Frenkie de Jong has paid homage to the Newcastle United fans following Barcelona’s 2-1 win in the Champions League.
While it was not the result they were hoping for, it was still a night to remember for the fans inside St James’ Park, who did their part by bringing the noise.
It was evident that the Newcastle United players were feeding off the atmosphere inside the ground, with the likes of Anthony Elanga putting in a brilliant performance early on, breaking past Barcelona’s high defensive line on multiple occasions.
However, Marcus Rashford’s two brilliant goals spoiled the fun at St James’ Park, ensuring a late goal from Anthony Gordon was a mere consolation.
Midfielder Frenkie de Jong was sensational for Barca against Newcastle, misplacing just one pass throughout the whole 90 minutes. In a post-match interview, the Dutchman shared his admiration towards the Newcastle fans.
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Frenkie de Jong learned about St James’ Park from his Dutch national teammates
Newcastle have had several Dutch internationals come and go, while many others have played at St James’ Park in the past. Most of them appear to recognise the ground for having one of the best atmospheres in the Premier League, based on comments from de Jong after the game.
Fans were told to bring the noise inside St James’ Park, but de Jong was already prepared for what was coming thanks to conversations with his fellow countrymen who have played at the ground.
“I think we did quite well overall,” he said in an interview with Voetbal.
“If we had played it a bit better around the opposition box, we might have created more chances. We won 1-2, and we’re happy with that.”
“I’d heard a lot about it from the guys on the Dutch national team who play in the Premier League (about St James’ Park). The atmosphere was fantastic.
“They’re true football fans. They react to football moments and showed so much emotion. That was great to see.”
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Newcastle United must still take confidence from losing to Barcelona
For some, the result will be tough to take. However, many Newcastle fans can be pleased with the way their team played against a top, top side.
Fans were shocked by Eddie Howe taking off Elanga, but the change ultimately proved to be a positive one, as Gordon found the back of the net before stoppage time.
Elsewhere, it was another assist for Jacob Murphy, who continues to stake his claim for a spot in the starting XI for the Magpies. The 30-year-old got his first assist of the season when he supplied Nick Woltemade against Wolves on Saturday, and made an impact off the bench against the Spanish giants on Thursday night.
Bright performances from players like Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman off the bench will also be seen as very positive for Howe. The defensive duo could be used against Bournemouth on Sunday if Fabian Schar remains out due to concussion protocol.
Ultimately, there is a long way to go in this Champions League campaign, and if Newcastle can replicate the same performance they showed against Barcelona against other teams, they are on to a winner.
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