Granit Xhaka Urges Bayer Leverkusen to Defend Bundesliga Title After Historic Season

Posted : 21 August 2024

Granit Xhaka, the influential midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen, has urged his teammates to aim for the Bundesliga title again this season following their unexpected triumph last year. Xhaka's move from Premier League runners-up Arsenal to Leverkusen raised eyebrows, especially with the club finishing fifth in the previous season and rookie coach Xabi Alonso preparing for his first full season. Despite these uncertainties, Leverkusen achieved an unbeaten Bundesliga campaign, a feat unmatched even by Bayern Munich, and added the German Cup to their trophy haul while losing only one of their 53 matches across all competitions.

At the club's pre-season training camp in Donaueschingen, where Euro 2024 winners Spain were also based, Xhaka emphasized that last season's success was just the beginning. He acknowledged that other teams will be determined to challenge Leverkusen, but he expressed his team's commitment to maintaining their high standards and hunger for success. "We know people are hoping to beat us, they will try and they will do everything," Xhaka said, but he assured that Leverkusen is prepared to meet the challenge head-on.

Reflecting on his career, Xhaka noted that the criticism he faced during his time at Arsenal, where he made 297 appearances, was a driving force behind his improvement. Despite often being criticized for his on-field emotions and a controversial outburst that led to him being stripped of the Arsenal captaincy, Xhaka views criticism as a tool for growth. "I'm a fan of criticism, because criticism makes you stronger," he told AFP, emphasizing that it has been instrumental in his resurgence at Leverkusen.

Xhaka's experience and evolution as a player are evident in his current form. He believes that his growth from a more emotional player to a more composed and experienced professional has shaped his current success. Leverkusen's pre-season friendly in north London highlighted Xhaka's transformation, as he returned as part of an 'invincible' team. Like Arsenal's unbeaten Premier League season in 2003-04, Leverkusen finished the Bundesliga last season with 90 points, having played four fewer matches, underscoring their remarkable achievement.

Granit Xhaka Urges Bayer Leverkusen to Defend Bundesliga Title After Historic Season

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