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Steve McClaren Chelsea reaction ‘That’s the standard, that’s the benchmark’

9 years ago
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Steve McClaren was obviously disappointed to have gone from two up to finish in a 2-2 draw against Chelsea.

However, the Newcastle Head Coach says that Saturday’s performance has now ‘set the benchmark’ for the season.

He thinks his team got ‘in the faces’ of the Chelsea team and that Aleksandar Mitrovic made a massive difference.

Was this really the team that lost to Sheffield Wednesday reserves?

Steve McClaren:

“So close to a great win…then you think at 2-2 with still five minutes to go; you could win it, you could lose it.

“The momentum had swung in the end – the key there was yes the result, the disappointment…but the way that we played, the way we responded, the way we defended, the players after this week – we said end the week well, with a performance, show us what you can do.

“I think they did that, to a man their attitude was magnificent, the crowd responded to that, they grew as the game went on.”

In their faces:

“They got in their faces, played very good football, especially in the first half, we looked a team today.

“People said before, is that how one of your teams plays, I said no, but today was more like that.”

Missing Mitrovic:

“We have missed Mitrovic, we didn’t have a centre-forward, Papiss has been injured, so we haven’t had a number nine.

“I thought Mitrovic was a constant thorn in the Chelsea defence.

“That is the benchmark, that is the standard – we have always said be patient, we have had a lot of hard luck.”

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