He’s played almost forty games for Sunderland but the feeling of seeing Granit Xhaka in a red and white shirt is yet to wear off. We set a high bar by signing him back in the summer, and it even back then, it told the league that we meant business.
Xhaka came to Wearside after being sold a project that didn’t involve relegation — and our signings as a whole reflected this. We’ve not been below thirteenth all season, so it’s fair to say the first year of the project has been a success
Xhaka’s achievements
and experience have been a crucial part of a successful season, and the way other players and even Régis Le Bris talk about him shows that he gives off the kind of aura that means when he speaks, everyone listens.
I’m of an age where I don’t remember the Peter Reid teams, so I’m confident in saying that Xhaka is probably the best midfielder I’ve ever seen in a Sunderland shirt. His closest competition is Enzo Le Fée, which highlights the overall quality of this team.
Xhaka has spoken plenty of good words this season, and his experience and mindset have been key.
Following the 0-0 draw against Manchester Utd, he had a reminder for everyone at the club to stay humble as we enter into the final throes of the season, setting the standards once again as we battle for the remaining six points.
We need to keep working and believing in the process.
We have got to stay humble. We have got 48 points, and we have only just been promoted. We are playing an amazing season, of course.
The demand is very high because we have done so well this season. We know what we have to do and where we need to improve, but we need to stay humble and calm because we are getting there.
We want to have a good feeling going into our holidays and the World Cup. We want to finish with a good feeling.
We have a good mentality in the team and good energy — if you want to survive in the Premier League, you need that.
He’s been able to keep us all grounded, reminding us of what’s been going on this season and how we’ve proven so many people wrong, but he also has one eye on the summer and beyond. One goal and six assists in thirty two appearances from our captain is good going, given he’s playing as more of a defensive midfielder these days.
His signing back in the summer made a lot Sunderland fans and the wider footballing world sit up and take notice, but few could’ve predicted just how much of an impact Xhaka would’ve made this season.
Watching him spray the ball around the midfield alongside Le Fée and Noah Sadiki has been a joy to watch at times, and if all three of them are in our midfield next season — with the excitement of further new signings to throw into the mix — we’ll be in a very good place, and with a true leader wearing the armband again.
