Sunderland’s season has a new heartbeat. The arrival of Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka has, according to defender Dan Ballard, transformed the club’s culture and standards — lifting the Black Cats into genuine Premier League contention.
A captain who changed the room
Signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer after Sunderland’s promotion, the 33‑year‑old was handed the armband and immediately stamped his authority on the squad. Ballard says Xhaka’s presence has been seismic: from the first day in training the bar was raised, routines sharpened and expectations hardened. The result is a side that looks at home in the top flight, currently sitting eighth in the table, just two points shy of the top four after a gritty 1-0 derby victory over Newcastle.
Standards turned up to 100 percent
Ballard, who crossed paths with Xhaka in Arsenal’s academy days, admitted he was surprised by the scale of the impact. “I didn’t think one person could affect the team the way he’s done,” he told Football Focus. Xhaka’s relentlessness — in the gym, on the training pitch and in matchday preparation — has become contagious. When a player with a decorated career still gives everything, Ballard explains, it becomes unacceptable for others not to match it. The consequence: a winning mentality that has helped Sunderland notch seven wins from 16 league games.
From academy struggles to Premier League regular
Ballard’s own story mirrors the club’s upward arc. A Sunderland player since 2022 and a key figure in last season’s promotion, the 26‑year‑old admits his path wasn’t straightforward. After three seasons without a senior appearance at Arsenal, he fought for every chance. That grind, he says, taught him resilience and the value of listening and learning — lessons that now feed into Sunderland’s collective drive.
Le Bris’s tactical imprint
The transformation isn’t down to one man alone. French coach Régis Le Bris, who arrived in the summer of 2024, has been credited with giving the team a clear identity and tactical bite. Under his guidance Sunderland have produced eye-catching results — wins at Chelsea, draws with Arsenal and Liverpool, and the recent derby triumph. Ballard praises Le Bris for his clarity and constant coaching, saying he has learned more in the past year than in all the years before.
A club lifted
What began as a summer of signings has become a season of belief. With a captain who demands excellence, a coach who simplifies and sharpens, and players who have answered the call, Sunderland look like a team that has not only returned to the Premier League — they’ve arrived with ambition and the standards to match.
