Xabi Alonso Reacts to Granit Xhaka’s Goal Celebration
Granit Xhaka, the former Arsenal midfielder, made headlines with his goal celebration during Bayer Leverkusen’s recent victory over Mainz. Xabi Alonso, a coach at Leverkusen, revealed his initial concern when Xhaka appeared to feign injury after scoring his first goal for the club.
Leverkusen’s impressive win over Mainz helped them extend their lead at the top of the table to a staggering 11 points. However, despite their dominance in the league, Xhaka’s celebration momentarily worried the coaching staff.
Xhaka’s decision to leave Arsenal in the summer raised eyebrows, especially considering his crucial role in helping the Gunners secure a spot in the Champions League. But his move to Leverkusen has proven to be beneficial for both the player and the club. The Swiss international has been instrumental in Leverkusen’s surprising rise to the top of German football.
Although Xhaka has been a regular starter this season, it took until the 23rd match for him to score his first goal. However, when the opportunity presented itself, he made no mistake. Xhaka unleashed a stunning shot that left the Mainz goalkeeper stunned.
As he ran off to celebrate his goal, Xhaka clutched his left hamstring and signaled that he had suffered an injury. This gesture left Alonso and the rest of the coaching staff concerned. However, their worries were soon alleviated when they saw Xhaka laughing with his teammates.
Alonso spoke about his initial nervousness after the game, saying, “I know Granit has done it before in training and it made me nervous then. The physio came to me but I just said ‘Relax’.” It seems Xhaka’s celebration was simply a playful act and not indicative of any real injury.
Xhaka himself admitted that there was some luck involved in his goal but expressed his delight at scoring his first goal for Leverkusen. The result against Mainz also extended Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak to a record 33 games since the start of the season. However, Alonso emphasized that the team is focused on achieving even greater success.
Alonso said, “The effort the team put in, the commitment, it’s so easy to work with them. I learn so much from them. You don’t get medals for it but the process itself feels nice. We don’t want to stop.” Leverkusen has set their sights on more significant achievements and are determined to continue their impressive run.
Xhaka’s goal celebration may have caused a temporary moment of concern, but it ultimately highlighted the camaraderie and joy within the Leverkusen squad. With Xhaka’s contributions on the pitch and a united team spirit, Leverkusen looks set to maintain their position at the top of German football.