What senior Newcastle players have now privately stated about their season-opening loss to Brighton

Newcastle have experienced a roller-coaster season, hitting top form despite a disastrous start to the season.

Newcastle are now top of their Champions League group after losing three of their first four Premier League games this season. They are also unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions.

This run has also included victories over Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, and the team is flying despite a few injury issues.

After Newcastle was defeated 3-1 by Brighton in September, many wondered if the players felt they were in a crisis, but it now looks that they kept calm to weather the storm.

 

Newcastle did not succumb to misfortune.
According to The Athletic, the playing squad seemed unfazed by their form at the start of the season in the aftermath of the Brighton setback.

An unknown member of the squad has privately acknowledged that despite losing three games in a succession, no alarm bells were sounding in Eddie Howe’s camp, as they believed they could turn things around.

“There was no crisis meeting or anything,” said the unidentified athlete.

“Internally we know how good we are, so there was no panic.”

Eddie Howe’s entire tenure at Newcastle has been uncharted ground for both him and the team. Taking over a relegation struggle and guiding them to the Champions League has resulted in differing expectations throughout.

While their early-season form would have been normal a few years ago, aiming to increase the level, and therefore the pressure, meant that it may have been simple to panic and significantly modify tactics or team selections following the defeats.

Howe adhered to his ideals, plainly encouraged his players to stay calm, and has now received the benefits, with his side preserving their confidence in the face of adversity and blossoming.