It took leaving Arsenal for Granit Xhaka to finally find himself as a footballer, and he thinks that newfound maturity will help Switzerland at the Euros.
Xhaka called time on an up-and-down Arsenal career last summer after seven sometimes turbulent years at the Emirates which included him being booed by Gunners fans and losing the captaincy.
The Swiss had gone stale in north London and was often seen as a lightning rod for the club’s problems, many of which have now gone away under Mikel Arteta.
But the change of scenery has proved to be more beneficial for Xhaka, with the combative midfielder starring in Xabi Alonso’s domestically unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen side, who ended Xhaka’s first season as league and cup winners as well as Europa League finalists.
Xhaka was even voted as the second-best player in the Bundesliga last season by his fellow professionals, and he admits he’s a different man now to his Arsenal days.
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“Yes, success brings self-esteem,” Switzerland’s captain said ahead of his side’s group opener against Hungary in Cologne.
“It’s been an important challenge for me to have this season, and it’s a pleasure to be at Bayer Leverkusen every day.”
Xhaka wll captain Switzerland after a stellar season with Leverkusen (DeFodi Images via Getty Images)Xhaka is hoping that the experiences picked up during Leverkusen’s remarkable campaign will rub off on his Swiss team-mates, and he’s told them that he’s planning on a long stay at the tournament.
“It wasn’t the perfect season with Leverkusen because we lost the Europa League final,” he continued. “However it was a new chapter, a new challenge, and we have new challenges with the national team now.
“Those who know me know I don’t like to talk about ifs, buts and maybes. I’ve packed my luggage to stay here for a long time. It’s like that with my club, and it’s like that with my national team as well.”
Hungary boss Marco Rossi is hugely popular (UEFA via Getty Images)In order to get off to a flying start in Group A Xhaka and his team-mates must get the better of Hungary and their hugely popular and confident boss Marco Rossi.
The Italian was awarded Hungarian citizenship last October for masterminding the nation’s route to Germany, and he’s even had a film made about him in Hungary after achieving remarkable results including a 4-0 win over England at Molineux two years ago.
"I don't know what will happen,” he said. “But we didn't get to the Euro Cup by chance, but because we earned it. We want to be protagonists, and give joy to the fans."
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