Sandro Tonali could not believe his luck after his stunning volley was tipped on to the bar.placeholder image
Sandro Tonali could not believe his luck after his stunning volley was tipped on to the bar. | Getty Images
Jordan Pickford denied Sandro Tonali a goal-of-the-season contender against Everton last weekend.
Sandro Tonali has admitted to congratulating Jordan Pickford after his wonder save against Newcastle United.
In the dying embers of last weekend’s defeat to Everton, the Italian was denied a thunderous stoppage-time equaliser. Tonali caught a volley perfectly, with St James’ Park ready to erupt.
However, Newcastle’s pantomime villain, Pickford, pulled off arguably the save of the season to confirm all three points for Everton. Boos echoed around the ground as the referee blew the full-time whistle, with the Magpies bouncing back by beating Manchester United 2-1 yesterday.
Sandro Tonali reveals Jordan Pickford chat
Speaking to Italian outlet Sky Sport Insider, Tonali has revealed what he said to Pickford following the save. He said: “Yes, the save was great! It bothers me a little but, ultimately, when a player does something great, you have to tell him.
“You can't beat around the bush. I congratulated him straight away after the match: he did something that rarely happens. I may have made one of the best shots of my life, it was definitely the best save against me. The great thing is that here in every game you have a player who impresses you.
“That's the real plus of the Premier League. Every team you play against, even if you don't know all the players, you discover that they have their own quality. No one should be underestimated.
“Then, when you play against the big teams and you find yourself facing a player like (Erling) Haaland or, last year, (Kevin) De Bruyne in their prime, players who can change the game in a minute. You admire them and understand even more how difficult it is to play against them."
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Sandro Tonali on Newcastle United recent form
"This year we've had a few ups and downs,” Tonali added. “But in February we started winning away from home and several games in a row. Then with the Champions League the atmosphere changed.
“It went much better. I think that getting through to the next round has given us some more confidence. March will be a busy month , between the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Champions League.”
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