Granit Xhaka warns he will ‘smash’ Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli when Switzerland play Brazil

Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka has jokingly warned he will ‘smash’ Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli at the World Cup – and quipped his Brazilian Arsenal teammates will be ‘worried’ about facing him ahead of their clash on Monday.

Xhaka will be the opposing side to Jesus and Martinelli when Brazil face Switzerland in a crunch match in Group G.

The Swiss captain revealed he had a light-hearted conversation with his Gunners team-mates before the World Cup in Qatar.

‘We were joking before the World Cup to come here and of course, it is always good if you have team-mates opposite your, but we are professional footballers and for 90 minutes,’ he said.

The Swiss captain warned Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus (pictured) he will ‘smash’ them in the World Cup

‘I told Gabby Martinelli and Gabby Jesus if you are running one against one against our goalkeeper I will smash you!’

‘It doesn’t matter that we are playing in the same team. This is the Word Cup. You play for your own team, you play for your own country and you want to win.

‘Of course, they were worried. They know me. If I smash you, it will be very very hard.’ 

Xhaka went on to praise Jesus’s influence at the Emirates since joining over the summer. ‘First of all he is a lovely person, very humble and the quality he has is unbelievable,’ he added.

Xhaka featured for Switzerland in their 1-0 win over Cameroon at the World Cup on Thursday

‘Of course, with Man City he was playing and sometimes not playing, you are not in this rhythm, but you can see with us he is making the difference and that is why we are where we are at the moment.’

The midfielder admitted their next group game would be tough, but did not rule his side out. 

He said: ‘Brazil have world class players. Big, big quality, the favourites in the tournament and the favourites in our group but it is one game. Anything can happen.’

‘Of course we will have to be much more careful against Brazil than we were against Cameroon. If you lose the ball against Brazil you pay for it. They have great, great quality.’