Granit Xhaka was in a furious confrontation with Bayer Leverkusen fans on Tuesday night (Image: X: @TaxitellerFonzy)
Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka was caught up in a furious altercation with his own club's fans on Tuesday night. The reigning Bundesliga champions suffered a shock defeat at the hands of third-tier Arminia Bielefeld in the semi-finals of the DPB-Pokal, and some supporters took their anger out on the players.
But the fiery Xhaka - clearly wound up after Leverkusen failed to retain the cup they won last season - was in no mood to take their criticism on the chin. German coverage of the post-match scenes showed the 32-year-old giving as good as he got with a small group of supporters in the stands, with frosty words exchanged and fingers pointed in both directions.
At one point, Xhaka even grabbed the one of the fan's hands as if to lower his pointed finger. A security guard was on the scene at all times to make sure tensions didn't completely boil over on a tough night for Leverkusen.
The clear favourites took the lead through Jonathan Tah in the 17th minute. But the game had turned on its head by the half-time interval thanks to goals from Marius Worl and Maximilian Grosser.
Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen side went unbeaten in the Bundesliga last season but they were unable to muster a second-half response against a side which should have been outclassed on paper.
Granit Xhaka is one of the first names on the Bayer Leverkusen team sheet (Image: Getty)
Xhaka has started every single one of their 27 Bundesliga games this term, scoring twice and laying on seven assists. But Leverkusen still look set to surrender their status as champions, as Bayern Munich are six points clear with only seven games to play.
Tuesday was not the first time Xhaka has found himself in a direct confrontation with fans of his own club. The Switzerland international spent seven of his prime years at Arsenal, and not all of them were straightforward.
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In 2019, while captain of the Gunners, he told supporters to 'f*** off' after being jeered while walking off the pitch to be substituted. "When I close my eyes now, I can still see their faces," Xhaka told the Players' Tribune. "I can see their anger.
"The passports were out. I was done with Arsenal. Finished. I had barely begun to move when I heard the boos. And it was not just a few guys in the corner - it was a lot of people. I was shocked. I had never experienced anything like this. To feel that level of hatred and disrespect - I wouldn't want it for my worst enemy."
