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“A question of decency”: FCB captain Fabian Frei criticized those players who disappeared into the dressing room without thanking the fans after the 2-3 win against Lucerne.
Sebastian WendellReporter football
“A completely different FC Basel” will be seen in 2023, announced President David Degen. And by the end of the season, demanded that the coach and team jump to second place. After two matchdays in the new year, equivalent to the end of the first half of the season, the reality reads like this: 22 points after 18 games. Crash to rank 6, on Sunday evening it could even be rank 7 if Sion wins against Servette. In short: FC Basel’s worst half-time record since the Super League was founded in 2003.
Aspiration and reality are miles apart. It’s amazing that after the 2-3 home defeat against FC Luzern, the spectator stands in St. Jakob-Park remain quiet. Instead of whistles, stoic calm – or shock? In the crisis, the actors are now attacking each other. Every man for himself.
Battle of words between Fabian Frei and Taulant Xhaka
Fabian Frei and Taulant Xhaka are the first. After the final whistle, there was an emotional battle of words between the two veterans. Later it comes out: That wasn’t a dispute between the captain and the vice-captain. Frei was terribly upset that some players didn’t go to the Muttenzer curve to thank the loyal fans for their support – and took his anger to Xhaka.
Later in the SRF interview, the FCB captain also publicly attacked his teammates: “We showed our true colors at the moment. I got the wrong idea that some players went to the dressing room without thanking the people who came to the stadium despite the cold. I’ve never experienced that in my career. Even though we’re currently playing together, we have to maintain respect and decency after defeats, it’s a question of upbringing. Simply in the cabin – that’s a no-go.” According to Frei, it is now time to address the shortcomings clearly. And yes, of course it’s getting louder in the cloakroom.
Granit Xhaka unleashes anger
While Frei scolds into the TV microphone, in distant London Granit Xhaka is typing furiously on his mobile phone. The Nati captain and brother of Taulant Xhaka posts a statement on Instagram that has it all. The beginning is ironic: «Keep it up FCB. It’s great how you do it.”
“You have to be ashamed of what happened to the club!!”National captain and ex-FCB professional Granit Xhaka
Then Xhaka, until 2012 an FCB professional himself, really got going: “But the team can’t help it. The only ones I feel sorry for are the fans. They work their ass off every week and that’s the reward? You have to be ashamed of what happened to the club!! Incredible!!”
Clearly a frontal attack on the club leadership, namely President David Degen. And not the first: a year ago, Xhaka targeted Degen when he scored 2: 4 at arch-rivals FC Zurich in the first game after Patrick Framework was dismissed. At the time, Xhaka criticized Degen’s strategy of forgoing domestic work and turning FCB into a water heater for international talent. Xhaka’s recent post is likely to address the same issue.
Coach Alex Frei is seething
Alex Frei has been the coach of the FCB squad criticized by the Arsenal professional since the summer. On Saturday evening he had to congratulate his opponent on their victory for the seventh time after a league game. After that, Frei tried to convey calm at the press conference. Inwardly, however, Frei was bubbling: “I am extremely frustrated. But I will always put myself in front of the team. I’m the coach, you can always blame me!” Frei can even get something good out of the dispute between his captains: “Regardless of what happened between Fabi and Tauli: I very much welcome the fact that two leading players are having an emotional conversation. I hope that finally happens!”
A year ago Patrick Framework had to go, although FCB had eleven points more at half-time than this season. Statistically speaking, it didn’t do anything – on the contrary. But will another change of coach solve FC Basel’s problems? Hardly likely!
Credit Suisse Super League
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