Matt Ritchie believes the secret to his success at Newcastle has been simple: give everything.
In an interview with Bournemouth podcast Back of the Net the United wing-back spoke about adjusting to ‘football-mad’ Newcastle and why he thinks he’s won over supporters.
And he also touched on the takeover, admitting that he’s not had any contact from the club about the imminent buy out.
Ritchie was a Bournemouth favourite, helping the club move through the leagues before Rafa Benitez made an approach – seeing him as a talisman as the club attempted to bounce back from relegation.
“When I went to Newcastle it’s just football, football, football. Whether you go for food, you’re at the supermarket, everyone is talking about football,” he told Bournemouth podcast Back of the Net.
“It was crazy, you went to Waitrose and someone would be saying: ‘What happened on Saturday?’ or good luck for the game and I just wasn’t used to it. That was the biggest thing and it took a while to get used to, to be honest.
“You’d go out for dinner and someone would join you at the end of your table and say ‘Can I have a minute?’ You get used to it and honestly, it’s fantastic. You feel the passion and that’s where the pressure comes from because you know, especially in the Championship season when they were desperate to get promoted, you know how important it is.
“Every conversation you had was ‘Do you think we’ll get promoted?’ or ‘I can’t believe we’ve been beaten’. They are so passionate and to be part of that is brilliant. The football club is the heart and soul of the city.”
Ritchie has developed a reputation as a player who represents the work ethic of the side and says he feels that is appreciated by Newcastle supporters.
“When I first got here I said: ‘I will always give everything’,” he said.
“That has got down really well. I had good advice before I got up here, I spoke to a few lads who have played at Newcastle before and the people and the staff at the club are fantastic. All of them said to me: ‘No matter what you do Matty, as long as you give everything the people of this city will love you’ and I was lucky enough to get off to a good start in the Championship. I felt I was significant that season.
“I’ve had many bad games here but even if I’m having a bad game I continue to try and get on the ball, I continue to work hard and to try and help my teammates and as a player you can only do your best. If that isn’t enough you’ll see yourself out of the team soon enough anyway.
“It’s simple priniciples but it goes a long, long way with Newcastle fans for sure.
On the takeover, Ritchie said he’d been watching developments with some detachment.
He said: “I try so hard not to read the press speculation. At the moment I’m locked away in the forest. Obviously I’m aware that there’s interest in the football club because there’s stuff in the press but you will know more than me.
“Can I affect anything? No. So what’s the point me talking or reading about it. For me as a player you just have to focus on yourself and your teammates and be the best person and player you can be day-to-day.”
