Nick Woltemade walked off the pitch at St James’ Park with mixed emotions, but one feeling stood above everything else: pride. The German striker once again showed his quality as Newcastle United were held to a 2-2 draw by Chelsea, scoring both goals in a performance that felt like a statement.
Just one week earlier, he had been at the centre of a painful moment, scoring an own goal in the Tyne-Wear derby defeat to Sunderland. What followed from the Newcastle supporters, however, has left a deep impression on him.
Woltemade has admitted he was completely blown away by how the fans reacted to that mistake. Instead of criticism, he received overwhelming support. Messages flooded in.
His name echoed around St James’ Park. For a player still settling into life at a new club, it was an experience he described as “not normal,” especially given the circumstances of the error and the rivalry involved.
Against Chelsea, Woltemade responded in the perfect way. He needed just four minutes to open the scoring, finishing calmly and setting the tone for a dominant first half.
Sixteen minutes later, he struck again, guiding Anthony Gordon’s curling cross into the bottom corner with a finish that showed both confidence and composure. It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone why Newcastle invested so heavily in him.
After the match, the 23-year-old spoke openly about what the support has meant to him. He explained that when he came on as a substitute in the Carabao Cup win over Fulham earlier in the week, the reaction from the crowd gave him an incredible feeling.
Hearing thousands of fans sing his name after the Sunderland disappointment lifted his spirits and restored his confidence.
He made it clear that this backing was a huge reason behind his performance against Chelsea. Knowing the fans were behind him allowed him to play freely, without fear.
He said the messages he received were overwhelmingly positive, estimating that around 95 percent were supportive. For him, that level of encouragement after an own goal in a derby defeat was something special, something he had never experienced before in his career.
Woltemade said he wanted to give something back to the supporters, and those two goals were his way of doing that. He spoke with gratitude, repeatedly thanking the fans and stressing how happy he is to be playing for a club like Newcastle. In his words, that connection between players and supporters creates belief, and belief creates performances.
Despite his personal success, the draw itself left him frustrated. Newcastle were excellent in the first half, pressing aggressively, winning second balls, and playing with confidence. Woltemade felt they deserved more than a point.
Reece James’ stunning free-kick early in the second half shifted the momentum, and Joao Pedro’s equaliser later on came from a situation Newcastle do not usually concede from.
The striker described the emotions as mixed. He believed Newcastle played really well overall and felt they could have scored a third goal, including himself completing a hat-trick. While he admitted the first half was clearly stronger, he did not think the second half was poor. Instead, he felt the goals conceded were unlucky and against the flow of how Newcastle usually defend.
Woltemade spoke confidently about the team’s approach, saying that if Newcastle continue to play like that, they will be very difficult to beat. He highlighted how well they pressed, how many balls they won back, and how effectively they used possession. From his perspective, the game plan worked, and on most days, that performance would have brought all three points.
Eddie Howe shared that view when reflecting on Woltemade’s display. The Newcastle manager described it as the striker’s best performance since joining the club.
Howe believes the support Woltemade received in midweek played a big role in how he approached the Chelsea match, both mentally and physically.
Howe praised his athleticism, his pressing, and his leadership at the front of Newcastle’s system. He explained that when the number nine sets the tone properly, everything else falls into place. Woltemade led the press, forced mistakes, and helped Newcastle dominate Chelsea for long periods. Howe also highlighted the quality of the goals, especially the second, which he described as a very difficult finish executed perfectly.
The only regret, in Howe’s eyes, was that Woltemade did not get his hat-trick. With a little more luck, the striker could have walked away with the match ball and three points. Instead, he had to settle for two goals and a draw, but the bigger picture remains extremely positive.
With nine goals already since his move from Stuttgart, Woltemade is growing into his role and showing signs of becoming a key figure for Newcastle.
More importantly, he is building a strong bond with the supporters, something that clearly means a lot to him. For a player still early in his journey on Tyneside, feeling that level of trust and affection can make all the difference.
In many ways, the Chelsea match felt like a turning point. Not just because of the goals, but because of what it represented. Woltemade made a mistake, was backed unconditionally, and responded with courage and quality. For him, that reaction from the Newcastle fans was something he will never forget. And if performances like this continue, the feeling inside St James’ Park will only grow stronger.
