Arturo Vidal, a former Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona midfielder, claims Newcastle ‘just know how to run’ after their goalless draw with AC Milan.
Former Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona player Arturo Vidal may have had the most unusual perspective on Newcastle United following the Magpies’ 0-0 draw with AC Milan in the Champions League. The Chile international, who now plays for Bruno Guimaraes’ previous club Athletico Paranaense in Brazil, has slammed both clubs in what he called the worst Champions League game in history.
“I saw the worst game in the history of the Champions League,” Vidal stated on his Twitch account, as relayed by Red Gol. “It’s crazy how Milan and Newcastle play in the Champions League.”
“Not like the one between Porto and Shakhtar, which was fantastic.” Boring City, as usual. I fell asleep throughout the first half of the game between PSG and Borussia Dortmund.
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“But those fools from Milan with Newcastle left me sick. They are lucky because they only know how to run, otherwise they wouldn’t be there.
“I don’t understand Newcastle, they come fourth in the league, but they don’t do anything, disgusting. They have to risk their lives, if it is their first game, show a little more, they left me as angry as hell. This is Champions.
“Barcelona, a machine, that was the best game, bye, there is nothing more. Well, the one between Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk was a great game, the other games were boring, yuck (sound of disgust). Barcelona is a machine, it is moving forward like crazy, not like the other teams.”
Sure – Newcastle United have to be better if they want to progress from the group of death and they were far from their fluid best, but a point on the road at last season’s semi-finalists doesn’t call for the bizarre ‘disgust’ or ‘anger’ that Vidal speaks of. If we’ve learnt anything from the short time the Magpies have been in the Champions League, they’ll be subject of plenty of outside noise looking to diminish their achievements as they battle it out with Europe’s elite clubs.
The Toon went to the home of the seven time European Cup champions and came away with a point, after a 20 year absence. Vidal’s comments may have been throwaway lines from a player who – to give him his due, has played at the very top level in European football – but every jibe, every ‘lucky’ comment should resonate with supporters to make St. James’ Park a place opposition players dread.
The Toon Army has already witnessed first hand the atmosphere at the San Siro, and have the Parc Des Princes and the Signal Iduna Park to look forward to. Newcastle were not overawed on their trip to Italy and have a good platform to build on.
We’ve already seen how Eddie Howe has tempered expectations and emotion from everyone involved with the club, but he knows just when to push the buttons of his players. The Amazon Prime documentary showcased a brief glimpse into Howe’s team talk against Manchester United last season, a result which proved key in qualification for the Champions League.
Anyone who’s watched Newcastle United over the course of the past 18 months or so under Howe knows the trajectory the club is on and negative comments from outsiders, more often than not, stem from a place of fear. After all, a manager like Pep Guardiola has been vocal in his praise for the Magpies style of play under Howe and he’s won it all during his managerial career.
We’ve already seen how Eddie Howe has tempered expectations and emotion from everyone involved with the club, but he knows just when to push the buttons of his players. The Amazon Prime documentary showcased a brief glimpse into Howe’s team talk against Manchester United last season, a result which proved key in qualification for the Champions League.
Anyone who’s watched Newcastle United over the course of the past 18 months or so under Howe knows the trajectory the club is on and negative comments from outsiders, more often than not, stem from a place of fear. After all, a manager like Pep Guardiola has been vocal in his praise for the Magpies style of play under Howe and he’s won it all during his managerial career.
To suggest the Magpies can only run, is insulting to the work Howe, his staff and players have done at St. James’ Park since the takeover, when at their best, Newcastle can blow most teams out of the water. Plenty will point towards the Saudi led takeover and reference the millions of pounds spent by the new owners, which of course has played a part in the club’s upturn in fortune, but one look at Chelsea shows splashing the cash is no guarantee of success.
This season was always going to be an acid test for Newcastle and Howe in the Champions League, with the European venture an opportunity to see how far away they are from the best in the world. The Magpies head coach won’t let any of the negativity from the outside make its way into camp, but supporters should keep this in the back of their mind when the so-called big boys come to Tyneside.
After all, it was Vidal’s former club Barcelona who came unstuck at St. James’ Park, in a side that was filled with world class talent in a memorable night for Tino Asprilla and co. Underestimate the Magpies at your own peril.
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