Steve Bruce slams Michael Chopra after ‘fabricated’ Newcastle comments

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has labelled critical comments about him this week as “lies” and called for calm amid rising discontent over the club’s start to the new Premier League season.

A home defeat by Arsenal during the opening weekend of the campaign was followed by a comprehensive 3-1 reverse at promoted Norwich last weekend, prompting an angry reaction from fans already disenchanted by Rafael Benitez’s departure and Bruce’s appointment.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s trip to Tottenham, the 58-year-old head coach said: “Well, it’s not for me to judge on that, but other people have to be fair and responsible.

“After two games, there’s a so-called mini-crisis and all the rest of it and, as you say, that is oversensationalised. Everything seems to be that way.

“But look, I understand that, it’s the nature of the club – it always has been. There’s always a storm in Newcastle and at the minute, we’re in one.

“The only way we can do it is to get a couple of results and the team to perform, and after two games, it’s very, very early to judge just yet.”

Asked if there had been soul-searching within the camp this week, Bruce replied: “I don’t think so, I think it’s a bit early to have soul-searching. We just have to perform better than we did last week, and I’m sure we will.”

Bruce also hit out at former player Michael Chopra, who told talkSPORT this week that Bruce’s coaching was sub-standard.

“The Michael Chopra thing was blown out of all proportion. It’s laughable, really,” said Bruce.

“I’m just surprised that people pay any attention to him. Some of the stuff is just fabricated and lies. When it’s like that, you think why is that making national headlines – which is total rubbish.

“I always knew the only way I can shut a few people up is by getting results.”

Bruce was referring to comments from Chopra, suggesting some players “don’t know their jobs”.

Chopra said: “I’ve spoken to some senior players at the club – I won’t mention their names – and under Benitez everything was drilled into them on the training pitch: the team shape, how they were going to play – every day.
“Bruce has come in, and some of the players don’t know their jobs – they are not really working on their shape.

“At Newcastle for two or three years those players have overachieved under Benitez, but I don’t think some of the players are good enough for the Premier League. So they need coaching.

“They need coaching – they are not good enough.”