Sandro Tonali says Newcastle United should be ‘proud’ of beating Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 in the Champions League and reveals he talked to Italy teammate Gianluigi Donnarumma.
This was the first Champions League fixture to be played at St. James’ Park in 20 years and the Magpies certainly made the most of it, running out 4-1 winners with goals from Miguel Almiron, Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff and Fabian Schar.
“It was great because we started exactly the way we wanted to and exactly the way we prepared it,” Tonali told Sky Sport Italia.
“We were fortunate enough, actually I take that back, we had the opportunity to go into the break 2-0 up and that gave us even more energy.
“We knew full well that after a first half like that, going into the break can sap momentum, but instead we went out there and immediately got the third goal.
“I am very happy to have experienced this game in a stadium with these people who had waited so long for a night like this.”
Tonali was spotted regularly dictating the pressing times to Anthony Gordon and then speaking to manager Eddie Howe on the touchline.
“It was a game where we had to communicate a lot, because against opponents this good, even the slightest detail can make the difference, as we saw with the goal they did score.
“We all had to help each other out. We all feel like leaders in this squad, as we are all 200 per cent involved and that is the most important thing.”
Newcastle are now top of the Champions League group with four points, ahead of PSG on three, his old club Milan on two and Borussia Dortmund one point. Will Tonali therefore be sending a picture of the table to his former teammates on the group chat?
“I won’t send that. I did not see their game, I saw the result, we will see at the end of the group where we are. In any case, we should be proud to have played at this level and must now immediately press the reset button for the Premier League.
“A night like this can give us a great deal, but also take away mental and physical energy, so we must be careful.”
Donnarumma tried all he could with a series of saves on the first two Newcastle goals, although he was surprised by the third that squirmed under him at the near post.
“We talked afterwards. He performed two miracles in the first half that were not enough for the two goals, because we were simply too determined to score. That becomes tough even for a goalkeeper who saves everything,” assured Tonali.
“We also chatted before the game, he is a friend, we played together for many games and still do for Italy. We talk regularly, he is a good guy and showed with those two great saves just how strong a goalkeeper he is.”