Had Xhaka remained with Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, he would currently be playing for a side that is in the top five of the Bundesliga and sitting in the play-off places in the Champions League standings.
Instead, the 33-year-old opted to leave Germany and join Sunderland, a newly-promoted club undergoing huge change ahead of its return to the Premier League after an absence of almost a decade.
It felt like a massive risk, and even Xhaka admits he was taking a step into the unknown when he agreed to join the Black Cats. But not only have results and performances been exceptional, with Sunderland fourth in the Premier League table after their opening 11 games, Xhaka has also found himself in an environment that has allowed him to flourish.
“I came as a big name,” said the midfielder, in an interview with Swiss media outlet Blick. “The expectations were huge, including my own. It was the biggest challenge of my career, not only because of me, but also because of my family.
“Every minute here has been worth it so far. I'm not just saying that because things are going so well now. The environment suits me, the people speak to me, the family atmosphere in this club, which I previously only saw from the outside.
“As soon as I stepped into the dressing room, I knew it was a good choice. If you feel so comfortable, you even add three or four per cent on top. For the shirt, for the other players, for the club.”
Despite only being a Sunderland player since the summer, Xhaka has rapidly emerged as the club’s talisman. Regis Le Bris describes him as an ‘extra coach on the pitch’, having handed him the captain’s armband within a couple of days of his transfer having been completed.
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Xhaka’s leadership qualities were evident throughout his time at Arsenal, and have also massively benefited the Swiss national team, and one of his early priorities at Sunderland was to get across the importance of defending like your life depends on it to the rest of the team. On the evidence of the last few months, his words have had a powerful effect.
“The promoted team has always suffered in the last six or seven years,” said Xhaka. “We're still suffering on the pitch now. But it's fun to suffer for the results.
“I give a little speech before most games with Sunderland. It's always about the fact that there are two ways to defend - because you have to or because you love it. We love defending. That is the difference. That's why we have a healthy stability, an extraordinary balance. There are very few teams that create chances against us.”
As a result, Sunderland have only suffered two league defeats so far this season – to Burnley and Manchester United – and remain unbeaten at the Stadium of Light. There is a massive sense of momentum behind the club, with every matchday feeling like an event, something Xhaka has sensed from the moment he arrived in the North-East.
“Away against Chelsea, you could only hear our fans,” he said. “These are real fans, not tourists. They are not in the city by chance, Sunderland is their life. Whether they are 80 or five, they know why they are in the stadium. They have been supporting us since the first matchday with a force that is indescribable.”
Xhaka was speaking to the Swiss press as he has returned to his homeland for the final two matches of World Cup qualifying. Switzerland currently top Group B, with a three-point advantage over Kosovo and a seven-point gap to Slovenia. They host Sweden on Saturday, and their vast goal difference advantage means they will secure a World Cup place if they win. If they slip up, they will get a second chance when they travel to Kosovo to complete their qualifying schedule next Tuesday.
“Remo (Freuler), Ricci (Rodriguez) and I are at an age where we might be playing in our last World Cup,” said Xhaka. “Whether we will still be able to keep up physically in 2030 is a huge question mark. That's why I really want the World Cup place.
“We have no goals conceded after four games, ten points, unbeaten. And on Saturday we can and want to finish the job against Sweden.”