Who’s in charge here?: Funny slaps between Yakin and Xhaka

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At 17:33 the national team lands in Pristina. Because the last training session takes place in Wallis on Friday afternoon, the team drives directly from the airport to the hotel. Except captain Granit Xhaka (30) and coach Murat Yakin (48), who are taken under police escort to Fadil Vokrri Stadium. Once there, all eyes are on Xhaka: here a hug with a guard, there a selfie with a Kosovar journalist.

What was predicted also comes true: although Xhaka does not play for his parents’ home country but for his native Switzerland, he is received very warmly. Captain at Gladbach and Arsenal, now back in the Bundesliga as midfield boss at Leverkusen: In Kosovo, people are proud of Xhaka’s great career, people see him as one of them. Also because he always emphasizes that he has two hearts in his chest: Switzerland and Kosovo.

Captain Kosovo: ‘Of course I look up to Xhaka’

“Of course I look up to him and it’s an honor to know him and to play against him. I was happy for him every time he scored for Switzerland,” said Kosovo national team captain Amir Rrahmani.

When Xhaka enters the media room, he is joined by Papa Ragip. The first part of the question and answer session belongs to the Kosovar journalists – and of course they want to know what the meaning of the game is for Xhaka. “I have made many special games, but this one will be even more special. My family is here, I come to Kosovo every summer to visit relatives. In the seven to ten days I am here, I can move freely and find my peace . People respect me, and vice versa.” The Fadil Vokrri Stadium also evokes childhood memories for him: when he poses for Blick photographers in front of the stands, he says that there is a photo of him as a teenager in exactly the same place.

Xhaka continues: “I also have a close relationship with some players from Kosovo. When the game starts, I want to take the three points for Switzerland and eliminate the attributes. But I also want to enjoy the days here.”

When asked by a journalist if he was ready for the deal that Kosovo and Switzerland would share the points, Xhaka laughed: “No answer.” Suddenly Yakin intervened and said: “Let’s be friends before and after the game. My players are professionals, they can handle situations like this and they want the best for Switzerland. I expect that from them.”

Xhaka: International match 116 for the national team

This creates a funny exchange of blows between the captain and the national coach, who, despite all the mischief, also allows a deep look. Xhaka: «In the friendly match against Kosovo last year, the coach changed me early on. I hope that won’t be the case this time. It’s a serious fight.” When asked if captains can ask how long you want to be on the field, Xhaka boldly replies: “It’s not a wish.” Lots of laughter – but everyone feels: this sentence is completely serious. And the question is alive in the room: who is in charge here?

Back to the emotional importance of the game for Xhaka. His 116th international match in Pristina undoubtedly scores high. “As a youngster from Basel, it means a lot to me to play here in Pristina. In the homeland of my parents, which they had to leave to give me and my brother a better life.”

Is it the most emotional international match? After all, at the EM 2016 there was also the brother duel against Taulant, in the first group match between Switzerland and Albania. Is that supplemented by playing against your own roots? “An EM match against your own brother, that goes without saying. I don’t want to make a difference, both matches are emotionally on the same level for me.”

Source : Blick