Only in this season, Granit Xhaka, who became the captain of London's "Arsenal", was forced to say goodbye to his duties very quickly.
In the match against "Crystal Palace", Xhaka was substituted in the second half, and the dissatisfied "gunners" fans clearly expressed their dissatisfaction with his performance. In response to such reactions, G. Xhaka gestured with his hands variously, and as soon as he left the field, he took off his gloves and headed to the locker room.
After this incident, G. Xhaka did not appear on the field anymore, and foreign media reported that Xhaka should leave the London team already in winter.
However, former "Arsenal" captain, talking about his situation, stated that he is ready to continue fighting for his place in the team.
"You can be sure that I will continue to fight for my place in the team and work hard in every training session. I feel that this story is already in the past and I am ready to play.
I feel good again. Last week I worked hard in training and I am waiting for the coach to decide to put me back on the field," - G. Xhaka told "SonntagsBlick".
Xhaka also recalled the highly emotional moment in the match with "Crystal Palace". The midfielder stated that he still does not understand such fan reactions.
"When I was substituted, the fans just started cheering. It hurt me a lot. I still cannot understand such a reaction, especially the huge resentment directed towards me.
As far as I remember, fans have always been a very important part of sports for me. I have always felt great respect for their dedication and support. Fan criticism, when fair, helps athletes improve.
I'm not saying I can't accept criticism. If the team's results are poor, we must listen and draw certain conclusions. However, insulting the captain definitely worsens the atmosphere in the team, which they themselves want to maintain," added the former "Arsenal" captain.
