Xhaka went on to discuss the differences between the working environments at Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen. “There is no pandemonium, while other teams are more in the spotlight at Bayer Leverkusen, where you can work in peace. This is helpful, remarked Xhaka.
The strain “at Arsenal is different.”
Despite having “experienced it all at Arsenal,” including scandals and turmoil, he continued by saying that under the Bayer cross, things are less interesting. “If I told that the pressure and attention were the same in Leverkusen, I would be lying.
“However, I think that the pressure we put on ourselves and the standards we set for ourselves are much more significant. We are really confident in ourselves, as I mentioned.
When asked about his relationship with Leverkusen coach Alonso, Xhaka praised Alonso’s technical acumen and his capacity to elevate average midfielders to elite performers. He was a very bad player, to put it mildly. You never even had to press against him because of his cunning, pass security, and timing. He is trying to tell us that today,” Xhaka stated.
Xhaka disclosed that his initial discussion with Alonso about his place on the pitch focused on whether he would play in the eight or six position. “At Arsenal back then, I primarily occupied a higher position in midfield.
“We both decided that my best age is six, not eight. This six-man position fits me wonderfully with the concepts and the approach here at Leverkusen,” he stated.
When asked about his relationship with Leverkusen coach Alonso, Xhaka praised Alonso’s technical acumen and his capacity to elevate average midfielders to elite performers. He was a very bad player, to put it mildly. You never even had to press against him because of his cunning, pass security, and timing. He is trying to tell us that today,” Xhaka stated.
Xhaka disclosed that his initial discussion with Alonso about his place on the pitch focused on whether he would play in the eight or six position. “At Arsenal back then, I primarily occupied a higher position in midfield.
“We both decided that my best age is six, not eight. This six-man position fits me wonderfully with the concepts and the approach here at Leverkusen,” he stated.
