Granit Xhaka thinks Nicolas Pepe has now adapted to the Premier League, and he’s showing the fans what they wanted to see from him.
Nicolas Pepe scored his eighth goal of the season away to Leicester City, to add to his three assists this campaign. He also won two penalties in the same game, though one was overturned for being marginally outside the box.
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Considering the 25-year-old has often played a supporting role this campaign, those are positive stats. The Leicester start was only Pepe’s 10th of the Premier League campaign.
But it’s more than just goals and assists. Pepe has also looked the part in his latest appearances, clearly growing in confidence. Granit Xhaka thinks the winger has come through his adaptation period now.
“I think every player who comes to the Premier League needs a little bit of time to adapt,” Xhaka said. “I think he is now this guy and the player what we wish, what the people wish, and he is doing very good game by game, training by training.
“I am so happy for him. He helped us today with a goal.”
There was certainly a sense of camaraderie about the way the squad celebrated Pepe’s goal. Even the substitutes got involved in congratulating him. You get the impression the former Lille man is well-liked, and the squad are glad to see him succeeding.