Rolfes comments on Xhaka playing through injury against England
| Granit Xhaka (right.) | Photo: Эдгар Брещанов, Soccer.ru, CC BY-SA 3.0 |
Following Switzerland's Euro 2024 quarter-final loss to England, Bayer Leverkusen star Granit Xhaka revealed that he played 120 minutes with a minor muscle injury.
"After the Italy game, I had a scan on Monday and unfortunately it showed that I have a torn muscle fiber in my adductor," explained the 31-year-old, who added that he “couldn't play long balls and couldn't shoot on goal.”
Asked by Kicker if he knew Xhaka would play despite the injury, Bayer Leverkusen managing director for sport Simon Rolfes said:
“Of course we knew. We are in constant contact with our players.”
He added that it was good "that nothing happened.
"But you always have a risk, even if you go into a game healthy. Granit will now have his normal vacation and then he will be fully fit again," Rolfes insisted.
Normally, players are given three weeks off after a European Championship, although this is still being discussed in detail with coach Xabi Alonso.
Xhaka could therefore be back for the start of camp on July 28, barring any unforeseen developments.