'Nonsense, stupidity' - Anthony Gordon comes out swinging after Newcastle United's win at Chelsea
Anthony Gordon has come out swinging after Newcastle United’s 1-0 win at Chelsea.
Anthony Gordon has hit out at the “complete nonsense” surrounding his omission from Newcastle United’s starting XI against Barcelona.
After being rested for the FA Cup fifth round exit to Manchester City three days earlier, Gordon was expected to return to the starting line-up for the Champions League last-16 first leg at home to Barca.
However, Gordon was limited to a half-hour substitute appearance after feeling unwell. And that led to criticism from several high-profile pundits.
Eddie Howe defends Anthony Gordon after criticism from pundits
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer said it would take "something extraordinary to keep myself out of this game" while midfielder Roy Keane asked “how can you be ill and come on for half an hour? It’s bizarre, isn't it?”
In addition, Wayne Rooney, who was on punditry duty pitch-side, questioned why Gordon "wouldn't shake our hands" beforehand only to then "sit in a dressing room with his team-mates".
It forced Magpies’ boss Eddie Howe to clarify the situation on Friday.
“I do have to clear something up with Anthony Gordon. He was absolutely willing to play in the game against Barcelona, there's been a lot of comments.
“It was my decision not to start him, based on the fact that he'd been ill that morning and hadn't attended the training session, so he was prepared to play, but in consultation with the medical team, we didn't think he was fit to play.”
Anthony Gordon fires back at pundits
Gordon returned to the starting line-up against Chelsea on Saturday evening and played a starring role as he scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win for Newcastle.
And when put in front of the TV cameras post-match, Gordon couldn’t help but fire back at those aforementioned pundits.
"Usually I don't like to clear stuff up because I don't care too much but this one does need clearing up because it was just nonsense,” Gordon told BBC Match of the Day.
"I didn't see but the stuff that the media guy told me was complete and utter stupidity. I was in bed for three days, missed training. I turned up on the day of the game, ready to start, I thought I was going to start.
"When I got to the stadium the manager told me I wasn't playing which I didn't like very much but that's his decision and the team played well.
"Saying I didn't want to play in the biggest game of my career is absolute nonsense. I think [Wayne] Rooney said I went past and didn't shake their hands and went into the changing room. I didn't. I got changed by myself in a changing room the size of this. It was just me and a sink.
"Complete nonsense. I think they need to do better at what they are doing."
Eddie Howe heaps further praise on Anthony Gordon
Defending Gordon before the game, Howe praised his player for ‘brushing off the noise’.
Howe said: “I think Ant's so single-minded and so focused on what he needs to do. I think a lot of the noise just brushes off him, which is a great thing to be able to do if you're him.
“I'd encourage every player to do it. Don't get distracted, don't absorb it, don't take anything in, just focus on what you need to do, and I think that's what he always does.
“I think he's been in a really good place of late. I've been very, very happy with what he's delivered, and this was a big game. He really stepped up and, of course, scored the goal, but, as I said, contributed in so many ways to the win.”