Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe’s strategy against Borussia Dortmund didn’t go as planned. Surprisingly, he made an unexpected decision by benching Anthony Gordon and Miguel Almiron and opting for Tino Livramento and Joelinton on the wings. It seemed like Newcastle’s initial approach was to play cautiously and then unleash their attacking options in the second half. At halftime, Howe brought on Gordon and Almiron, replacing Lewis Hall and Callum Wilson.
Despite these changes, Newcastle’s star players failed to make an impact, and the team ultimately lost 2-0. This defeat has put Newcastle in a challenging position in the Champions League, with a tough match against Paris Saint-Germain coming up.
Howe attempted to make adjustments during halftime, but Newcastle couldn’t find a way past Borussia Dortmund’s defense. TalkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy expressed his disappointment with Almiron’s performance as a substitute.
Jason Cundy disappointed with Miguel Almiron vs Dortmund
After the 2-0 loss to Dortmund, Jason Cundy discussed Eddie Howe’s decision to introduce Almiron in the second half on TalkSPORT. Cundy mentioned, “He made the change at halftime, and Almiron had warmed up just before the break. He didn’t quite have the impact we were hoping for. They were probably aiming for a draw, which would have been a great result, especially considering their previous defeat at home. That home loss to Dortmund was the result that really hurt them.”
Newcastle could not get the best out of Almiron on Tuesday night
Miguel Almiron is at his most threatening when Newcastle is on the counter-attack, utilizing his incredible speed. However, on Tuesday night, Dortmund’s defensive approach prevented him from showcasing this ability.
The situation might have been different if the 29-year-old had come on when the score was 0-0, but Newcastle couldn’t prevent conceding in the first half.
Eddie Howe would have certainly expected more from his substitutes, but they couldn’t turn the tide in favor of Newcastle, resulting in a disappointing defeat. Almiron came close to scoring a goal, but his scissor kick attempt in stoppage time was blocked.
This outcome places Newcastle at the bottom of the group, and their chances of advancing to the next round of the Champions League now seem extremely unlikely.
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