Anthony Gordon was the winner of Saturday afternoon’s match between Newcastle and Chelsea, but the England forward has decided to hit back at comments from Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer and Roy Keane.
(Image: BBC)
Newcastle star Anthony Gordon has slammed comments about Wayne Rooney’s substitute appearance against Barcelona as “utter nonsense”. The England winger started on the bench against the Catalan giants in midweek due to illness.
He came on late in the game, which not only baffled Rooney but also fellow pundits Roy Keane and Alan Shearer. It was argued that Gordon should have played the full game or not at all.
However, Gordon then fought back. Speaking after Newcastle’s win over Chelsea, he said: “Normally I don’t like to clean up because I don’t really care about it. But this time I have to clean up because it was nonsense.”
“I didn’t watch it, but what the media people told me was complete and utter nonsense. I was in bed for three days, missed practice, so I was sick for three days. Then on game day I showed up ready to start, so I thought it was going to start.
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“When I got to the stadium, the manager said I wasn’t starting. You can imagine I didn’t like it very much, but it’s the manager’s decision. The team played great, but to say I don’t want to play in the biggest game of my career is complete nonsense.”
Rooney also claimed that Gordon refused to shake his hand before the match against Barcelona to avoid spreading anything. Regarding his own comments in particular, Gordon added: “I think it was Rooney who said he walked past me and went into the changing room without shaking my hand.
“In a changing room this big, I changed by myself. It was just me and the sink. So it was complete nonsense. I think they need to get better at what they’re doing.”
Gordon wasn’t the first to be outraged by the comment. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe also hit back at accusations that Wideman had no intention of playing.
Gordon is the winner of Newcastle vs Chelsea (Image: Getty Images)
“I have to make it clear with Anthony Gordon, he was definitely keen to play in the game against Barcelona,” he said.
“I know there will be a lot of comments. It was my decision not to start him based on the fact that he was unwell that morning and did not take part in the training session. So he was ready to play, but after consulting with the medical team we did not think he was fit to play.”
Returning to the starting lineup against Chelsea, Gordon was ultimately the winner against Chelsea, securing victory at Stamford Bridge with an 18th-minute goal.
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