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Steve Bruce has risked offending his thinner-skinned players by condemning them with mild praise. The Newcastle manager went to great lengths to praise his team’s resilience ahead of Wednesday’s game in Leeds, but was not shy about emphasizing its limitations.
“They may not be impressive to look at, but they understand what Newcastle is,” he said, referring to the considerable core of the first team that played an integral role in Rafael Benítez’s 2017 Championship-winning team and has been responsible for the class. from 2020-21. climb to the middle of the table in the Premier League. “I think his greatest quality is that resilience.
“Yes, we would love for them to be a little more entertaining at times; yes, maybe they could pick a pass at certain times, but there’s no questioning their stamina or what they’ve given Newcastle over a period of three or four years.
“At certain times they may lack a bit of quality, but they cannot be eliminated; they are a good group to work with. They know that to be successful, you must have the ability to roll up your sleeves. If you do that, the followers will forgive you. “
Newcastle has been devastated by a Covid outbreak in the past month, but three rounds of tests in the past six days have come back negative, and save for a handful of players and two staff members who remain marginalized by the virus, all have returned. to the training ground. . The Premier League funds weekly testing at the clubs, but some have chosen to fund a second round of testing and Newcastle appears keen to follow suit.
“The important thing is the fatigue, the way it leaves you tired,” said Bruce, who will welcome Federico Fernández in the middle after the coronavirus. “The players are fit, healthy and young and, for the vast majority, that affects them. But not all.
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“Isaac Hayden [now restored to health] He was in bed for a week and is arguably our fittest player. And, unfortunately, for two of the players in particular, it hasn’t affected them. I think it would be wrong of me to go into too much detail, but they won’t be ready for at least a couple of weeks.
“This virus has no borders. He was really surprised by some of the things that happened. [when it hit Newcastle]. From not affecting anyone to the way he slipped through everyone, it was pretty scary. The decision to close the training ground was crucial; otherwise, God knows what he would have done. The way it was all going would have wrecked the whole world. “
Bruce has never met Marcelo Bielsa in person and is looking forward to his first game with the Leeds manager. “Maybe you can share your bucket?” He said. “That would be a sight for sore eyes!”
