Coach Yakin and Captain Xhaka – “Trying to drive a wedge between us” – Sport


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Ahead of the game against Portugal, national team coach Murat Yakin confirms that there are no discords between him and his captain Granit Xhaka.

A response from Granit Xhaka to a reporter’s question after a Nations League game, which could be taken as criticism of the coach, recently fueled rumors of alleged tensions between Murat Yakin and his captain. At the media conference before the renewed rencontre with Portugal, a journalist from a tabloid made the alleged wedge between the coach and Xhaka the subject.

When asked when they last laughed together, Yakin was initially irritated before a laugh escaped his lips together with Xhaka. They don’t always have to agree exactly, Yakin said. “We are two strong characters. In the end it’s about the national team. An attempt is being made to drive a wedge between us from outside. You don’t have to work on the team spirit with this team.”

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Follow the Swiss national team’s game against Portugal on Sunday from 8:05 p.m. live on SRF Zwei and in the SRF Sport App. You can also be there live on Radio SRF 3.

Xhaka commented on the tiresome topic in a similar way: “I don’t know where that comes from. The relationship between player and coach is good. What I said was not an attack on the coach.”

The 4th defeat in a row is imminent

The Swiss national team has now lost three games in a row. This last happened to her in the summer of 1996. To find four Swiss defeats in a row – this would be the case if you lost to Portugal – you have to go back to 1980. Granit Xhaka said: “We’ve lost three times now, but that doesn’t make us a bad team.”

Xhaka and Yakin are particularly encouraged by their second-half performances in the recent 1-0 home defeat by Spain. “We showed a good second half there,” said Murat Yakin. “We’re building on this half.”

The news that the Portuguese on Sunday, among others, without the Cristiano Ronaldo, who was left at home, will play, penetrated the Nati during the course of Saturday. Xhaka thinks it’s a shame: “We want to compete with the best, and Ronaldo is the best.”

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