- Bruno Guimaraes criticises Newcastle United teammates
- Brazil international returned to starting XI against Arsenal
- Midfielder laments a ‘season to forget’ on Tyneside
Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes has accused teammates of ‘complacency’ as a poor run of Magpies form continued with a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday evening.
Eddie Howe’s side have now lost their last five outings across all competitions and are in freefall down the Premier League, looking more likely to become embroiled in a relegation battle than a push for European qualification.
Guimaraes returned to the starting XI for the first time since early January at the Emirates Stadium and was a welcome addition in the centre of the park. Newcastle did improve on poor displays against Crystal Palace and AFC Bournemouth since the international break, but still lacked a cutting edge.
Bruno Guimaraes: ‘Some players got a little complacent’
The midfielder talked to ESPN Brasil after the match and didn’t hold back with a candid critique of the team. Guimaraes said: “Without a doubt, this has been the worst season since I’ve been here. We’ve done great things for the club recently. In the last four years, since the club was bought, we saved the team from relegation, won a title after 70 years and went to the Champions League twice.
“I don’t know if some players got a little complacent; overall, we got a little complacent, but it’s not a good season.”
Newcastle were dumped out of the Champions League by Barcelona last month in the Round of 16 and getting back into Europe via the league became a priority for the club after that.
Newcastle United endure ‘season to forget’
The Magpies are now 14th, eight points off the top six and eight points off the drop zone. If Leeds United beat Burnley on Friday night, they will leapfrog Newcastle in the league.
A frustrated Guimaraes added: “I would say it’s a season to forget. We have four games left, we know that the difference to seventh or eighth place, who will qualify for Europe, is possible.
“We have four games to finish in the best way possible, but it’s not a good season on average, even though, individually, I’m having a good year, with more goals scored in the Premier League, it’s a strange mix of feelings.”
In other news, Paul Merson warns Newcastle United as Premier League rival would hire Eddie Howe ‘all day long’.
