Alan Shearer recently caught up with Alexander Isak for an article in The Athletic, discussing the Swedish striker’s goals for the Magpies and so much more.
From tuition in the Geordie language, to sitting down teammates in training, here are ten of the best bits from the interview.
- “Alreet wor kid”
The article started off strongly with the comedic thought of the Swede uttering the local lingo in perfect fashion upon arriving for his chat with Shearer.
It has also been revealed that Isak is working alongside the local members of the squad to learn more of the areas dialect, fully immersing himself in the culture in his year and a half on Tyneside.
- A reminder of the clubs off field progression
Shearer gave a reminder of the disconnect that the club once had off the field, as he posed in front of a mural displaying our leading goal scorers and appearance makers.
“We have posed for a photograph in front of a mural celebrating Newcastle’s leading appearance-makers and goalscorers and I’m flattered and gutted in equal measure. For a long time, the club turned away from its own history and now they embrace it.”
Though some fans may, rightly or wrongly, feel aggrieved with some of the club’s performances this season it is undoubted that the new regime acknowledges our history more, and that they care more about our off-field facilities – highlighted by the improvements in the revamped training ground.
- The importance of a Geordie contingent
While some fans have been suggesting that the likes of Sean Longstaff and Elliot Anderson should be amongst those the club look to shift on to help with our situation with Financial Fair Play, Isak offered a glimpse into the importance of local players ahead of the Tyne-Wear derby.
“All the Geordie players built up our expectations about what the game means and the weight of it. They made us understand the history, the rivalry and how big it is. It’s unique, even compared to other derbies.”
There are things that can’t be coached, but the history and importance of our local derby needs to be told by those who fully understand it.
- Attitude
Isak’s attitude shines through as a player who is always willing to put in 110%, and seems obsessed with continuing to improve to make it to the level of the elites.
Despite a perhaps disappointing season, Isak is able to take the positives and look forward, showing a strong attitude. “This season we’ve made many memories we will be proud of. Now it is about being consistent again and trying to get to where we were.”
“I never go out there and have a bad feeling. I never feel like we’re going to get beat. Whoever we play, I’m confident. We’re very strong.”
- “Poor Sven”
Eddie Howe passes by the interview and shares an anecdote from training the day prior, in which the 6’4 forward did what very few are able to do. Put Sven Botman “on his ****.”
“I was going to pass it back and he said, ‘Come on then, come on then’,” recalled Isak. “So I had to turn around and take him on.”
“He put him on his **** and then took it round the keeper. A real talent,” said Howe – highlighting again the technique and footballing IQ we all know Isak possesses.
- Overarching theme of his future in NE1
Pairing with his studying of the Geordie language, a lot of what Isak says throughout the article indicates the forward sees his future in black-and-white.
When discussing the tough-to-take Champions League exit after a dubious penalty decision late on against Paris Saint-German, the Swede said: “It was a great experience and the aim is to get back there. Next time we will have more knowledge and know-how.”
- Reliving that Everton run
“I was sat in the TV studio watching and just thought, ‘****ing hell,’” recounts Shearer on a dribble at Goodison Park that is etched into the memory – and one I quite frankly just want to relive!
From the halfway line at the edge of the pitch, a dazzling forward run, weaving in and out between blue shirts before dragging it back from the byline to Jacob Murphy for a tap-in.
“I just started running down the line and kind of locked myself in that situation, where I had to get myself out. Nobody was going to help me.
“Sometimes going against two players can be easier than one because there are gaps, you can go in between them, they’re not defending as well as if you’re one-v-one when they might just back off, but I think in this situation, I felt a bit of a spark.”
- Talking the language of goals
Newcastle’s greatest-ever goalscorer may be forgiven for being a tad self-indulgent, and it’s a nice moment to think of the new leader of the line reminiscing with Mr. 260.
Firstly, Shearer shows his volley against Aston Villa before sheepishly trying to move onto another clip. “That’s class, I want to see it again. Let me see it, it’s good,” perhaps studying the technique of the former number nine.
Isak had his dribble against Everton, and Shearer’s memorable moment against the Toffees is one of the Premier League’s greatest goals. You know the one, as does Isak. “Oh yeah, this one I’ve seen… F****** hell! That’s some shot power there. That’*****, that one. Amazing.”
- Healthy competition with Wilson
Newcastle’s most famous number nine in the interview with Newcastle’s current number…14! As Callum Wilson still dons the famous number on the back of his shirt, for Isak though he sees his fellow forward as “healthy competition”.
“Our relationship has been very good, especially last season when we were both fit,” he says. “It helped us both and it helped the team. We were in form together, where we both should start but there’s just one position as a No 9. So we pushed each other. I got a chance, played well, scored and it was the same for him. It was very healthy.”
A bit of competition never hurt anybody, and it certainly doesn’t seem to have had an impact on either attacker. Wilson has found the net seven times this season to Isak’s 14 in all competitions, so not only is the competition healthy it is also evidently productive.
- Last-minute debut? No problem!
Isak announced himself at Anfield in jaw dropping fashion as he showed his class the first time he graced the pitch in black and white. To find out he only got his work permit three hours before the game is staggering.
“I didn’t understand what was going on,” said Isak. “I got my work permit three hours before the game when we were on the team walk. The gaffer asked me if I wanted to start the game. I said, ‘Yes!’ I just played and didn’t think too much about the pressure.”
Talk about taking things in your stride, though the game may still feel like a knife in the gut after Liverpool’s 98th minute winner, the first sprinkling of Swedish magic gives the game a semblance of fondness as we were introduced to our new talisman with a wonderful first-time finish.
Isak feels like he is only getting started, and long may he continue.
