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.”
PRESSURE PEAK: EDDIE HOWE REJECTS EXCUSES AS NEWCASTLE FACE A SEASON-DEFINING MARCH STRETCH
Eddie Howe is fighting back: Read why the Newcastle boss rejects schedule excuses and how the Magpies plan to stun Barcelona.
Eddie Howe isn’t having any of the usual excuses about a packed schedule if Newcastle’s 2025/26 season fizzles out. Right now, that’s pretty close to what’s happening in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, over on Warwick Street in Heaton, the road’s shut after a crash.
Newcastle’s been busy in Barcelona away, with big FA Cup ties against Man City. Sure, those sound exciting, but if the cup runs end early (and most bookies seem to think they will), Newcastle faces an uphill battle to save their league campaign.
If they weren’t in the cup competitions, people would probably accuse the team of checking out early, already thinking about the summer holidays. The season could still end in glory, but if they’re not careful, they’ll slip into the bottom half of the table.
Howe isn’t sugarcoating the pressure. “I hate calling anything impossible,” he said. “That just hands everyone an excuse. Yeah, it’s tough. Our schedule this year makes the one from two years ago look like a breeze.
“It’s really stretched the players’ fitness, our resources, our energy, everything. No doubt, some guys have gone into games running on empty.
“I know we’re a good side. We’ve made progress. But sometimes it feels like just when we’re moving forward, we get knocked back.”
Howe’s not thrilled about the recent run of five losses in six. “A blip like this doesn’t feel normal. It hurts. We’re always trying to give the fans what they want, and lately, we just haven’t.”
Still, a couple of years ago, Newcastle would’ve jumped at the chance to play this kind of schedule. Up next: Man United, Man City in the FA Cup, Barcelona, Chelsea, and a trip to the Nou Camp. Sunderland rounds out March, a stretch that could shape not just this season but the future of St James’ Park.
How’s the message? “You look at the fixtures; you’ve got to stay positive. We have to enjoy these games. Can’t play scared.
“We have to go after them, stay aggressive, and keep our heads up.
“A few years back, if you’d told us these were our next matches, we’d have bitten your hand off for it. Well, here we are.
“So let’s not look back. Eyes forward.”
THE WOLTEMADE MYSTERY: WHY DID EDDIE HOWE PULL HIM AFTER ONLY 25 MINUTES?
Newcastle 3-2 Everton: Read Eddie Howe’s reaction to Nick Woltemade’s 14-touch nightmare and the 12-point Champions League gap.
Eddie Howe didn’t hide his frustration after Newcastle’s rough 3-2 loss to Everton. He admitted they just couldn’t get Nick Woltemade involved; he barely touched the ball before Howe pulled him off after only 25 minutes up front.
Woltemade, the club’s £69 million signing, started in midfield, but it just didn’t click. He got shifted into attack in the second half, but that didn’t work either. After just 14 touches, Howe went back to Anthony Gordon leading the line.
Asked about Woltemade’s quiet night, Howe told Chronicle Live, “We moved things around trying to find a spark. Honestly, we didn’t start well and gave up an early goal. The guys needed new energy, especially after halftime, which was our best spell. But with Nick, we just couldn’t get him on the ball enough, even after moving him up front. He wasn’t getting touches or really getting involved near the goal. That’s why I had to make those changes.”
Now Newcastle’s Premier League season is in real trouble. They’re 12 points off the Champions League spots and fighting just to reach the Europa Conference League unless they pull off something big in the FA Cup or Champions League.
Howe owned up to the team’s slump. “Yeah, in the Premier League, our form just hasn’t been good enough for a while. We know it, and we take responsibility. It’s really frustrating. That’s part of playing in Europe, but we’ve tried to go all-in on every game and treat them all as important. With so many games, though, focus slips. Our league results lately just haven’t been anywhere near what they used to be. Home form used to be so reliable, but that’s dropped off too. We need to get that back fast. St James’ Park should be where we collect the most points, the place where players feel free to play. Lately, that just hasn’t happened.”
Howe even ended up taking Gordon off, which didn’t go over well; some boos rang out after Gordon lost the ball and Everton scored the winner.
“I honestly didn’t notice that,” Howe said, about the crowd’s reaction. “But when that happens, we’ve got to stick together. I’ll back him, and I hope the fans do too.”
