Coloccini: Players get the message
May 11 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
Fabricio Coloccini has suffered like the rest of the team this season, but Newcastle United’s struggling defender can see a route out of relegation trouble tonight.
Asked about his own form during an occasionally fractious interview, Coloccini maintains it is not a major cause for concern – but admits that it has been difficult to perform when so many factors are stacking up against your team. “This season has not been good for anyone. Everyone must question their own form,” he said. “We are in a relegation fight because the team has not played well. We cannot hide from that, so none of the team must be playing at their best.
“I feel my own form has been good this season but the team has not been playing well and that makes it difficult for all of us. It has been tough at times.”
The appointment of Shearer has seen Coloccini dropped for the first time this season but the defender, like the rest of the squad, believes that he has been a force for positive change since taking over.
Results haven’t been forthcoming but the changes behind the scenes have clearly changed the culture of the club.
Slowly but surely the message is getting through on basic things like discipline, and for the players not familiar with the ethos and philosophy surrounding Newcastle United, there have been some reminders of how important the club is.
“Alan Shearer has been great,” Coloccini added. “He left me out for the Stoke game and I had to accept it. Of course, I was disappointed but it is the manager’s decision and I respect that. I just had to work hard to get back in the team.
“I don’t know why I went out of the team. Team selection is always down to the manager and he will know better than me. But I am not the only one to be dropped since he came.
“He left out Michael Owen last week. Nobody wants that but it shows he is not afraid to make tough decisions.
“The manager feels the pain, perhaps even more than us because he has been at Newcastle for so long. But that is understandable because he was brought up here and has always been a fan. That does not mean we do not care.
“He wants us to be feeling like the fans are feeling. He wants us to share his passion and to know how important these games are and what relegation would mean to the city. We understand the message.”
The message tonight is to win at all costs. It is the only way that Coloccini and Newcastle United can salvage redemption from this turbulent season.
