Idman.biz
Dark clouds are gathering over Newcastle as the first leg of the Champions League play-off against Qarabag approaches. In the Premier League, the team has failed to win in four consecutive matches and has dropped to 12th place in the league table. After a 2-3 defeat to Brentford, experienced defender Kieran Trippier made a frank and harsh statement.
Idman.Biz reports that after the defeat, Kieran Trippier called on Newcastle fans to continue supporting the team as before, and also touched on the upcoming matches against Qarabag.
"Don't doubt it, we'll fix it. We're just going through a difficult time. I'm not looking for excuses about the number of matches, because we - players, fans and the club - want to play in the Champions League. We intend to participate in all tournaments, so there can be no excuses from me. It's about refreshing. We haven't won for five games, but now the main thing is character, moving forward and personal responsibility – including me," said Trippier.
He added that the crucial moment before the trip to Baku on February 18 could be the upcoming match against Tottenham.
"We will win again. Another difficult test awaits us. The only thing we can do is recover, continue to listen to the head coach and continue on our way. The schedule is ruthless, but that's exactly what we wanted," the defender continued.
Analyzing the game with Brentford, Kieran also admitted that he was to blame for the opponent's winning goal. "It's still about how this goal was conceded. After every game I constantly analyze myself and I don't even need to watch the third goal again - I wasn't in position. I take full responsibility here, as I have done throughout my career. I'm not hiding and I'm not shirking responsibility.
We are disappointed, especially when playing at home, because before we were strong, we created danger. Teams were afraid of us, but now there is a need for renewal. We must continue to work. This is the reality when you play every three days. We, the players, will take responsibility and apologize to the fans," said K. Trippier.
He also assessed what is important to improve the team's form. "Perhaps a little self-confidence is needed. I have experienced periods when you don't win many times during my career - when I was a young footballer, more experienced players took control of the situation. Now I am in this role and we must stabilize the situation. We must continue to listen to the head coach. He determines the plan, and our task is to take responsibility and fulfill it. The goals we concede are our fault and there is no other explanation," Trippier concluded in a statement on Newcastle's official website.
