Jason Tindall on Newcastle's 4-1 man Utd win in absence of Eddie Howe
13/04/2025
St James' Park, Newcastle, UK
13/04/2025
St James' Park, Newcastle, UK
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Yes, it certainly was. I said to the players before the game to go and deliver a performance
00:24that the manager would be proud of.
00:26How is he? Have you got any sort of updates at home now?
00:32No, no updates since obviously not really had the opportunity to speak to him properly,
00:38just received a text message before I come to do the media.
00:42So I'm sure as soon as there's any update then you guys will probably be the first to know.
00:48How proud are you of the players in the way they've responded?
00:52Because it would have been a slightly strange week before, but that is everything that the team should be.
00:59Super proud of the players. Not surprised because we've got a fantastic group of players,
01:08we've got some great leaders within that.
01:11And it's at times like this when the manager is not there, when he's not there to lead the team,
01:15that you have to step up individually and collectively.
01:18And everybody certainly did that today. So really, really proud of the players to go out and deliver the performance that they did today
01:25against a good Manchester United team. I'm sure everyone would be proud of them.
01:29Thank you. Thanks Luke. Go to George, Chris and then Craig. George.
01:32Hi, how are you guys? Can you explain a little bit about your role today? What's different for you?
01:41Yeah, obviously it's different when you're stepping in to lead the team in the absence of the manager.
01:47It's always going to be slightly different. This week was slightly different having to prepare the team.
01:53So, you know, but we've worked together for so long now. We've been together for 17 years.
02:00We know the expectations and the demands set upon ourselves individually and what we set upon the rest of the group.
02:07And it's then down to the players to take that information on board and go out and deliver a performance.
02:12And, you know, they certainly went out and did that today.
02:15He obviously missed his first game, your first game, but was intrinsically involved throughout that whole game.
02:23Did he have any involvement at all in picking the team, any part of that?
02:28No, I think the team probably picked itself in recent performances, but, you know, where he was ill
02:34and he was unable to be in, he put his trust in myself and the work and the rest of the support staff
02:43to go out and, you know, sort of deliver the performance.
02:47He trusted that, you know, if decisions needed to be made and tweaks needed to be made,
02:55that we'd make the right choices and make the right decisions.
02:58And, you know, thankfully that happened today.
03:00And as I say, you know, I'm sure he'd be really, really proud of the players' performance.
03:06Chris?
03:07Jason, on Friday you were saying at that point you thought Benetti would be here today.
03:12What point did that sort of change and that you realised you were going to have to lead the team?
03:16Probably Saturday morning.
03:19Chris, obviously, he got taken into hospital on Friday evening.
03:25He was poorly and, you know, sort of from that moment on,
03:28it was very unlikely that he wouldn't be here to lead the team today, as I say.
03:33But, you know, he put his trust in myself and the rest of the group to go out there and, you know, to make the right calls,
03:42to hopefully deliver the performance that we did today.
03:44And, you know, thankfully we did that and I'm sure he'd be super proud of everybody.
03:48And all the players who have said, obviously, very, very positive things and well wishes.
03:53And then did they come to you and ask how he was and then try to get what he did for you?
03:57Obviously, in a moment like that when your leader's not there,
04:00especially someone like Eddie, you know, we've worked together for 17 years
04:04and, you know, I don't think he's ever missed more than a day or two during that time.
04:09It's only the second ever game that I've had to sort of step in and fill them shoes
04:14and both of them was here in Newcastle, Brentford and then again today.
04:17So that just goes to show that, you know, he must have been sort of unwell
04:22to not be able to be able to lead the team.
04:25But, you know, super proud and the most important thing for us today was to deliver a performance
04:31that he'd be proud of and the lad certainly did that.
04:34Greg?
04:35Jason, this seems to have been a really difficult 48 hours for you.
04:38You know, you're not just stepping in for a touch like Barney here at Eddie.
04:41He's not just a colleague, he's a long-time friend to me as well.
04:45Have you been able to seek any reassurance from him within the conversation,
04:49the text conversation he's just had half an hour ago?
04:52Has there been any other contact?
04:54No, we've not had any contact for a couple of days other than the sort of odd message.
05:00He put his trust in myself and the work and the support staff to make the right calls
05:07and do what we felt was right.
05:10And, you know, credit and testament to Eddie himself for that.
05:15But as I say, we've worked together for a long time now.
05:18We know the expectations we put on ourselves in the group.
05:21And the most important thing for myself and for the players was, as I said,
05:27we went out and delivered a performance he would be proud of and I'm sure he will win you that.
05:31Did you personally have a lot of commotion today?
05:33I guess I'll touch on him, he is not just a colleague.
05:36No, of course.
05:38You know, I sent him a couple of messages today.
05:42You know, he was hugely missed, certainly for me.
05:47As I say, it's only the second time in 17 years that we've not been side by side and I did miss him.
05:53You miss your leader when he's not there.
05:55But testament and credit to everybody else to be able to step into them big shoes to fill.
06:00You know, he's one of the best managers around.
06:04And, you know, credit to everybody to be able to go out and deliver the performance that they did.
06:09And as I say, I'm sure he'd be proud of that.
06:12Do you expect there will still be a charge on Wednesday as it stands?
06:16Not sure, Craig, as yet.
06:19We've not spoken on the phone for a few days now.
06:23Obviously, you know, I was delighted to receive the message after the game
06:27and he was able to watch the game.
06:29So, you know, hopefully the result and the performance would have, you know,
06:33put a smile on his face and he'd be in good spirits.
