Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has shared what Sunderland star Granit Xhaka is thinking about his future, having worked with him at Arsenal.
Sunderland travel to Villa as race for Europe intensifies
Emery knows Xhaka better than most, having worked alongside him for two years at Arsenal.
The Spaniard watched him grow into a genuine leader, and saw first-hand what the Swiss midfielder brings to a dressing room.
Now, with the pair set to go head-to-head at Villa Park on Sunday, the Villa boss has not held back in singing his former player’s praises — whilst revealing what the future has in store for him.
Villa host Sunderland on Sunday afternoon in a Premier League clash with real implications at both ends of the European conversation.
The Villans sit fourth in the table with the top four very much in their sights, while Sunderland arrive in tenth — just one win away from making a serious dent in the European race.
For a club that was playing Championship football 12 months ago, that is quite the story.
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It is welcome news for Regis Le Bris.
The timing could not be more complicated for Emery’s side.
Villa dismantled Bologna 4-0 on Thursday night to advance to the Europa League semi-finals 7-1 on aggregate, and that all-English showdown with Nottingham Forest now looms large.
Ollie Watkins marked the occasion by tapping in his 100th goal for the club, and Villa will be desperate to keep that kind of momentum going on both fronts.
However, Emery will be under no illusions about what Sunday brings.
Sunderland beat Spurs 1-0 last weekend at the Stadium of Light, a result that moved them up to mid-table and left them just a point behind seventh, so this is not a side that will come to Villa Park to park the bus and hope for the best.
The Black Cats could also have Nilson Angulo back from injury for the contest, but at the centre of everything Sunderland do is Xhaka.
Unai Emery shares what Granit Xhaka is planning for the future
Emery was asked about his former player in the build-up to the game and was effusive in his response, calling the 33-year-old a leader in every sense — a player who is already thinking about life in the dugout beyond his playing days.
“My experience with (Xhaka) was fantastic. He’s a very good guy, very professional guy, very good player,” said Emery.
“His career has been amazing. He’s coming back here to Sunderland after he went to Germany, because I think he wants to continue competing in the high level.
“I know he’s as well practising for a coach, for the future, and he’s a leader on the field. And for them, he’s a very important player. He’s a leader, he’s everything – offensively, defensively, he is always involving, clearly, in their structure as a leader.
“And with other players, they have very good players as well. they are performing through it, fantastic, and he is very important, Granit Xhaka, how he is doing.”
The ex-Gunner has simply been a revelation in every sense of the word since joining Regis Le Bris’ side.
His average match rating of 7.30 makes him the standout performer across the whole squad this season (FotMob), and his five league assists place him as the team’s chief creator too.
Xhaka himself was bullish after the Spurs win, calling on the football world to give Sunderland more respect and reminding everyone that he was told there was a two per cent chance of them staying up when he signed.
Survival was secured long ago, and now the ambition has shifted to something far more exciting.
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