Graham Potter highlighted Newcastle United’s excellent recent form and superb defensive record following Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to the Premier League high-flyers at St James’ Park, speaking to Football London.
To think, this is a Newcastle side who have barely even scratched the surface of their seemingly-endless supply of transfer funds. Seven teams in England’s top flight spent more than the newly-minted Magpies during the summer transfer window.
And, while Nick Pope, Matt Targett, Sven Botman and Alexander Isak have obviously played their part, Newcastle’s current position in the Champions League places owes less to those Saudi billions and more to Eddie Howe’s remarkable man-management. Not to mention the hitherto unimaginable improvements made by so many players who, during the Steve Bruce era, looked like the very definition of mid-table mediocrity.
Sean Longstaff, Jacob Murphy, Miguel Almiron and Joelinton are playing the best, most consistent football of their careers. Fabian Schar, meanwhile, has formed a near-unbeatable partnership with £35 million Botman; stopping attacks one minute, starting them the next with those line-breaking passes.
And, even when opposition teams do pick the lock, they’ve then got to find a way past Nick Pope. The equivalent of breaking into a mansion and then being confronted by a blood-thirsty hound in the foyer.
Hence why Newcastle currently have the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League.
Newcastle United deservedly beat Graham Potter’s Chelsea
“I thought we had some opportunities,” says Potter, his Chelsea side mustering just two shots on target during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat on Tyneside.
“Newcastle don’t make it easy for you. You can see they’re one of the best teams defensively in the Premier League. So, again, credit to them for that. It was a tough game for us.
“It doesn’t make it any easier; playing against a team in a really good moment and playing with huge intensity. Conor (Gallagher) had an opportunity, Pope pulled off a good save, but credit to Newcastle because they’re playing well.”
Guaranteed a spot in the Champions League places at Christmas for the first time in two decades; Newcastle have lost just once in 15 games while conceding 11 times. Only Manchester City, meanwhile, have been breached so infrequently.
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