Newcastle United defender lifts the lid on mood inside dressing room ahead of Tottenham Hotspur clash

Javier Manquillo has lifted the lid on the dressing room mood after the heavy defeat to relegation rivals Brighton & Hove Albion – and insists the Newcastle United squad has what it takes to survive.
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After a disappointing 3-0 defeat Manquillo admits that it was a missed opportunity but remains determined fourth-bottom Newcastle can make amends ahead of the visit of Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

“Everyone was really down after that game- everybody was after such a painful defeat - so yes of course, straight after the game it was all doom and gloom,” he said.

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"But of course as the days pass by you realise that we all have to be even more together and united than ever and get us out of this situation however we can.

BJakub Moder of Brighton & Hove Albion battles for possession with Javier Manquillo.BJakub Moder of Brighton & Hove Albion battles for possession with Javier Manquillo.
BJakub Moder of Brighton & Hove Albion battles for possession with Javier Manquillo.

“If we don’t stick together as a group, we can’t achieve anything, and I believe everyone in the squad realises that and we’re showing that too.”

The 26-year-old defender also suggests that the recent international break may be a blessing in disguise for the Magpies.

“Actually, I think the break came at the right time for us because after such a tough defeat we needed to draw a line under it and have it as a turning point,” he told the club website.

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"We need to put it out of our minds and focus on those next nine games ahead and on doing as well as we can, because we are convinced that results will come our way if we can perform very well.”

The ex-Liverpool man has also been reflecting on his return from the ankle injury he picked up against Southampton last month.

“I was a bit concerned after picking up the injury because I wanted to know the result (of the scan) and the findings weren’t too good at all really. But in that first week when I could see that the treatment I was getting was beginning to take effect and I was starting to feel a lot better.

“Getting more and more players back fit is always a boost and a big help to the rest of the group and so let’s hope they can all be back with us sooner rather than later.”

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