Pep Guardiola has sent a message to Newcastle United following their 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City yesterday.
Newcastle had little expectation for the game against last season’s treble winners, therefore the score was unsurprising, yet fans were disappointed with their lack of attacking threat on the night.
After the game, Guardiola expressed confidence that Newcastle would learn from their first Champions League season in two decades and that they were on their way to being a top club.
Guardiola says Newcastle will learn from this season
Newcastle entered the season on a high after finishing fourth in the Premier League just a few months prior, and they were looking forward to some big European evenings ahead.
However, reality set in as injuries began to pile up and Newcastle struggled to keep up with the number of fixtures, eventually leading to their elimination from Europe and the Carabao Cup in December.
Guardiola, who has always talked well of Newcastle, believes this will be a valuable lesson for the Geordies, and he expects them to learn from it and return even stronger next year.
Given their league position, Newcastle may not even have Europe to contend with next year, but this could be a blessing in disguise, providing them with a clear path to push for the top four once more.
Regarding Newcastle, Guardiola stated, “Newcastle took a great stride and achieved another level. However, this is the first time they’ve participated in four competitions. That entails playing every three days, particularly in the beginning. It is difficult for any club to do something for the first time.
“I am confident they will take lessons since the potential is there. Last season was fantastic, but they only played one game per week. This season, they’ve played a lot, and it’s been really different. When you have experience, you can manage the training and minutes. I’m confident they’ll learn from their mistakes and make decisions to stay alive.”
Things can only get better for Newcastle
This is perhaps Newcastle’s lowest point since the takeover in 2021, and it’s fair to argue that their fans have been spoiled till now.
Of course, there will always be people who are overly reactionary, but the reality is that Newcastle has a lot of quality in their team when everyone is fit and available, and they will only add to it this summer.
They may lose a couple, the likes of Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson have been connected with moves away, but the owners’ long-term aim is to develop year by year, and Newcastle fans should take solace in the idea that they now have a football club that is always going to try and compete.
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