Pressure shows as Bruce lashes out at questions
STEVE BRUCE reacted angrily to questions over his future as Newcastle manager and whether his decision to go on holiday in Portugal during the international break had contributed to yesterday’s defeat at Old Trafford.
Asked if he had heard the away fans calling for his head, Bruce snapped: ‘What can I say to that? What do you want me to say? I’m delighted about it? I can’t comment on that, I’m sorry.’
He was equally upset about being asked about preparations for the game and his holiday.
‘I really have to answer that to you,’ he said to the local newspaper reporter. That’s what the fans are asking are they? It’s typical of the questions I get off you. We trained all week, we were in every day. Our preparation was meticulous, let me tell you. What was I supposed to do when I had six of them away? The preparation was fine. You can see the game plan we worked to.’
It followed an awkward pre-match press conference on Friday when Bruce confirmed he did want new signings in the transfer window despite a club statement pointing out that £160million has been spent on new players in two years under him and that he was aware of spending limits this summer.
Newcastle have now conceded 12 goals in their first four league games of the season, losing three of them. Bruce said after yesterday’s defeat: ‘There a lot of positives to take out of the performance, but defensively we’re not doing enough. ‘It’s a shame because up to halftime I can’t remember our keeper making a save. We get punished by a little deflection and the goalkeeper spills it and Ronaldo has a tap-in which is cruel on us. If there is a genuine superstar among everyone, then this kid is with what he has achieved. We have witnessed it again today. He is something else.’
The FA will not take action over repeated chanting directed at Cristiano Ronaldo by Newcastle fans which referred to the allegations of sexual assault made against him, which he denies.
It is understood that because the words do not feature discriminatory language in targeting minority groups, they will not prompt an FA inquiry. They are deemed to be in bad taste and inappropriate but not sufficiently so to merit investigation.
The Level Up feminist protest group flew a plane over Old Trafford with a banner reading: ‘Believe Kathryn Mayorga.’ Mayorga says she was assaulted by Ronaldo at a Las Vegas hotel in 2009. In 2019, US prosecutors said Ronaldo, who denied the claims, would not face charges.