Slaven Bilic has stated that he is ‘not a big fan of Newcastle’ but admitted that the Premier League would be poorer without them.
The former West Ham boss labelled Newcastle as a ‘massive club’ and praised them for the recent run of form they have been on in England’s top-flight, as he told Premier League Productions (05/03/22 at 8:40 pm).
Newcastle recorded a deserved 2-1 win over Brighton at St James on Saturday to maintain their unbeaten run in the league.
After going months and months without winning a game of football, Eddie Howe’s side now last tasted defeat against Manchester City in December.
After their recent win against Brighton, this is the interesting take Bilic had on the north east club.
“Great last seven or eight games,” said Bilic. “But I fancied them before the game.
“Newcastle have got pace upfront. On the wings and centre-forward. That’s what they have been doing in the first 20 minutes, then they went 2-0 up and it was much easier for them.
“Newcastle, I am not a big fan of Newcastle, but to be fair, for the Premier League it would be a big blow, not only for the Newcastle fans. But the Premier League is different without Newcastle.
“They are a massive club. Every club in the Premier League, or in the Championship, I have been in the Championship, every club in England is a big club because it has history and tradition. Even if it’s 50 years, ago, whatever, but they are.”
Newcastle will play Burnley on the final day of the Premier League season.
Given how the results for both clubs have been going this term, many were expecting that game to be a possible relegation decider.
But, given the rate Newcastle are now going at, they should be safe by the time they travel to Turf Moor on the final day of the season.
The same can’t be said for Burnley, who were thrashed by Chelsea on Saturday because they will fear that their former player, Chris Wood, might just come back to haunt them.
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