Hitzfeld: “The brilliant football Shaqiri with great potential, while Jaka is born leader”

Shaqiri's Jaka is expected to be the host of Switzerland's game at the European Championship, which begins Friday. Switzerland is in Group A along with Italy, Turkey and Wales. With the latter, Switzerland will have its first match Saturday, 3:00 p.m.

Hitzfeld has argued the statement issued days ago by Jaka that Switzerland has a team to go to the European final.

He can say that as a player. You won't achieve anything without purpose and dreams. Graniti has developed a lot in a positive way, he wasn't even 18 years old when I brought him to the national team. He's always been a leader with a very high level of intelligence in the game, which is born. You can encourage him a little, but you can't develop him. For me he is a world class player today”, Hitzfeld said in the interview given Monday for “Blic”.

Jaka is a footballer of Arsenal, but he has not ruled out the possibility of joining after “Euro 2020” coach Jose Mourinho in Rome. Hitzfeld also advised Jaka to move to Rome.

The player must feel when it is time for a new challenge. He's been at Arsenal for five years and any change in the club is an additional motive at his age. A new language and new environment would be added to Italy. It would be exciting as far as football is concerned. The Italians are focused on tactics that fit him. In addition, Jose Mourinho is an exciting trainer who always protects his players with great force and has great experience. Players like him, journalists maybe less. Short: I would advise Granit to do it”, Hitzfeld, who was in the lead of Switzerland from 2008 to 2014.

With the initiative of Hitzfeld, both Jaka and Shaqiri were invited early to representatives of Switzerland. Both football players have played European and world championships.

Hitzfeld has told Shaqiri he's a great player, but he's sorry he hasn't shown all his potential.

Jerani has always been the favorite fan player, because he's a great footballer. He's got football in his blood, but so far he hasn't taken his chances. He has the potential to do more. He is turning 30 and is still a loving fool, but still more of it is expected in a moment. The question is whether Liverpool is the right club for this. I would prefer he moved to another club where he regularly plays 90 minutes and is a great performer”, Hitzfeld said.

Even today, he does not agree with Shaqiri's departure from Bayern Moenchen in the direction of Inter in 2015.

I said earlier that he'd regret a quick move by Bayern Muenchen. Robben and Ribery were very old and if he had patience for another year or two, he would have been their successor. It was not a good decision to release Bayern so early and go to Inter”, Hitzfeld said of Liverpool football player.