Granit Xhaka was involved in a heated argument with Bayer Leverkusen supporters following his team’s unexpected 2-1 loss to third-tier German team Arminia Bielefeld.
After being ousted from the competition in shocking circumstances on Tuesday night, Leverkusen, who won the German Cup the previous season under Xabi Alonso, have failed to defend their title.
Even after Jonathan Tah gave Xhaka and his squad the lead in the seventeenth minute, Marius Worl and Maximilian Grosser’s strikes put them behind 2-1 at halftime.
To the annoyance of their fans, the defending Bundesliga champions attempted to equalize in the second half but were unsuccessful. At full time, when Leverkusen’s shocking elimination was confirmed, Xhaka felt the full weight of their rage.
Cameras panned to the Switzerland international who was pointing and gesturing in a heated altercation with a group of supporters during the broadcast of the Leverkusen defeat on German channel ARD.
The 32-year-old was in the engine room with Robert Andrich and Exequiel Palacios, and he played the entire ninety minutes for Bayer Leverkusen that evening.
Over the years, Xhaka, who was a member of Arsenal’s Premier League team from 2016 to 2023, has demonstrated that he is not one to back down from confrontations with supporters.
Xhaka made news in 2019 after he used derogatory remarks toward Arsenal fans.
After being yelled at by Arsenal fans to leave the field during a draw with Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace, he apologized for urging Gunners supporters.
Xhaka’s transfer to Bayer Leverkusen has thus far been a huge success, and the Swiss midfielder has been instrumental in the team’s comeback under Alonso.
Last season, when Leverkusen won the domestic double and became the first side to finish the Bundesliga season undefeated, Xhaka played an incredible 50 games in all competitions.
With just the German top division left to play after their shocking DFB-Pokal exit, Xhaka and his teammates will be trying to make up ground and win a second domestic crown, even though they are now six points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich with seven games remaining.
After Premier League referee Michael Oliver gave Bayern Munich a penalty kick in the first leg of their 5-0 aggregate victory against Leverkusen in the Champions League round of 16 earlier this month, Xhaka took a jab at the English official.
Xhaka took to the media to express his ire after Harry Kane’s penalty conversion, calling it “disappointing to see.”
“He doesn’t give that in the Premier League.” I knew Michael from my seven years there. After the match, Xhaka told reporters, “I’m sure he wouldn’t whistle it in the Premier League.”
“Today was nothing because the Premier League has so many blocks.” His decision to call such a penalty at this level and likely end the game is a little disheartening. There would be a ton of penalties in every game if you gave one for each block.
Leverkusen and Xhaka will try to move over their unfortunate elimination from the German Cup when they play Heidenheim away in the Bundesliga.