If ever there was a game that stirs up emotion, it's the Tyne-Wear derby - and Nobby Solano witness it at first hand
Ruud Gullit benched Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson in that famous derby match in the rain
Ruud Gullit benched Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson in that famous derby match in the rain
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Nobby Solano knows the implications of misunderstanding the impact of a Tyne-Wear derby better than most.
Solano warned Newcastle's overseas stars to make sure they don't end up on the losing side and buy into the idea that beating Sunderland is arguably "bigger" than beating Barcelona.
The former Newcastle star was in the dressing room when Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson discovered they were dropped in 1999 by Ruud Gullit. In a game that was played in monsoon conditions, Sunderland triumphed 2-1 as Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips broke Geordie hearts at St James' Park.
But it was Shearer and Ferguson being axed and Gullit's departure the next day that caused shockwaves behind the scenes as the Dutchman was forced to resign.
Solano said: "If I didn't know much about the rivalry between Newcastle and Sunderland before, I did after that night. When I first signed for the club in 1998, Sunderland were in the division below, so I'd heard them mentioned once or twice in and around the dressing room.
"But then they got promoted and the derby got mentioned more and more. I knew it meant a lot to the local players so to see Shearer get dropped was a real shock.
"We only knew about the team because Ruud Gullit pinned the line-up on the wall on a piece of paper, so Alan was furious not to play as he knew what the derby meant to the city.
"Dropping Big Dunc was just as brave but to lose the derby the way we did, having not used Ferguson and Shearer's firepower, made no sense.
"Gullit had to resign after that because there was no way back for him. He'd fallen out with Shearer already and it was the final straw.
"The next day before he'd handed in his resignation, Shearer and Ferguson hunted him down at the training ground.
"Shearer discovered Ferguson had got their first and pretty much taken the hinges off the closed door.
"It made me understand exactly what this game meant. Players like Dan Burn will help the players who aren't from the area understand the occasion.
"But having lost the first game at Sunderland the squad should know already."
Solano hopes that Newcastle don't repeat the mistakes they made against Barcelona in the Champions League. A 7-2 defeat in Spain means Newcastle go into this game as the wounded animals.
Solano said: "The players can make amends by beating Sunderland after Barca. I couldn't believe they played so high up the pitch.
"When they got the game back to 2-2 I hopes that they would sit back a little and try to use the likes of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga's pace on the break.
"But they went forward too much and invited pressure. Combined with going man for man against a world class Barca side, it was always asking for trouble."
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