Charles Jackson
BERLIN — Granit Even he, however, had to recognize that an undefeated domestic campaign that ended with them winning the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal was beyond what he could have asked of himself.
Xhaka was the winning goal for Bayer Leverkusen at the Olympiastadion on Saturday night, with his 30-yard strike early in the first half giving the league champions a lead they maintained even after Odilon Kossounou received a second yellow card just before the interval.
Former Arsenal midfielder Xhaka has been a critical figure in a far more successful season than Leverkusen could have imagined, with the Swiss international setting Bundesliga records for touches, passes completed and attempted passes. The 31-year-old is no less valued at the club for his influence off the field, a key link between Xabi Alonso and the dressing room in a team that set a post-war European record by going 51 games unbeaten in all competitions.
“My expectations were very high,” Xhaka told CBS Sports of his expectations upon joining Leverkusen in early July 2023. “I’m that kind of person. this.
“Winning two trophies after the first year was more than I expected. We certainly have goals over the years, but [to achieve them] It was more than deserved. [Saturday] it wasn’t an easy game for us after the red card. The team showed great character, great mentality and to be here, to be here with my family, is something you dream about.”
The work will not stop for Xhaka, who is expected to captain the Swiss team at Euro 2024. Before that, he will return to England on Monday to complete his UEFA A coaching license. your skills to the bench. For now, however, he still sees a lot to achieve as a player.
“If I could change the time I would start [my badges] before,” said Xhaka, who started his coaching courses while an Arsenal player. “I definitely want to be a player for a lot longer, but this coaching license helped me a lot: about the personality, the character, how you see the game since or outside. My challenges are still there as a player and I’m going to make the most of it.”
If Xhaka needs an endorsement when he sets out to look for coaching roles, he will certainly find one from Alonso. The Bayer Leverkusen manager made Xhaka one of his top targets in his first summer transfer window at the BayArena and was rewarded with a season of such excellence that his DFB-Pokal winner may not even be among the top three goals the anchorman from midfield scored. .
“He made my job a lot easier,” Alonso said of his number 34. “He played an important role in this success; without him it wouldn’t have been possible.”
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