After a difficult week, a football team often needs a single performance to reset, to remind everyone of what they are capable of. For Newcastle United, that performance came on a European night in Belgium.
The frustration of a last-gasp loss to Arsenal in the Premier League, following an opening Champions League defeat to Barcelona, had created a cloud of disappointment.
The trip to face Union Saint-Gilloise was therefore about more than just points; it was about pride, momentum, and proving a point. The team delivered in the most emphatic way possible, securing a commanding 4-0 victory that felt like a release of pressure.
The goals came from all over the pitch. Nick Woltemade continued his encouraging start by opening the scoring.
Anthony Gordon, showing great composure, stepped up to convert two penalties. And substitute Harvey Barnes put the finishing touch on a perfect night with a well-taken fourth goal.
It was a collective effort, a display of the attacking power and defensive solidity that the team knows it possesses. The players celebrated together on the pitch, and the traveling fans, who have endured a tough start to the season, celebrated with them.
In the hours after the final whistle, as the team prepared to travel back to England, the players took to social media to share their thoughts.
The messages were, as you would expect, filled with joy and pride. Sandro Tonali captured the magic of the occasion, simply writing, “European nights, special.” Anthony Gordon highlighted the historic nature of the win, calling it the “biggest UCL win in the club’s history.”
Goal scorers Woltemade and Barnes celebrated their personal milestones, while the experienced Kieran Trippier praised the team’s character in bouncing back from recent disappointments.
But among these celebratory posts, one message stood out for its slightly different tone. It came from the team’s captain, Bruno Guimaraes. He, of course, expressed his happiness with the victory and thanked the incredible away support.
Yet, his message contained a clear and pointed reminder to his teammates. He called it a “very important win away from home,” and then followed it with a crucial nine-word sentence: “We have to maintain this standard from now on.”
This simple statement carries a lot of weight. It’s the voice of a leader who understands that one brilliant performance is not the destination, but a stepping stone.
The win in Brussels was fantastic, but the real challenge begins now. The team has shown what it can do; the next step is to do it consistently, especially back in the Premier League.
Newcastle’s domestic form has been a real concern. Despite a strong defensive record, the team has only managed to win one of its first six league games.
The struggle to turn solid defensive performances into victories has been the story of their season so far. The victory against Union SG proved that the quality, the fight, and the attacking flair are all there.
Guimaraes’s message is a call to action, a challenge to his teammates to harness the confidence from this European win and channel it into their league campaign.
The perfect opportunity arrives this Sunday with a match at St. James’ Park against Nottingham Forest. It is a chance to prove that the performance in Belgium was not a one-off, but a true turning point.
The captain has laid down the marker. He has acknowledged the joy of the win, but he has also immediately shifted the focus to the future.
The standard has been set. Now, the entire squad must work to maintain it, starting with the very next game. The biggest wins are only meaningful if they become the foundation for something greater.
