Bruno Guimaraes has stepped forward to ease the pressure on Nick Pope after Newcastle United’s 2-1 defeat to Marseille in the Champions League, a result that added to a worrying pattern in their recent away performances.
Newcastle took an early lead at the Stade Vélodrome through Harvey Barnes, but the match slipped away from them within minutes of the second half beginning. Pope rushed out to deal with a long ball, misjudged the situation, and left Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with an open goal.
The striker curled the ball home from distance before adding a second shortly after, completing a rapid turnaround that Newcastle never recovered from.
It marked yet another away match where Newcastle went ahead but came away with nothing. They have now lost four straight away games, and in three of those they scored first. Guimaraes spoke honestly after the match, describing his frustration at how quickly the team let control slip.
He said they began the game with confidence, aggression, and good possession, but admitted the opening minutes of the second half were not good enough. Those few moments cost them everything.
The midfielder described the performance as sloppy both with and without the ball, and he didn’t hide his disappointment. He believed Newcastle were in a strong position at half-time and should have done more to extend their lead before Marseille fought back.
For him, the defeat was tough to accept because the opportunity was there to put the match to bed. Still, he insisted the group must learn from mistakes like this as they head into the final Champions League fixtures.
With nine points from their first five group matches, Newcastle remain in a competitive position. They face a difficult run, with away trips to Bayer Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain and a crucial home match against PSV Eindhoven still to come.
A top-eight finish would secure a place in the knockout rounds, while finishing between ninth and 24th would still give them a chance through the play-off pathway. The loss in France puts them under more pressure, but qualification remains within reach.
Guimaraes didn’t believe the overall performance was terrible. In fact, he argued they had a big chance to make it 2-0 in the first half. But he stressed that they cannot afford to switch off for five or ten minutes at this level.
He repeated that this was now the third straight away match where they scored first but failed to take anything from the game. For him, the team must look inward, work harder, and address the issues immediately because the same mistakes are happening too often.
When asked directly about the criticism aimed at Nick Pope for the equalising goal, Guimaraes made sure to shut it down. He defended his goalkeeper without hesitation, reminding everyone how many times Pope has rescued Newcastle in the past.
He pointed out that mistakes happen to every player, listing himself and Dan Burn as examples. His message was clear: the team wins together and loses together, and no one should be singled out.
The defeat adds extra weight to Newcastle’s next match, a Premier League trip to Everton. They are still searching for their first away league win of the season, and with their confidence bruised, they need a strong reaction.
Guimaraes’ words showed both frustration and belief. He knows the team is capable of much better, and he believes the solutions will come from honest reflection and stronger focus.
Despite the setbacks, he remains determined to push the team forward and make sure results like the one in Marseille don’t become the norm.
