Granit Xhaka is one of the most important minds in Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s game. This season he has changed his approach again, which has given the Werkself a new boost.
It has almost become a bit of a tradition for Granit Xhaka to meet after Bayer 04 games Leverkusen to the public’s questions. The 32-year-old Swiss has matured into a leading figure who can, should and must speak up about his team’s performances even in difficult times like at the start of the season.
The former hotshot has become a veteran in all areas of professional football and is not afraid to express uncomfortable truths – packaged in well-chosen words.
Approach changed
When the Werkself lost the certainty of winning, Xhaka also intervened verbally. With clear sentences to his colleagues like: “I don’t have the last bit to defend the goal” or “This is a huge wake-up call for all of us. We can’t continue with this performance,” he tried to unmistakably encourage his teammates.
The sovereignty that he has gained over the years now radiates on the one hand on Xhaka’s claim to leadership and on the other hand on his own game. The defensive midfielder has changed and adapted his approach again this season, also because he clearly saw an urgent need for action due to his team’s temporary weakness.
New quality at Xhaka
It is no coincidence that Xhaka has become more and more of a threat to opposing defenses this season Bundesliga has developed. By matchday 13, Xhaka had already recorded five assists, making him the Werkself’s best provider. For comparison: In the extraordinary championship season he did not prepare a single goal.
With the current yield, the actual defensive specialist is in fifth place in the Bundesliga together with Bayern attacker Harry Kane – and only just behind the offensive experts who currently lead this ranking, such as Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush and Freiburg’s Vincenzo Grifo (7 assists each).
And Xhaka has already prepared as many goals directly as in his five previous Bundesliga seasons combined (5 assists in 108 games for Borussia Mönchengladbach).
He has already scored two goals himself, with a total of three in the previous Bundesliga season. Apparently Xhaka has developed another strength in the last few months; he has now rediscovered his offensive spirit, which has apparently been suppressed for a long time.
New impulses for the Werkself
Xhaka tries to get more involved in the attacks. Probably also because coach
Xhaka has found his way to give Leverkusen’s game new impetus – and to eliminate the entire team’s lack of concentration and possibly slight motivation at the start of the season.
After the hard-fought 1-0 win in the Champions League against Inter Milan, the Leverkusen professional analyzed: “We had a lot of control again and very small gaps to counter-press. If we play like that, it will be difficult for many.”
The Leverkusen midfield boss played a key role in the Werkself achieving this status again.
