Matt Ritchie cuts through Newcastle United takeover speculation

Matt Ritchie says takeover talk has NOT been a distraction for Newcastle United’s players.
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Bruce said late last month that the speculation had “unsettled everybody” at the club, which was put up for sale by owner Mike Ashley in late 2017.

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The team hasn’t won a Premier League game since the story broke, but Ritchie, the only player to speak in the mixed zone after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, doesn’t believe that the uncertainty has been an issue.

“I don’t feel like that’s an issue at all,” said Ritchie. “In my opinion, the owner stories are just created by the press – or whatever.

“The owner is the owner – we’ve spent money in the last two windows. As a team, this is our fourth season in the Premier League now and we’ve had good finishes in the division.

“You can try to create scenarios or situations, but there isn’t one. We’ve had good finishes in the Premier League, and we’ll continue to try to build, raise the bar, raise standards and get better, individually and as a football club. That’s what we try to do.”

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Meanwhile, Bruce admitted that his team got what they deserved against Palace.

Matt Ritchie. (Pic: Martin Swinney)Matt Ritchie. (Pic: Martin Swinney)
Matt Ritchie. (Pic: Martin Swinney)

And Ritchie – who has agreed a new deal at the club – has reflected on the defeat and the 4-0 loss to Arsenal which preceded it.

“The results this season have generally been good,” said the 30-year-old. “We’ve been on some good runs and some not-so-good runs.

“OK, we conceded four goals at Arsenal, but it wasn’t really that kind of game.

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“For me, we just have to stick together, stay as we are, and win games the way we’ve been winning games this season. We’ve been a similar team for the last four years in the Premier League, so we must be doing something right.

“Speak to anyone who plays against us, and they all say we’re a tough team to beat.”