“He’s Gonna Get It Hard”

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Because of the wall in between, you can only guess what’s going on behind it. But no matter how loud the cheering sounds from the Basel dressing room, it really has to come there. After the sensational participation in the semi-finals of the Conference League, the players let it go. And toast for the mandatory walk to the interview zone. When asked what was allowed the night after the Nice coup, Heiko Vogel (47) replies with a grin: “Whoever wants, not only drinks water, but also drinks it. Friday practice has been canceled, the boys deserve it.”

The interim coach says about his role at parties: “I’m more of a quiet connoisseur.” And when asked if he was congratulating himself for substituting a goal and two assists for Augustin, Calafiori and Males, the German hesitated: “Praise goes to the team. What I instructed them to do, they performed sensationally. It’s hard for me to put into words what I feel for my players right now.”

Xhaka dedicates the semifinals to the excluded fans

semi finals! “Sounds good right?” laughs FCB veteran Taulant Xhaka (32) when he comes to the interview in the red-blue jersey. Then the shirt number 12, as a symbol for the twelfth man, the fans who were not allowed in the host sector due to the entry ban and watched the game from behind the border in Sanremo, Italy. Xhaka: “This victory is for them. It was a great disappointment that they could not be there. I hope they are proud of us.”

Speaking of Italy: Arthur Cabral (24) has been playing there for over a year. At AC Fiorentina. And he is now the next FCB opponent in the semifinals.

Cabral? Yes, exactly the one who left Basel at the beginning of 2022 after 65 goals in 106 games towards the series. For 16 million francs – the price for one of the best strikers in club history. “King Arthur”, as they call him in Basel to this day, still stands behind his old club, comments on social media victories with emojis and can occasionally be seen in Basel when he visits his son there.

“Of course we want to go to the final”

On May 18, Cabral will return on an official mission to the second leg of the semi-finals – tasked with hurting FCB with goals for Fiorentina. “We’re looking forward to him,” says Xhaka, then sends an announcement to the “king” with a grin: “But it’s going to be hard for him.”

One thing is clear: who knocks Nice out of the Conference League does not have to hide from the Serie A ninth. “If we play like we do today, anything is possible,” says Xhaka. His coach clarifies: “We’re not playing against Florence just to be there. Of course we want to go to the final now!”

Source : Blick