VAR controversy during Sunderland 1-1 Everton as Louis-Dreyfus delivers interview
Granit Xhaka has been speaking about his start to life with Sunderland
The Black Cats are fourth in the table heading into a testing clash against the 33-year-old’s former club, Arsenal, this weekend, and have lost just twice in the Premier League since their promotion back to the top flight over the summer.
But despite taking 18 points from their first 10 matches and opening up an 11-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone, Xhaka has hinted that he and his teammates still have levels left to reach.
What has Granit Xhaka said about Sunderland’s start to the new season?
Speaking to the club’s official website, the Swiss veteran said: “No one before the season thought we would be where we are, but to me it’s not surprising. If you see this team and how everyone works day by day – how demanding we are and the mentality – these are the standards every day here.
“How you train is how you play. That’s what I believe. We deserve to be where we are. We are still very, very far from being where we want. We have to keep working, do the basics right and stay humble, and see where we are.”
Xhaka also reflected on being handed the captain’s armband immediately after his arrival on Wearside, adding: “It is not usually the case that a player comes in and is made captain, but the club had a clear plan with me for the future and what they wanted from me.
“I’m 33 now and with my experience in the UK and abroad, I have had many coaches in my career where I took a lot from them. I’m very happy to be in England and at Sunderland. I knew the club was huge with its history and its fanbase, but I can feel it now.”
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He continued: “I always say the connection between the players and the fans is so important. When I came here, my message was that it doesn’t matter how things are going, we always have this support. We need the supporters; they are so important. When you feel welcome in a football club, you do things automatically and as soon as I came through the door, I felt at home here.”
Offering his opinion on head coach Le Bris, Xhaka said: “I spoke to the manager during a Zoom call in pre-season and I was very impressed – he knows exactly what he is speaking about. He’s not a coach who is very loud, but when he speaks, he’s on point and he has lots of clarity with and without the ball.”
Xhaka also took some time to look ahead to Saturday’s upcoming reunion with Arsenal, who he spent seven years with between 2016 and 2023. “We know the quality that Arsenal have,” he acknowledged. “It will be an emotional game for myself – I had seven amazing years there. I still have contact with many players, with the coaching staff. To play against them here in Sunderland, of course, is very special. Hopefully I can enjoy it as well and let’s see who the better team on this day is.”
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