Granit Xhaka is Nati Player of the Year
“Arteta let me fly to Bern especially”
Captain Granit Xhaka (30) is national player of the year. After his award at the Swiss Football Night in Bern, he talks about the prize, his extra Friday, Yann Sommer as a Bayern player and Arsenal’s high flight.
Published: 15 minutes ago
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Updated: 13 minutes ago
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The big winner at the Swiss Football Night: Granit Xhaka with the award as national player of the year.
Matthew Dubachreporter sports
You are national player of the year. How important is price to you?
Granite Xhaka: It makes me brutally proud. It is a special award for the many work of the past few years in the club and in the national team. But Manuel and Yann (the co-nominated Akanji and Sommer, ed.) deserved it just as much.
You worked up quite a sweat on stage. Was the award that unexpected?
I’m dressed so well that it got very warm up there (laughs). Seriously, it was very hot on stage. I was not expecting that. I hope you haven’t seen it too much. But if it was visible, people have now got to know a new side of me (smiles).
Yann Sommer congratulated via video. Have you gotten used to his Bayern clothes yet?
The sight is very unusual. It was always his dream to play for a top club. He deserves this step. I wish him only the best.
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Granit Xhaka with moderator Zoe Torinesi leading through the evening.
In contrast to Akanji and Sommer, you traveled to Switzerland and went to Bern with your brother Taulant.
I landed on Monday morning and am flying back to London on Tuesday morning. I’ll be training again on Tuesday morning. Of course I got permission from the coach. I very much appreciate this consent. Not every coach does that, because on Friday we’re already playing again in the cup at ManCity.
So Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta trusts them to stay serious?
It definitely shows the appreciation. But I’m not going to party anyway. Nothing is going on in Switzerland on a Monday evening (laughs). I proudly accepted the invitation and from Tuesday I’ll be focusing on training and the next game again.
Arteta also orchestrates Arsenal’s high-altitude flight. They beat Man United on Sunday.
Making it 3-2 just before the end was pure emotion for the fans and for us players. In my opinion, the win was well deserved.
How much are the fans dreaming of the first title since 2004?
The euphoria is enormous. I’ve been at Arsenal for seven years and the atmosphere has never been so good. We are right at the top. But we take it game by game. Hopefully it’s enough for the cup at the end.
What is Arteta’s share?
He’s been given the time to build something and is doing a great job. He’s a very special coach. He has a plan A, B, C and maybe even Z for everything. Once you understand him, you see football differently. He talks to us a lot. We have many meetings, also in small groups.
When it comes to the results, do you like sitting in team meetings twice a day?
Exactly (laughs).
The winners of the Swiss Football Night at a glance
Soccer player of the year: Granite Xhaka (Arsenal)
Footballer of the Year: Ramona Bachmann (PSG)
Super League Player of the Year: Fabian Rieder (YB)
Women’s Super League Player of the Year: Fabienne Humm (FCZ)
Youngster of the Year: Fabian Rieder (YB)
Challenge League Player of the Year: Brighton Labeau (Lausanne)
Soccer player of the year: Granite Xhaka (Arsenal)
Footballer of the Year: Ramona Bachmann (PSG)
Super League Player of the Year: Fabian Rieder (YB)
Women’s Super League Player of the Year: Fabienne Humm (FCZ)
Youngster of the Year: Fabian Rieder (YB)
Challenge League Player of the Year: Brighton Labeau (Lausanne)
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