Ritchie did not try to inspire his team in order to prompt that public response, of course. The Newcastle team certainly looks better with him in it, but Ritchie could quite easily be playing Championship football right now. "I feel like I've come through it, learned a lot in the last six months and I'm pleased with how I've reacted personally to those challenges." Three points against Leicester on Friday Night Football will secure Premier League safety for a Newcastle side who looked like they might be caught only a few weeks ago. "That's the challenge of the Premier League, you don't always get what you think you should get.

Source: Sky sports May 04, 2021 15:45 UTC