“We have to take very good care of ourselves”
Granit Xhaka experienced it all before last year. While football Germany admires Bayer 04 Leverkusen and its new leader Xhaka for 39 points after 15 games, the Swiss remembers last season with Arsenal FC. After 15 games there were even 40 points in the account. After 29 match days, Xhaka and the “Gunners” were still eight points ahead of Manchester City in a more played game. At the end of the season after 38 games, they were five points behind – and the dream of their first championship since 2004 was dashed.
“We played well not only in the preliminary round, but also in the second half,” said the Swiss after the 3-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday: “Except for the last eight games, in which we unfortunately lost the title have. That’s why I speak from experience. Because I know what it feels like to be up there and not win in the end.”
The longing for the first ever championship title is great in Leverkusen. Not just since the Christmas championship was announced one match day before the end of the year. “Just one wish, year after year. One day it will come true,” the fans held up the championship trophy during a choreo before the game. “Sure, you can dream,” said Xhaka: “We are currently going through a phase that is brutally beautiful for every Leverkusen fan, for us players, and for everyone at the club. But in football everything can change from one day to the next.” That’s why his team has to “keep working with both feet on the ground,” emphasized the 31-year-old: “And at the end you also need a bit of luck. We didn’t have that at Arsenal.”
First of all, Xhaka is looking forward to the winter break after Wednesday’s game against Bochum – which Bayer suffered their last defeat in May without Xhaka. “I’m probably the happiest in the whole club,” said the midfield organizer after his years in England, where games are played over Christmas: “After seven years, finally having a winter break again is very good for me and my family. In the last few years I’ve mostly played on December 26th and 28th and also on January 1st.” That’s why he’ll “enjoy the vacation. But I will also try to get back as fit as possible so that I can continue playing at this level.”
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He also advises his colleagues to do the same. Arsenal’s crash shortly before the big goal was not least due to the fact that important players were injured. “That’s why I say: We have to take very good care of ourselves. How we eat and how we recover during the winter break,” said Xhaka. Sports director Simon Rolfes really liked this announcement. “You need that kind of momentum in the team,” explained the 39-year-old: “It sometimes has a different quality than when it comes from outside. The winter break starts on Wednesday night, but it is short. And you’re a professional all year round.”
Everyone in Leverkusen seems to have understood that at the moment. “Stopping us is very, very difficult at the moment,” said Xhaka: “And of course it should stay that way.” Unlike last year at Arsenal.
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