Just before shuffling off to a two-week break, Bayer Leverkusen set a new club record with their 3-2 away win against Freiburg in the Bundesliga. It was their 22nd league win of the season, more than they have ever won before in a single season. And there are still eight games to go!
Once again former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka patrolled the midfield, and Head of Coaching at Leverkusen, Keld Bordinggaard is full of praise for the Swiss. Bordinggaard says the summer addition has played a crucial role in Bayer's stunning Bundesliga campaign - both on and off the pitch.
Indeed, the Dane says signing Xhaka has provided a lynchpin from which Bayer coach Xabi Alonso's playing system has successfully clicked into place.
“I like the saying, “show me your number six, and I will tell your style of play'. It is such an important position in today's football. Being a traditional match-spoiler no longer cuts it, and I think he is a perfect example of why we shouldn't educate players to be specialists anymore. We need more universal players. No position on the pitch epitomizes that more than the number six," Bordinggaard tells Tribalfootball.com in an exclusive interview.
Bordinggaard likens the performance this season of Xhaka to former Barcelona midfielder and captain, Sergi Busquets, now playing in the USA's MLS with Inter Miami.
“A central midfielder is essential to how successful you are in football today and try keeping an eye on Xhaka during the games. Vicente del Bosque once said about Busquets that, if you're looking at the game, you probably won't see him, but if you're looking at Busquets, you'll see the game. That is a very good way of also looking at Xhaka and he's been a key figure this season," says Bordinggaard before pointing to a few other players deserving of a special mention like another former Borussia Monchengladbach man, Jonas Hoffmann.
“His role in the team is easy to overlook, but he's very good at providing those links in the build-up which makes the game float a little better. I am also very happy to see Jonathan Tah playing at such a high level over such a period of time.
“Our keeper, Lukas Hrdecky, also deserves a mention due to the very dominant possession-based football we've practiced this season. The keeper is a vital part of that and it was something he had to adapt to which he has done at a very high level."
