Guimaraes outlines next Newcastle ambition after "crazy" prediction was spot on
It was a grey afternoon in early February last year when Bruno Guimaraes stepped onto a stage at St James’ Park, flashed his smile and made a prediction.
Newcastle were in the bottom three, relegation was a possibility after two wins in 22 games, and the Brazil playmaker had just signed for £40m from Champions League side Lyon. “In the seasons coming, the objective is to be in the Champions League and eventually to win the Champions League,” he said.
Bold? Brave? Fantasy football?
On Monday night, Newcastle’s place in the top four this season secured by a 0-0 draw with Leicester, he stood in an empty stadium at 11.30pm and admitted: “People said: “Bruno is crazy!”
“How can he say they can get to the Champions League!? Now in my first full season this is how it is, Champions League and top four. Did I expect it this quickly? To be honest, no.”
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"What did I think when people say "crazy"? I don’t care! I am ambitious. This is something I have been since I remember myself. Have ambition and challenge.
“When I signed, people said that you are crazy to sign for a team who could play in the Championship next season. But here we are and we have the Champions League one year after. I don’t care about the people who said I was crazy!
Guimaraes was a catalyst, along with Kieran Trippier, another January 2021 recruit. Ready made excellence that dragged the club out of an 11 year slump into mediocrity.
Eddie Howe has worked wonders with Newcastle after bringing the likes of Guimaraes to the club (AFP via Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY: How will Newcastle fare in the Champions League next season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Does he have any other crazy predictions for the future of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, and next season? The answer is to sustain the challenge, and get used to the extra games that Europe and cup competitions will bring. To be comfortable when reaching a final.
Guimaraes added: “I think the challenge will be bigger than next year. I think the team has to have a goal of Champions League, not to go now and then not for ten years.
“We have to get used to being there. Like in the Carabao Cup final, we have to get used to going there. I think this is the ambition - fight for titles. The club deserves titles. Because of that I am here. That’s it!
“It is difficult to know (if Newcastle will be a force in Europe next season) and speak about now, because we’ve just got there. Now it is time to recover, and we need to have a look at what will happen in the market.
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“We can be ambitious but I don’t know what point we can reach. So now we just enjoy the moment.
“So everyone is very happy. Now it’s relaxing, and enjoying this time and get some rest because my body really needs it. Everyone is pleased. But then we keep working because the challenge will be more difficult next season.”
How did it happen? £250m spent on the likes of Alexander Isak, Sven Botman, Nicky Pope and Dan Burn has helped.
Callum Wilson hitting 18 goals has been massive, and Miggy Almiron’s early season goal spree vital. A rock solid defence with new boy Botman alongside rejuvenated Fab Schar has leaked only 32 goals, one more than Man City.
Trippier has been man of the season alongside midfield enforcer, the versatile Joelinton close behind. The re-energising of the St James’ crowd was also key. Positivity, noise and pre match flag displays have transformed the ground into a cauldron few relish visiting.
Guimaraes is a hero at St James' Park where optimism is at a high (Getty Images)At United’s July training camp in Austria, you could sense a new team emerging. Focused and together, marshalled by Howe’s innovations and psychology of challenge. One day they ran lengths of the pitch to exhaustion. It was Howe’s philosophy in action: Empty yourself on the pitch.
When staff went to get water for recovery, they were told no…. The team has to help each other. That spirit carried through. Training was always detailed and fresh. Whole days spent on set pieces, days on transition, days on defending.
The rewards came, and now Geordies are dreaming of facing Madrid, PSG, Milan or Napoli. “Tell me ma, me ma, we won't be home for tea, we’re going to Italy….”
Guimaraes concluded: “It has been such a long season, so many injuries, pulled hamstring, disappointed by the World Cup, yeah, what a season it was. But in the end everything was alright, we got the Champions League after 20 years, right? 20 years!”
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