Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce has hit back at some of the ’embarrassing’ criticism he received in the build-up to his side’s 1-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday.
Former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra said that some of the players he spoke to at the club said that they don’t know their jobs while the team’s warm-up was the subject of analysis following captain Paul Dummett’s comments that the side weren’t right from their warm-up following the loss to Norwich.
A Joelinton goal was enough for Newcastle to claim their first win of the season and Bruce took the opportunity to hit back at some of the criticism that has come his way this week.
“We can’t do a warm-up? Tactics? It’s embarrassing, some of the stuff,” he told Sky Sports in his post-match interview.
“The only way you can respond to it is with the team putting in a performance like that. The organisation was there for everyone to see.
"We can't do a warm-up? Tactics? It's embarrassing, some of the stuff. The only way you can respond to it is with the team putting in a performance like that."#NUFC criticism embarrassing at times, says Steve Bruce: https://t.co/WaK28J3ciI pic.twitter.com/HkHe5vgjHb
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 25, 2019
“I have managed 900-odd games over 20 years. You would think there would be some respect. But I go back to the fact that whoever was going to replace Rafa [Benitez] was going to have a tough time.
“The easiest thing would have been to have said no to the challenge. But I am as determined as I have ever been to take the club forward. Days like today I will remember for a long time.”
Bruce was under mountainous pressure heading into the game and he said while he knew that it would be difficult to follow in the footsteps of former manager Rafael Benitez, he said that he did not envisage the job being this tough this early into his tenure at St. James’ Park.
“As I said at the time, I was totally selfish to take it. I knew it was going to be difficult, if I’m going to be brutally honest, I didn’t think it was going to be that difficult from day one and we hadn’t even played a game,” he added.
“I understood that whoever came after Rafa was going to have a rocky ride, I just hope that we can now just get on with trying to take the club forward and unite the supporters.
“The supporters will have witnessed the team today, and it’s vitally important they have an association with the team. They’ll have enjoyed watching their team today.
“For me personally, managing this club is up there with anything I’ve ever done. I was even asked on Friday if I regret taking it. How can I regret taking it? You have to put up with a bit of flak every now and then, but I’ve been given a wonderful opportunity.”
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