Granit Xhaka posts 17-word Sunderland message after injury blow and West Ham fan incident

Granit Xhaka and Enzo Le Fée were quick to respond on social media after Sunderland’s 3-1 defeat to West Ham United, as the Black Cats looked to show unity and resilience following a difficult afternoon at the London Stadium.

Several Sunderland players moved swiftly to acknowledge the result online, with Xhaka and Le Fée both posting messages shortly after the final whistle. Their reactions came after a game that was effectively decided in the first half, as West Ham took firm control early on.

Xhaka, who was unavailable due to injury, watched the contest from the sidelines and later shared a supportive message on Instagram to underline his continued belief in the squad. “Not on the pitch today, but always with the team. Trust the boys. I’ll be back soon,” the midfielder wrote.

The 33-year-old missed the trip to East London with an ankle problem, an injury Sunderland expect will rule him out for approximately six weeks.

Although he did not feature, Xhaka was briefly involved in a heated exchange with a West Ham supporter seated behind the dugout late in the match.

Stewards quickly intervened, and the incident was reviewed during the game with no further action required.

Le Fée, who started the match, also addressed supporters on social media after full-time, adopting a determined tone as Sunderland aim to bounce back quickly. “It was a difficult day. Back to work,” he posted, before adding a message of thanks for the continued backing from fans.

Sunderland struggled badly in the opening 45 minutes, conceding three goals before half-time. However, they showed greater fight after the interval and managed to reduce the deficit through Brian Brobbey.

Despite the disappointing result, Régis Le Bris’ side were loudly supported by the travelling fans, a gesture acknowledged by several players in the aftermath.

Xhaka’s absence was felt in midfield, with the Switzerland international having started 22 league matches prior to picking up his injury. His post was widely seen by supporters as an example of leadership, highlighting his influence within the dressing room even while sidelined.

Meanwhile, Le Fée has continued to grow in importance under Le Bris and is expected to play a crucial role during Xhaka’s spell out of the team.

Sunderland must now navigate a period without one of their most influential figures as Xhaka begins his recovery at the Academy of Light. Attention will quickly turn to the club’s response, something Le Bris’ side have consistently demonstrated during their return to the Premier League.

Le Bris reflects on Sunderland’s slow start

Following the defeat, Régis Le Bris admitted Sunderland fell well short of their usual standards in the first half but insisted the problems extended beyond team selection in Xhaka’s absence.

West Ham capitalised on Sunderland’s lack of control by scoring three times before the break, but Le Bris rejected the idea that his tactical setup was unfamiliar or flawed.

He pointed to the draw against Manchester City on New Year’s Day as proof that the same approach had previously been effective.

“They were better than us in the first half,” Le Bris said. “They scored three times, could have scored more, won more duels, were more composed and more dangerous in front of goal. So yes, they were better.”

“We played in a similar way against Manchester City, with perhaps two more creative midfielders. We also used this system in pre-season and I expected a better level. Team selection is probably not the main issue. It was more about our performance in that first half.

“We can talk about tactics or defensive details, but it came down to individual levels. We were far below our standards and in this league, when that happens, you get punished.”