"YOU ARE SPECIAL": PEP REVEALS WHAT HE TOLD WINNING STAR GUIMARãES
Harvey Barnes' double fired Newcastle United to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Manchester City at St James' Park. The win ends a poor run for the Magpies and deals a blow to City's title hopes.
Harvey Barnes's brace secured a 2-1 victory for Newcastle United over Manchester City at their home ground, St. James’ Park.
Following a 2-1 triumph against Manchester City, a team contending for the title, Newcastle United got back on the winning track in the Premier League.
Before this game, Eddie Howe’s team had suffered consecutive away losses to West Ham United and Brentford, which had them sitting just above the relegation zone in the Premier League.
However, the Magpies delivered a perfect response to claim only their second Premier League victory over Man City in the past two decades.
Harvey Barnes scored twice, initially breaking the deadlock in the 63rd minute and then restoring Newcastle’s lead just two minutes after Ruben Dias had levelled the score for the visiting side.
In the build-up to Barnes’s decisive goal, Bruno Guimaraes directed a header onto the crossbar, and the winger was well-positioned to convert the rebound. VAR conducted a review for a potential offside involving Guimaraes, but after a prolonged examination, the goal was deemed legitimate.
City’s goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, also believed he was fouled during the play, but the goal was allowed to stand.
Pep Guardiola Discloses What He Said to Bruno Guimaraes After the Final Whistle
However, Guardiola’s conversation with the Brazilian was not related to his footballing skills but rather to the incident involving Donnarumma during the second goal.
Guardiola stated, “Yes, I inquired about what occurred between Gigi and him. And yes, everything is alright.”
"This occurred in the match against Bournemouth, and it happened again today," Guardiola added. “It is what it is after VAR made its decision. They are fully aware."
Reflecting on the game's outcome, Guardiola commented, "Newcastle is a high-quality team, with excellent players and a top manager, so unfortunately, we couldn't sustain the momentum we had tonight. It was a captivating game, with opportunities for both sides, but the momentum shifted, and in the end, we couldn't secure the win.
"Both goalkeepers performed well, and we missed chances after that. It was an engaging game with many scoring opportunities. We were closer to winning in the initial stages. "
Eddie Howe Shares His Thoughts on Newcastle United’s Victory Over Man City
Howe commented, “We are thrilled with today’s win. When you compare the heart, effort, and attitude we showed today to our performance against Brentford, where we appeared tired and uninspired, it represents a significant improvement in how we typically play. This will provide us with a substantial boost during what will be a challenging Premier League season this year. This should provide us with a boost for the upcoming games.
"Regardless of your chosen strategy, Manchester City will create opportunities. Within the first 30 seconds, Harvey had a chance to score, highlighting the precarious situation we faced at times today. It is difficult to keep Haaland quiet for the entire 98 minutes. "
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
