Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon marveled at the possession-keeping quality of Barcelona.

Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon waxed lyrical about Barcelona’s midfield, stating that they were unlike anything he had witnessed in the English Premier League.

The 22-year-old was on the losing side of a 2-1 defeat to the Blaugrana at St James’s Park. Prior to the match, much was made about the Magpies’ intensity at home.

Under Eddie Howe, Newcastle have made their home ground into a fortress stifling and suffocating big teams like Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

However, other than the opening 15 minutes against Barcelona, or thereabouts, the Blaugrana were in control, especially in the second half, in which Hansi Flick’s side were in full control.

What Gordon said

After the match, Gordon was asked about Barcelona’s performance, and he admitted that it was an education in controlling a football game. He praised Barcelona’s midfielders Pedri and Frenkie de Jong and the match winner, Marcus Rashford.

“Pedri and de Jong were fantastic,” he told BeinSports. “They made it really difficult for us to do our usual press, and they controlled the game.

“They were the best I’ve played against in that sense of the game. To be honest, we are not used playing against players who can keep the ball in this way.

“We played against top teams like City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, but the way they passed the ball in midfield made it very hard for us to press.”