Anthony Gordon Fires Back at Pundits Over Barcelona Selection Controversy
Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon has launched a strong rebuttal against criticism from football legends Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer regarding his absence from the starting lineup during Tuesday's Champions League clash against Barcelona. The 25-year-old was relegated to the bench for the crucial match after falling ill in the days leading up to the fixture, eventually making a substitute appearance in the 67th minute as Newcastle drew 1-1.
Pundit Criticism Sparks Fiery Response
Speaking on Amazon Prime, Shearer had questioned Gordon's commitment, stating: 'Maybe I'm old school but if you're fit enough to train in the morning, and I know he doesn't feel well, but this is Barcelona at Newcastle for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It would take something extraordinary to keep myself out of this game tonight.'
Rooney added fuel to the fire by highlighting apparent contradictions in Gordon's behavior, noting: 'Eddie Howe said before the game he probably has 20 or 30 minutes in him. So what is that telling you about what the sports scientists and doctors are saying? If you are ill, you are ill. He walked past us before the game and said he wouldn't shake our hands because he was ill and didn't want us to catch something. But then he is in the dressing room and with his teammates.'
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane echoed these sentiments on The Overlap, questioning how a player could be too ill to start but fit enough to play half an hour.
Gordon's Forceful Denial
Gordon responded forcefully after scoring the winning goal in Newcastle's 1-0 victory over Chelsea on Saturday, telling Match of the Day: 'Usually I don't like to clear stuff up because I don't care too much. But this one does need clearing up because it was just nonsense. I didn't see but the stuff that the media guy told me was complete and utter stupidity.'
The forward provided detailed context about his illness, revealing: 'I was in bed for 3 days, missed training, so I was sick for three days. Then I turned up on the day of the game ready to start and I thought I was starting. When I got to the stadium, the manager told me I wasn't starting, which you can imagine I didn't like very much, but that's his decision. The team played great, but saying I didn't want to play in the biggest game of my career is absolute nonsense.'
Addressing Specific Allegations
Gordon specifically countered Rooney's claims about avoiding handshakes, explaining: 'I think it was Rooney that said I walked past and didn't shake their hands, but then went in the changing room. I got changed by myself in a changing room the size of this. It was just me and a sink. So it was complete nonsense, and I think they need to do better at what they are doing.'
Managerial Support and Context
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe had already defended his player during his pre-match conference ahead of the Chelsea match, stating clearly: 'I do have to clear something up with Anthony Gordon. He was absolutely willing to play in the game against Barcelona. I know there's a lot of comments. It was my decision not to start him based on the fact that he'd been ill that morning and hadn't attended the training session. He was prepared to play, but in consultation with the medical team, he didn't think he was fit to play.'
Howe further praised Gordon's mental fortitude after the Chelsea victory, adding: 'He's so single-minded and focused on what he needs to do that a lot of the noise just brushes off him, which is a great thing to be able to do if you're him. I'd encourage every player to do it. Don't get distracted, don't absorb it, don't take anything in - just focus on what you need to do. That's what he always does. He's been in a really good place of late. I've been very happy with what he's delivered. This was a big game and he really stepped up. He scored the goal but contributed in so many ways to the win.'
Looking Ahead
The controversy comes as Newcastle prepare for the second leg of their Champions League tie against Barcelona on Wednesday, followed by a Premier League encounter with Sunderland ahead of the international break. Saturday's victory over Chelsea left Newcastle in ninth place in the Premier League, just six points behind Chelsea in fifth position, keeping their European qualification hopes alive.
The public disagreement between current players and respected pundits highlights the intense scrutiny facing modern footballers, particularly regarding their commitment during crucial matches. Gordon's detailed response and Howe's unequivocal support provide significant context to what had been portrayed as a simple case of questionable attitude from a young player facing the biggest match of his career.
