Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka has declared his side fully prepared, both mentally and physically, as the Black Cats gear up for their historic UEFA Europa League clash against AZ Alkmaar tonight. Marking Sunderland’s long-awaited return to European football after a 53-year absence, the fixture at the Stadium of Light carries immense significance for the club and its supporters.
AZ Alkmaar arrive on English soil boasting an impressive start to the Eredivisie season, remaining unbeaten through their opening six games with 17 goals scored. However, in a chat with the club’s website, Xhaka stated that the players are eager to capitalize on home advantage under the lights.
“I have played in two Europa League finals and lost twice, so for me it is a big dream to get to another final,” Xhaka told the media. “We are ready mentally and physically. If we have the right mentality and desire, we can make it a very special night. “We know how good AZ are, but we are playing at home,” he continued. “We want to bring joy to our fans.
“European football is different to the Premier League and it is challenging, but the mood is very positive. We need to separate the Premier League and Europa League and prepare in the right way. “I want to see the stadium on fire and our players on fire. We know we wrote something historic last season and now we can start to feel the excitement. The stadium will be on fire today.
“We deserve to be where we are. There is nothing better than competing in European football.”