The former England full-back could not prevent an FA Cup exit against Man City but wants no moaning as the games come thick and fast
Newcastle United’s Kieran Trippier(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)
Kieran Trippier has shut down any dressing room moaning about Newcastle United’s hectic schedule this season.
The Magpies will see their fixture list reduced after bowing out of the FA Cup against Manchester City, but as stand-in captain, deputising for injury-stricken leader Bruno Guimaraes, Trippier has ordered his team-mates to make amends for the fifth-round exit by putting on a dream show at St James’ Park against Barcelona tomorrow night.
After taking a well-deserved lead through Harvey Barnes in the 18th minute, Newcastle could not stop the Man City onslaught as Omar Marmoush helped himself to two second-half goals after Brazil star Savinho had prodded home an equaliser.
Trippier said after the City loss and ahead of that mammoth Champions League last 16 tie against Barca: “There should be no excuses about the games or schedule, throughout my career I have been in this situation many times, this is where you want to be as a footballer going into games against Barca and winning these types of occasions.
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“I think every competition, the Carabao Cup, FA Cup, we know and I know as an Englishman how precious this cup is.
“You want to go far in it. But ultimately, and this is the reality, you have to hold your hands up, Man City were the better team on the day.
“It just shows the quality they have. That’s where we want to be.
“They are multiple champions for a reason. We have to hold our hands up and we can have no excuses, they were a better team.”
The loss to Man City came on the back of a big win over Manchester United on Tyneside last week and Trippier feels that type of performance will be required against La Liga giants Barca.
Trippier said: “No matter who comes to town, Man City, Man United or Barcelona, we have to show that positive mindset.
“It gets supporters off their seats. For 30 minutes, we did that.
“But again no excuses we have to forget this, we have a huge game against Barca on Tuesday and we know we have to be up for it.
“We have to start well to get the fans into the game.
“Home or away you need to start well against Man City, and we did that for the first 30 minutes we matched them.
“We got the goal but they equalise but going into half-time we felt positive, the momentum swung our way before half-time.
“But it is disappointing to concede so early in the second half. You can never concede like that against a team like this, but they show their quality individually and as a team.”
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