Newcastle United midfielder Joelinton has thanked black and white supporters for sticking with him during the ‘worst period.’
The Brazilian international was speaking with media back in his native country about the pressures of playing at St. James’ Park and the differences between the Magpies’ fanbase and those in his native country.
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“I’ve been through Newcastle’s worst period, and I don’t think the pressure is the same as in Brazil,” Joelinton told UOL. “People in front of the training centre, protesting, is something we don’t have here. It’s a different way of looking at football. The pressure here is on the pitch. If it goes beyond the four lines, you have to be respectful.
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“It works like this: if the team is going through a bad phase, you can go to dinner with your family after the game in peace. Nobody is talking or trying to hit you in the restaurant. Of course, you have to be respectful.
“If the team is doing badly, you don’t go to a party or anything like that, the player has to be respectful too. Understand that if you’re not in the best moment, it’s not the time to leave.
“The fans are the ones who fill the stadium, who pay for the expensive tickets. The player has to understand the moment the club is in. There’s no point in playing, losing and saying: ‘I’m going to leave as if nothing had happened’.”
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Joelinton had a tough start to life at Newcastle but found a new lease of life when Eddie Howe made the decision to drop him back into a central midfield role. The 28-year-old paid tribute to the Magpies’ boss and former Hoffenheim boss Julien Nagelsmann.
“It’s a position I’ve always enjoyed playing,” Joelinton said when asked about his new position. “Not as a holding midfielder, but as a midfielder who could float around, play with two strikers, and be involved in the game. I think the coach helped me a lot with this change,” he said.
“Not just Eddie, who changed my position, but in Germany, when I worked with [Julian] Nagelsmann. I learnt a lot from him tactically, and I think that helped me to be able to understand.”
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