06:36And the sooner the manager is back, the better for everybody.
06:39Thanks, Craig. We'll go to Mark, Lee and then to Don, please.
06:42You will have heard the crowd singing Eddie's name as well.
06:45It's obvious how much the people in Newcastle were ready.
06:50Was that an emotional moment as well hearing them sing?
06:54Of course, you know, Eddie's top, top manager.
06:57One of the best that there is out there.
06:59And I'll stick by that.
07:01I've always believed it.
07:03You know, and I'm so pleased that the success,
07:08certainly at this football club that he's brought.
07:11So it was an emotional moment, of course.
07:14You know, he means the world to myself, the rest of the staff, the players.
07:19And, you know, the sooner he's better and able to come back to work,
07:22then, you know, the better for everybody.
07:24What does it say about the team, the leaders you've got in the group,
07:28that they were able to play like that?
07:30You know, like you said, they haven't had their lead in.
07:33Full testament to the group of players that we've got.
07:35You know, it's times like these when you have to stand up and be counted.
07:38When your leader's not there to lead,
07:40then you need other people to come to the front and to lead
07:43and set the examples that they need to,
07:46to be able to go and deliver a performance to win the game.
07:51And, you know, full credit to the lads for going out there and doing that.
07:54Thanks, Mark.
07:55Me?
07:56Jason, you can move to third place.
07:59It could be Crystal Palace.
08:01You're in exactly the right mode according to the running now.
08:05Yeah.
08:06At the start of the season, we wanted to try and finish as high up the league as we could.
08:12We knew it would be incredibly difficult because there's so many good teams in the Premier League.
08:18It's, you know, it's probably the best league in the world.
08:21And every result that you get in the Premier League is incredibly tough.
08:25There's so many good sides.
08:26And you have to be at your best week in, week out to be able to do that.
08:30And full credit to the players.
08:32You know, certainly after the emotions and the high of the cup final to come back after that
08:37and deliver the performances and the results that they have done.
08:40Full credit to them.
08:41But we know now we've got an important game against Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
08:45Seven cup finals left and we have to go out and deliver the same type of performance like today.
08:50You've got Joel in and off just as things get a little bit spacey.
08:55Yeah.
08:56You know, Joey is a phenomenal player.
08:58You know, what he gives the team is passion, his desire, his commitment.
09:02You know, it's there for everybody to see.
09:04So it was important at that stage that, you know, we was able to bring off a few of the players to rest their legs.
09:11We've got a busy week coming up.
09:12And Joey's a passionate guy.
09:14As you say, he's on nine bookings as well.
09:16So it was important that he come up for that reason.
09:19And the fans today, the way you started the game with Dan Virgil on that tackle and setting the torch.
09:27It seemed like there was synergy around the runs, didn't it?
09:31Yeah, there was.
09:32And as I say, when I say everybody plays their part, it's not just the players.
09:36It's the coaching staff, the support staff.
09:39But it's also 53,000 fans here in James' part.
09:43We know what a difference they make and how they can influence a team.
09:47And they were certainly right behind the lads today.
09:50Obviously, we have to give them that opportunity to get behind us.
09:53We wanted to be aggressive today.
09:55We certainly did that, especially the second half.
09:58And, you know, that helped.
09:59And, you know, the fans played a huge part in that.
10:01Excellent. Dominic at back, then Kieran.
10:03You just touched on the second half.
10:05Obviously, going in one morning half the time, what was the message to the players that the club had a great reaction so soon after that?
10:12I had to make a couple of adjustments to our press.
10:15I felt we were probably a few yards off.
10:18Certainly, down the left-hand side, wasn't getting close enough to be able to regain the ball and to stop Manchester United's forward passes.
10:27And, you know, fought in the second half.
10:29We closed them gaps and the distances were a lot shorter.
10:32It was a little bit more aggressive.
10:34And I certainly thought that that helped us, especially in the second half.
10:38We were able to have a lot more regains, create a few chances, and off the back of it, we scored a couple of good goals.
10:43Kieran, I took a few remarks, he went off.
10:45Is he OK?
10:46And just how important has he been in this recent moment for five minutes?
10:50He's been really, really important, Kieran.
10:53He's a fantastic player, leader, character.
10:56But, you know, he come off, he's fine.
10:59But we're just protecting him a little bit at that stage of the game.
11:01We've got a busy week coming up.
11:02And, you know, when you get into the last ten minutes and you fall one up,
11:06you sort of get that luxury to be able to sort of take a few players off and save their legs a little bit.
11:11OK, last one.
11:12Kieran, please.
11:13I just assume that the two of the manager are proud of being a really powerful motivation for you guys?
11:18You'd like to think so.
11:21You know, I think everybody knows the commitment, the desire, the sacrifices the manager makes day in, day out to make everybody better.
11:31So to go out there and deliver a performance that he would have wanted and that he would be proud of was really, really important.
11:39And, you know, as I said before, the lads certainly went out there and delivered a performance that I'm sure he'd be proud of.
11:45I imagine just something like this for you as a staff being closer together.
11:50I imagine you're already close, but this is something new for you guys, isn't it?
11:55Yeah, so we've worked together for a long time now and we're all very close.
12:01We all know the expectations on each other, staff and players.
12:07And it's important that we stick to that and we don't drop below the standards that the manager would want
12:13and that we set ourselves and, you know, it was really important that everyone did that.
12:17They certainly did.
12:18And it contributed to today's performance.
12:20OK, thanks everybody.
12:22Features tomorrow. Cheers.
12:23Cheers, guys.