One of Eddie Howe’s substitutes was praised by Pep Guardiola after Newcastle United beat Manchester City on Saturday evening in the Premier League.
While Harvey Barnes will rightly take many of the plaudits after Newcastle United beat Manchester City 2-1, Guardiola namechecked another player after the game.
Indeed, it was Barnes who bagged a brace as Newcastle recorded what could be a season-defining victory.
While St James’ Park has often been viewed as a fortress, Howe‘s side have lost to Liverpool and Arsenal there this season.
To finally claim a victory over an elite side this season is a major statement of intent.
Newcastle had to defend well and Guardiola believes Sven Botman was crucial to that.
Pep Guardiola praises Newcastle United defender Sven Botman
Botman replaced the very impressive Lewis Hall towards the end of the game.
Howe reverted to a 5-4-1 shape as Newcastle looked to see the game out, with Botman joining Fabian Schar and Malick Thiaw in central defence.
Jacob Murphy duly moved out to the left wing-back role as Newcastle kept City at bay to end the evening with all three points.
After the game, Guardiola said Botman made things much more difficult for his side.
“The second half we started really well and had the momentum, we were arriving and finding players in the positions,” he told BBC Radio Five Live.
“But after we scored a goal, they scored a goal. After it was more difficult because [Sven] Botman was in the pitch, the defence was deep, so yes more difficult.”
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Botman has been excellent for Newcastle at times this season but his form has dropped off in recent weeks.
He was dropped following the defeat at Brentford before the international break, the only unenforced change Howe actually made.
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Schar stepped in and played well alongside Thiaw.
It’s not as if Botman played badly when he came on, but Schar and Thiaw did not put a foot wrong.
Having that strength within the Newcastle United squad can only be a positive.
Botman wants assurances over his game time at Newcastle but, having seen Schar and Thiaw play so well, they don’t look as if they will be forthcoming any time soon.
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