(Reuters) – Kieran Trippier, the right back for Newcastle United, expressed disappointment in the team’s performance this season, noting that his own form has suffered as the team struggled to maintain their usual standards. The team, currently in eighth place, has experienced four defeats in their last five Premier League matches, despite already being eliminated from the Champions League and League Cup. Their latest setback came in a 3-1 loss to 16th-placed Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park on Tuesday.
Trippier attributed many of the team’s issues to a demanding fixture schedule and a long list of injuries as they returned to European competition after a two-decade absence. Despite this, he did not shy away from taking accountability for his recent performances, acknowledging that he has not met his own high standards in recent games. Last week, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe publicly supported the 33-year-old England international despite errors made during their League Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Chelsea.
“The standards we have set throughout the last 18 months, we have come away from them a little bit in the last few games,” Trippier told Amazon Prime. “My standards have dropped, and my own performances have been nowhere near recently. I have had a lot of setbacks in my career and this is just another one where I need to keep going and keep believing. I have always got that belief to bounce back.”
Despite the recent struggles, Trippier expressed confidence in the team’s ability to overcome their current challenges. He acknowledged the difficulty of adapting to the demands of Champions League football for a squad largely inexperienced in such high-stakes competition, coupled with numerous injuries. Trippier emphasized the need for the team to start the second half of the season on a strong note.
“Teams always go through moments and we are going through one now but football changes quickly and for sure this team will bounce back,” he said. Newcastle’s next challenge will be a visit to league leaders Liverpool on Monday.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
