Krafth: We must treat each game like a cup final
EMIL Krafth has made it clear that there can be no excuses from Newcastle United in the weekend meeting with rock-bottom Sheffield United.
The Magpies thrashed the Yorkshire club 8-0 in the reverse fixture back in September, but go into this encounter on the back of their poorest Premier League display of 2024 away to Crystal Palace.
Krafth has called for his teammates to have a “cup final” mentality in each of the last five matches as they look to secure a place in Europe.
Krafth was sent out by the squad to do the explaining after the defeat in the capital and said: “I am not happy with the result. But we have to bounce back again next game. We have to play like we have five finals left. Finishing in the top six would be a success this season.
“Because if you look at how many injuries we have to finish in the top six would be a very strong season for us. We have had all the injuries and had to rotate so many players, a top six finish would be incredibly strong for us.”
Sheffield United will arrive on Tyneside as brave battlers following their efforts against Manchester United with the Blades twice taking the lead before losing 4-2.
But this fixture provides Newcastle with the ideal opportunity to hit back after losing to the Eagles in such a meek manner.
The Sweden full-back said: “It is a game we 100% need to win. Especially with it being at home. We had a very exciting season last season. We have had a lot more games and like I have said before, we had a lot of injuries. It has been an exciting season but it is not finished yet and we want to finish top six to be in Europe that would be good for us.”
Sweden international Krafth signed an extension to his current deal at Newcastle to keep him on the books until 2025. He shook off a serious knee injury, suffered in August 2022, to return to life with the senior squad this season after a year out.
The World Cup 2018 player said: “I am just very happy to be back playing football again. It has been a long road for me coming back from injury after more than a year. I am happy to be back and I feel better game by game. You feel more confident.”
Sheffield United go into the game with an unwanted records. As well as being the lowest scorers in the division, Chris Wilder’s relegation certainties have now conceded more goals than any other Premier League side (92) over the course of a 38-match season.
That record might yet be extended even further with four fixtures still to play, while Newcastle contributed to their figure more than any other team having beaten the Blades 8-0 at Bramall Lane in September.
The all-time Premier League record is held by Swindon Town, who let in 100 goals across 42 matches in 1993/1994. Despite playing fewer games, though, Sheffield United could potentially move beyond that mark during the run-in.