BRUNO GUIMARAES REJUVENATES IN BRAZIL FOLLOWING HIGH STAKES NEWCASTLE EUROPEAN STALEMATE
Bruno Guimaraes reacts to Newcastle’s dramatic 1-1 draw with Barcelona while confirming he will miss the return leg.
Bruno Guimaraes has shared his thoughts after Newcastle United’s dramatic Champions League draw with Barcelona.
For a while, it looked like the Magpies would head to the Camp Nou next Wednesday with a narrow 1-0 lead, thanks to Harvey Barnes’ late strike in the 86th minute.
Then, things got wild. Four minutes of stoppage time went up, but in the fifth, referee Marco Guida pointed to the spot after Dani Olmo tumbled a little too easily from Malick Thiaw’s touch. Lamine Yamal, who Lewis Hall had kept quiet all night, stepped up and buried the penalty with the very last kick of the game.
It was a gut punch for Newcastle. Still, they looked a lot sharper than the last time they faced Barcelona back in September, when they lost 2-1 in the group stage.
Back then, Guimaraes wore the captain’s armband, but this time he had to watch from afar. He’s recovering from a hamstring injury in Brazil, stuck on the sidelines but still cheering his teammates on.
After the match, Guimaraes posted on Instagram: “Tremendous effort from the boys; couldn’t ask for more! Very unlucky in the end. We go again next week.”
As for his injury, Guimaraes will miss next week’s return leg in Barcelona, plus the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland four days later. He’s also set to sit out Brazil’s friendlies against France and Croatia. The hope is he’ll be ready after the international break, when Newcastle head to Crystal Palace on April 11.
Manager Eddie Howe summed things up: “I think the time frame is what it is; there’s no miracle cure for him. We’re looking at the end of the international break in March for his return. It’s a big blow for us at a key time. He’s gutted, but we can’t change it. We just have to get him back safely, and others need to step up while he’s out.
“We’ll miss everything he brings. He’s scored, created, and controlled games for us he’s just a special player. Losing him is tough, but there’s always a way forward, and it’s a chance for others to show what they can do.”
It’s now been a month since Guimarães last played he limped off late against Tottenham after helping Newcastle grab a 2-1 win. Sitting out is something new for him; before this, he’d barely missed a game.
When he found out how long he’d be out, Guimaraes wrote: “For the first time in 10 years of my career, I have to spend some time away from the pitch. I’m really sad about it, but I trust that God knows best. This muscle injury will keep me out for a few weeks, but I believe it’ll make me stronger and more prepared for what’s ahead. Thank you all for the support, messages, and concern. See you soon.”
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.
