Anthony Gordon defends himself against pundit criticism
Anthony Gordon has launched a scathing attack on Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer and Roy Keane, branding their criticism of his substitute appearance against Barcelona as “complete and utter stupidity”, reports BritPanorama.
The Newcastle winger delivered his response after netting the decisive goal in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Gordon was visibly frustrated by suggestions he lacked commitment during Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 first leg, which ended 1-1 against the Spanish giants.
In his post-match interview with BBC Match of the Day, Gordon stated: “Saying I didn’t want to play in the biggest game of my career is absolute nonsense.” He urged the pundits to “do better at what they are doing” and revealed the full extent of his illness, explaining he had been confined to bed for three days and was unable to attend training sessions.
The England international arrived at St James’ Park on matchday fully expecting to feature from the start against Barcelona. “I turned up on the day of the game ready to start – I thought I was starting,” he said. However, manager Eddie Howe informed him upon arrival at the stadium that he would not be in the starting 11. “When I got to the stadium, the manager told me I wasn’t playing, which you can imagine I didn’t like very much, but that’s his decision and the team played great,” Gordon added.
Gordon specifically challenged Rooney’s assertion that he had refused to shake hands with the pundits before the match to avoid spreading illness, only to then enter the dressing room with his teammates. The former Everton forward insisted this account was “entirely inaccurate”. He stated that he had actually prepared for the fixture separately from the rest of the squad: “I got changed by myself in a changing room the size of this,” he said, gesturing to the interview booth. “It was just me and a sink.”
The criticism originated from Amazon Prime’s coverage of the Barcelona fixture, where Shearer questioned how Gordon could only manage a partial appearance on such a significant occasion. Keane remarked that it would take something extraordinary to keep him out of such a match, describing the situation as “bizarre” while questioning how someone could be ill yet still come on for half an hour.
Newcastle now travel to the Nou Camp on Wednesday for the second leg, with the tie level at 1-1. The dynamics surrounding player health and performance resonate deeply within the world of football, serving as a reminder of how narratives are shaped off the pitch as much as on it.
