Legendary manager makes a beeline for Anthony Gordon at full-time after the Magpies star inspires a 3-0 victory over his Benfica side in the Champions League
Ever the showman – even in defeat – Jose Mourinho made a beeline for match winner Anthony Gordon after the Newcastle winger’s latest electric Champions League display.
Throwing an arm around Gordon’s shoulder Mourinho told him simply: “You’re too much”.
Four goals, one assist and a man of the match award from three Champions League games suggests he might be right.
After a stacatto start to the season Gordon appears to be getting somewhere close to the dynamic levels that persuaded Newcastle to put a nine figure release clause in the contract extension he agreed last season.
He is so important to the Eddie Howe system that it’s no surprise that when Newcastle’s £100m man fires, the team look like they belong in Europe’s elite.
‘My favourite manager as a kid’
Gordon is a compelling character, eloquent in the mixed zone and never one to hide from microphones when the going gets tough.
Associates say he feeds off criticism so it’s no surprise that he sees a kindred spirit in Mourinho, even if the Benfica boss feels like a bit of a faded tribute act to the manager who blazed a trail when he first exploded on the managerial scene 21 years ago.
“It was a big compliment for me because as a kid growing up he was my favourite manager in the world,” Gordon said afterwards, clutching a small silver man of the match trophy.
“It’s quite weird because he was quite a defensive manager but I just love the way… he creates a team environment.
“Even tonight you see the [Benfica] bench getting up [to protest decisions]. It’s like us against the world and I recognise that from my own game. It meant a lot.”
So too did Newcastle’s win on Tuesday night. Tyneside can sometimes feel claustrophobic when form is iffy and after Saturday’s defeat at Brighton – another blip in an inconsistent domestic campaign – they needed a response against Benfica.
How Eddie Howe masterminded victory
A 3-0 win that showcased all the power, pace and devastating precision that is the trademark of a Howe team buys them time and space and repays the faith of those who preach patience.
“We’ve deserved more but that’s the nature of the beast,” Gordon admitted. He feels Newcastle’s problem has been not “finishing off teams” and he’s right about that – although their inability to create chances in some Premier League games has been equally as problematic.
Howe went back to basics against Benfica, to an extent, bringing Jacob Murphy back on the right wing in place of £55m summer signing Anthony Elanga. It worked.
Murphy can be a strange player to watch at times and his decision-making is occasionally baffling. But there are few in the Premier League capable of delivering a cross like the one that created Newcastle’s much-needed opener on Tuesday night.
“He’s so underestimated as a player, honestly,” Gordon said of Murphy, a player he believes “has everything” required to make a late run into England’s World Cup plans.
“He can do absolutely everything any winger can do in the Premier League and I don’t know why he’s so underestimated. I love playing with him.”
What next for Newcastle?
Performing like that Newcastle can be a lot of fun to watch. Certainly Nick Woltemade, all deft flicks, smart touches and clever runs, has added a dash of the unknown to their play and it feels like there is quite a high ceiling for a team still recovering from a summer of upheaval.
Smart performances from Jacob Ramsey – making his Champions League bow for Newcastle – and Lewis Miley suggested that this time around, Newcastle have the sort of squad depth required to clamber out of the group stage – which is the club’s priority target this season.
But if they are really to make an impact, you suspect that it will fall on the shoulders of the likes of Gordon to perform at their maximum.
“The Champions League brings the best out of me,” he said.
“The biggest games make me feel alive, I love playing at this level, it’s where I wanted to play as a kid so I’m living the dream.”
Reality on Tuesday night was just as sweet for Newcastle.
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