Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka and Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri are international teammates with Switzerland.
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has expressed his disappointment in Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri amid a potential rift in Switzerland’s camp.
Shaqiri has asked to be omitted from Switzerland’s up and coming qualifiers as he looks to focus on his Liverpool career, as there are also suggestions that he is unhappy with his international manager, Vladimir Petkovic and his decision to appoint Arsenal’s Xhaka as national captain, as reported by Sky Sports.
The news will be very welcoming to Republic of Ireland supporters because they will come up against the Swiss on Thursday evening in a crucial Euro qualifier.
Nonetheless, Xhaka made his feelings clear about Shaqiri amid a growing rift in camp as he expressed his disappointment in the player, but he did praise his qualities.
“We all know how important he is for this team,” Xhaka told Sky Sports. “Great player, who has great qualities and can help us in each game.
“We are very disappointed he is not here. But we have other players as well that have the qualities. I don’t want to speak a lot of why or what happened because I don’t know the reason. But we have lost a big player for us.”
Last season, Shaiqiri produced some indifferent performances for Jurgen Klopp, who will no doubt want to see more consistency from his player.
During the first half of the campaign, he was a threat, but then towards the second half, he drifted off as his contributions could be crucial from the bench again this season.
The Reds have won their opening four Premier League matches, with Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino in brilliant form.
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