Bruno Guimaraes has urged Newcastle United to respond to their derby disappointment by refocusing on a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
The midfielder’s comments come at a difficult moment for the club, with emotions still raw after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Nick Woltemade’s own goal proved decisive as Eddie Howe’s side produced another flat display away from home, leaving supporters frustrated ahead of Fulham’s visit to St James’ Park on Wednesday.
Guimaraes believes the only way to begin repairing the damage is with a strong cup showing. He challenged his teammates to channel their anger in a positive direction and make sure Newcastle book another semi-final spot. According to the Brazilian, the setback must be used as fuel to raise standards across the board, from the Carabao Cup to the Premier League and the push for Champions League qualification.
Speaking after the derby, Guimaraes admitted the result left him feeling ashamed. He said the players fully understood what the fixture meant to supporters and that the message before kick-off was clear. Win the game for the fans. Instead, Newcastle fell short.
He added that the performance was particularly frustrating because he believes Newcastle have the stronger squad, yet failed to show it on the pitch. The lack of consistency and mentality was evident, and he stressed that the response has to come immediately, starting with Wednesday’s cup tie.
Guimaraes also acknowledged the reaction from supporters was inevitable. Having experienced intense derbies throughout his career, he knows defeats like this are hard to accept. He accepted that the team let the fans down and admitted they did not arrive with the mindset required for such an occasion, promising that the players understand the disappointment they have caused.