Sunderland return to European competition for the first time in over 50 years when they face AZ Alkmaar

Granit Xhaka says it is his dream to reach another Europa League final as Sunderland prepare to make their bow in the competition against AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday night.

Xhaka reached the final with Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen, and will return to the tournament when he leads the Black Cats out at the Stadium of Light. The Sunderland captain reiterated that the Premier League remains the key focus for the team this season, but says their Europa League participation is a reward for their hard work last time around and a big opportunity.

He said: “I don't want to call it a bonus, but this is a bonus for us, because for sure the Premier League is our priority, but the bonus in the Europa League is something we are trying to get, and it's just a big challenge for us. I've been twice in the final, lost twice in the Europa League final, so for me it's a big dream to get another final and get into it with this football club.

“We knew that last season we wrote something in our history, to be back after 53 years, and you can start to feel the excitement from the people as well.

“I think the stadium will be on fire tomorrow, because the fans deserve it, the football club deserves it, but as players, after the hard work last season, we deserve to be where we are. In the end, the excitement is one side, and the other part is to enjoy the game as well, because there's nothing better than to play European football, to compete against the best ones in Europe, and to try to get as much as possible.”

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Xhaka says his experience from previous European competitions is that the energy in the dressing room is key, and that he felt this from day one on Wearside. He said that while the team would keep their feet on the ground but that he had genuine belief they could enjoy a good run in the competition.

“First of all, you need the energy in the dressing room, and this is what we have,” he said.

“The first step I did last season in the dressing room had a very good feeling.

“So the energy, the mindset for the young players as well, and for the group is amazing. You need this to be at a level to compete, first of all, and after you can win, you can lose games, whatever, but if you don't have this desire, this mentality, the hunger to compete every single day, not just in the training, forget about this level. So this team has it, this team will show it game by game, and you need luck, whatever, but I'm very positive and optimistic that we can go very far in this competition.”

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