It’s safe to say Sunderland are getting their money’s worth out of Granit Xhaka, but he’s now been discussing extra responsibility that Regis Le Bris placed on his shoulders.
Of the 15 new faces and all the £163m spent by Sunderland this season, no signing has had more impact than Granit Xhaka.
He may even be the best signing any club made this summer in the Premier League, and he’s been integral to the Black Cats’ impressive start to the season.
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As he prepares to face his former team Arsenal — an emotional challenge Xhaka relishes — he’s been talking about his role as a leader at the Stadium of Light, and what lies beyond in his career.
Regis Le Bris watches on during Sunderland v Everton - Premier League
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar Via Getty Images
Granit Xhaka is not ready to think about coaching
In an exclusive interview with The Athletic ahead of the top-of-the-table clash with the impervious Gunners, Xhaka referenced the fact that Regis Le Bris has described him as the “second coach” and the “coach on the pitch” at Sunderland. Turns out, he doesn’t really like that idea.
He said: “I don’t want to be the ‘second coach’ or something. I’m still a player. Coaches always tell you to stay on the pitch as long as you can because afterwards it’s different. But of course I try to help the team with my experience on a daily basis.”
Xhaka is working towards his coaching badges, though. He has his B and A Licences, but has other things on his mind for now. “I am waiting on my UEFA Pro, but I can’t do it while I am still active as a player,” he added.”
To be fair, when he’s putting in performances like he is now, who can blame him for wanting to stay focused on what he does on the pitch rather than his career off it?
Sunderland fans loved Xhaka’s comments after the draw against Everton on Monday night, where he demanded more from his team and insisted they should have got all three points. If he can help them get anything against Arsenal, he will go down as an instant icon on Wearside.
Granit Xhaka of Sunderland during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Aston Villa at Stadium of Light.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Granit Xhaka would make an incredible coach when the time comes
Regardless of how he feels right now, the thought of Granit Xhaka as a coach or a manager is a scary one, and we mean that as a compliment.
Le Bris recognised his side’s fighting spirit on Monday, and that all comes from Xhaka, really. Togetherness is the key for Sunderland, another factor that the Swiss midfielder has spoken about at length.
With a wily, determined, and aggressive mentality, twinned with the hard-work ethos and emphasis on teamwork, Xhaka has all the qualities you’d expect to turn him into a top-level coach.
Who knows, maybe one day he will be facing Mikel Arteta as a manager rather than a player? Now that is a contest we would love to see.