Pep Guardiola was right about Newcastle United – and Eddie Howe
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola – who once wanted to play for Sir Bobby Robson at Newcastle United – has always been complimentary about Eddie Howe's team.
Newcastle United have had their moments against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, like that match-winning penalty from Matt Ritchie at St James’ Park in 2019, over the years.
Just never at the Etihad Stadium.
Eddie Howe’s side are looking for a record-equalling fifth successive Premier League away win at the home of the champions this afternoon following a remarkable run on their travels.
Newcastle, however, have taken just two points from a possible 57 at the Etihad Stadium, and I saw all bar a couple of those games from the press box.
Typically, I missed the club’s only win there – a 2-0 League Cup success in 2014 – as I was away for a friend’s wedding. Thanks to goals from Rolando Aarons and Moussa Sissoko, there was also a big celebration in the away end.
There has been very little for United fans to celebrate at the Etihad Stadium since that night.
In fact, the last player to score for the club at the stadium was DeAndre Yedlin in September 2018. The excellent nufc.com point out that the two clubs have played 510 minutes of football there since that strike.
However, this Newcastle side is capable of ending that dismal run.
Guardiola prediction
Guardiola – who wanted to play for Sir Bobby Robson at United in 1999 – has always been very complimentary about the club and Howe. He quickly recognised the threat that the resurgent club, with a well coached team, would pose following a takeover in late 2021.
I remember what he said about the two teams played out a pulsating 3-3 draw at St James’ Park the season before last.
After the rollercoaster game, which was an early indication of what the team would achieve in Howe’s first full season as head coach, I asked Guardiola what he thought of the job his opposite number was doing at St James’ Park.
“He’s one of the top managers,” said Guardiola. “He took over the team last season in a difficult position, circumstances.
"He made an incredible effort, so the team you see is growing. They have everything. They have pace, they have quality. It’s a difficult place to come.
"Newcastle are becoming one of the toughest opponents, for sure. The Premier League’s so difficult for everyone. It shows how amazing we’ve done for five years – and how difficult it will be.”
Within months, Guardiola was talking up Howe’s team as “contenders” after they climbed into the Champions League places, though, in reality, the club, taken over in late 2021, was never in the running for the title.
City’s manager also pinpointed the big “advantage” Newcastle, in the relegation zone when Howe took over the previous season, had over their rivals at the time as they weren’t playing in Europe.
United, like third-placed Nottingham Forest, again have that advantage this season.
The big question is can Newcastle press home that advantage over the coming weeks and months after losing two players in the January transfer window?
Only time will tell.
‘Fantastic’ Isak
Newcastle remain one of the league’s toughest opponents, and this was something that Guardiola yesterday reiterated after admitting his fifth-placed team, far from their best this season, had “made some steps backwards”.
“The whole league has made a step forward in all the teams, and we made some steps backwards in terms of what we were last season, previous seasons,” said Guardiola.
“(Newcastle have) a lot of threats, positive things. Physicality they have, speed, long balls, set pieces, experience, a solid team.
“They always have been a difficult side since Eddie Howe took over. They have good form and unbelievable pace. It’s a credit to them.”
Guardiola is right. The team’s mix of pace and physicality makes them incredibly tough opponents.
Then there is 17-goal Alexander Isak, the world-class talent signed from Real Sociedad in 2022.
“Isak has improved season by season,” said Guardiola. “I knew it a little bit, because I follow the Spanish league, and at Sociedad he already started to make an impact.
“He started to do it, and he proved he can run and the finishing, and he’s a fantastic player.”
With Isak in attack, United are capable of finally giving their fans a memorable moment, or two, at the Etihad Stadium.
As for Guardiola’s desire to play for Newcastle all those years ago, he revealed the “secret” story in the film “Bobby Robson: More Than A Manager”.
“I am going to explain something secret,” said Guardiola.
“After the purge in Barcelona, he went to Newcastle, and I sent him a letter to offer me the chance to go to him and play at Newcastle.
“One of my dreams would have been to have played in England.
“He answered me, and said it was not possible, because he had a lot of quality, and he was right, but, even in that tough moment, he was always so kind.
“He wrote a simple letter, and it was like it meant so much more. Bobby’s one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life.”
It was another case of what might have been at United.