Nick Pope will urge kids not to follow in his footsteps - 'no pleasure'
Nick Pope says he’ll tell his kids NOT to become goalkeepers after the torture he’s endured in the past month.
The Newcastle keeper made eight saves and excelled in a strong rearguard action to salvage a clean sheet and a point against AC Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday. But two weeks earlier he was dropped from the England squad by Gareth Southgate, after having a nightmare against Brighton during Newcastle’s 3-0 away defeat, including a fumble which led to a goal.
Pope says he gets a “weird” satisfaction at bouncing back strongly from setbacks - which he did as Eddie Howe’s defence showed defiance and resilience to keep out Milan despite the Italians having 24 chances. However, sometimes, he says, the job isn't enjoyable.
He repeatedly scrambled the ball away including five stops in six early first half minutes and said: “When you are a keeper and you are thick skinned. Every keeper makes mistakes and does something they shouldn’t and it ends in a goal.
“I won’t tell my little one to be a goalie when they grow up. There is not much pleasure in it at times. Part of being a goalkeeper is showing character and in a really weird way I enjoy coming back from those moments.”
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Newcastle were poor in building attacks but the defence including Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman were excellent.
Pope added: “Mentality, protecting the goal and defending and blocking shots, last ditch tackles, headers, whatever it may be, we were excellent. We deserved the clean sheet, and everyone played their part. It was a good gritty performance.
“We came here and it was a quick turn around (from the league) and everyone was really excited and willing to take on the challenge and show what we are about and trying to improve ourselves at this new level.
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Pope made several crucial saves as Newcastle claimed a draw at AC Milan (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)“There are positives to take out of the game and things to learn. A point from an away game and a clean sheet is a solid start. The same at any level, when you concede you give the other team a leg up so important to keep a zero and it helped us grow into the game.
“My best save? Probably not the one I punched it to him, if that had gone in I’d have been gutted. Happy with most of my work. There were so many moments when we put bodies on the line and made it difficult for them to score. Something to be proud of.”
Pope says the Champions League must not be a distraction from the league with Sheffield United up next on Sunday. “Has it whetted our appetite for the next game against PSG? Not as much as Bramall Lane where we go next.
“Our focus has to be around the league. Around the Carabao final last year we let our form slip and we have to learn from that and use it.”
Dutch defender Botman, one of a handful of the squad with Champions League experience, wasn’t entirely happy. “To be honest, my reaction is a little bit disappointed. And also a good point if you play at the San Siro against a good team. But I know we can do much better than this. We have to stay positive.
“Our performance could be better, I know what we are capable of. We were not ourselves. It is a tournament and we can grow and take a point is good. I am also looking at the other perspective in an attacking way and we can do better and we will. It is something to build on.”
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