Shaqiri ‘comfortable’ at Stoke, but has bigger ambitions

Mark Scott
Xherdan Shaqiri: Has Champions League aim

Xherdan Shaqiri has cast doubt on his Stoke future after he said he would like to play Champions League football again in the “near future”.

The Swiss international was asked by the media in his homeland about how he saw the next few years of his career unfolding and, although he was complimentary of Stoke, it appears he has his eye on bigger prizes.

“At 25, it would be silly to say that I want to end my career at Stoke,” Shaqiri said.

“At the moment I feel very comfortable. I have scored three goals as many as in the whole of last season.

“Stoke: super coach, super team, ninth in the Premier League. But of course I want to play Champions League again in the near future.”

Shaqiri’s former coach Ottmar Hitzfeld irked his current Mark Hughes by claiming that the Swiss was in “no man’s land” with the Potters, but Shaqiri has offered him the opportunity to come and see him in action.

“Hitzfeld may not be so interested in the little clubs,” he said. “It is normal for a big coach to focus on the big players and the big teams. But Mark Hughes has reacted well — he has invited him to Stoke.

“I would be very happy – and here is my invitation to come and watch us. For example, for the home game against Manchester United.

“The Premier League is more balanced than the Bundesliga, because many good players have gone to small clubs. That’s why the Premier League is, for me, the best league in the world.”