'We need...' – Granit Xhaka addresses Sunderland fans in new lengthy interview ahead of Newcastle United game
Granit Xhaka speaks openly about the Wear-Tyne derby, its meaning and Sunderland’s mindset before the Newcastle United game
Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka has spoken of the scale, emotion and responsibility surrounding Sunday’s Wear-Tyne derby, admitting the significance of the fixture was made clear to him from the moment he first walked through the doors at the Academy of Light.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the Premier League meeting with Newcastle United, the midfielder said he had been left in no doubt about the weight of the rivalry and how deeply it resonates across Wearside. “The first step I did to this training ground, they told me already how big the game is,” Xhaka said.
“For the football club, for the fans, but as well for ourselves, for our families. We are dreaming for these games. This is a dream for every child to play a big derby. I played many derbies in my career, but this one, I hear, is a totally different one. It is so close with each other. Eight years, not played against each other in the Premier League. I think that you have to be very clear in your mind what you want, in your heart as well. But we are well prepared and we are ready for this big, big game.”
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With Sunderland returning to the Premier League and meeting Newcastle in the top flight for the first time since 2016, Xhaka stressed that both the emotional and tactical preparation must go hand in hand. Asked whether previous matches he had played against Newcastle United or historical context fed into the squad’s mentality, the Swiss international was clear that the derby carries the same emotional weight for players and supporters.
“Absolutely,” he said. “I mean, everyone has to know how much it means for the fans. But for the fans and for us, it is the same. It is the same feeling. Even if we lose or we win, it is the same feeling. So, I think this is a very important message as well to our fans that we are not thinking about if we lose, it doesn't hurt. Of course, it is the same pain for the fans as well, but we are not thinking about losing. We are playing at home with our supporters. We take the fight because it is a big fight against them. They are doing very good as well, to be honest. You have to give credit to them. They built, in a couple of years, many, many good things as well. We are just in the beginning, but we won the battle and the battle will be there on Sunday.”
Xhaka also addressed whether the rivalry holds personal meaning, given his own past meetings with Newcastle United during his Arsenal career. He admitted those experiences shaped him, but that his approach remains rooted in honesty and total commitment to the team.
“Yes, I got some criticism after this game,” he said, referencing a game Arsenal had lost before Xhaka delivered a particularly honest post-match interview. “I am a guy, I am very honest and very straightforward. If it is going in both ways, I don't mind. I like to be honest. If you have a bad day, you need to accept, handshake and you move forward.
“What I can't accept is if you don't put everything on the pitch. If you put everything on the pitch and still you lose or you draw or whatever happens in the game, you can accept, but not to put in a derby, in a big game like Newcastle is for us on Sunday. It means a lot, and we need to give and to feed the fans that this game is much more than just a game.”