![]() In fact, Fernandez played more games under the 'more classic' Bruce than any other manager at Newcastle. The reunion did not last particularly long - Benitez left at the end of the season after growing frustrated with the constraints of the Ashley regime - but Fernandez remained an important figure under successor Steve Bruce. Fernandez may have been settled at Swansea, but the former Argentina international jumped at the chance to be reunited with former boss Rafa Benitez after the pair worked together at Napoli. It goes without saying that the club Fernandez left was very different to the one he joined in 2018 but there was a reason why the defender, who had won Italian Cups and played in big games in the Champions League and World Cup, 'really pushed' to move to St James'. Sometimes, day by day, you don't stop to think about it, but what Matty said was right." BUST A MOVE 4 GAME BOY FULL"No matter what situation you are in, the fans will always support you with a full house at home so make them proud. Graeme Souness' explosive first Newcastle meeting as he turns air blue with words to players.Pep Guardiola sees 'aggressive' Eddie Howe change Manchester United could learn from Newcastle.If someone came in, they had to have the same spirit to fight for the club and the fans. We needed to stick together with the group we had. Now the situation has changed for the good but years before, as players, we tried to manage the team to improve everyone at the club. ![]() "We supported each other to try and get Newcastle in the best place. "He said, 'We had really good moments so don't underestimate what we have done'. "Matt Ritchie mentioned that with Jamaal and a few others that had stayed during my four years, we managed to keep Newcastle in the league. "I spoke with a few of the lads when I left," he said. Fernandez, who wore the captain's armband on occasion, was among those senior pros who helped keep the group together when the dressing room could so easily have folded on a number of occasions over the years. You can see why Fernandez's team-mates put his name forward when the club's leadership group was formed shortly after Howe was appointed. Newcastle United players and staff celebrate after the win against Burnley last December (Image: NUFC) When Fernandez did feature, the experienced veteran played his own small part during a dark winter, whether it was calming the situation when Ciaran Clark was sent off after just nine minutes against Norwich City or helping Newcastle over the line as a late substitute when Howe's side clung on to claim their first victory of the campaign against Burnley a few days later. Was it any wonder that Howe admitted he could not speak 'highly enough' of such an 'incredible professional' after Fernandez completed his move to Elche following four years on Tyneside? Rather than sulk because of a lack of game time, Fernandez continued to push and support those around him at the training ground during an injury-disrupted season last term. "I said to him and the staff when I left that they are in a very good place to have a future in Newcastle. He tried to keep everyone fit and competing for a place. The training was a huge change for us from what we had come from in terms of intensity and the detail, and how competitive it was. ![]() "Eddie and his staff, from day one, came in with a really good spirit and organisation with everything. I thanked him for coming to the club and helping us make a real impact to start winning games. "He said thanks for how I had been even when I was not playing. "We were speaking about my time at Newcastle and the relationship that we had," Fernandez told ChronicleLive. READ MORE: Leicester talks will have a big say on Newcastle's dream James Maddison transfer after bids BUST A MOVE 4 GAME BOY FREENewcastle players and staff were on a scheduled day off, following the defeat at Liverpool, and Fernandez spent most of that Thursday on the phone to his agent and the club before driving to St James' Park to rip up his contract and sign for Elche as a free agent.įernandez did not have time to say a proper goodbye - the centre-back plans to return to the training ground in the coming months to do just that - but Eddie Howe phoned the 33-year-old before he flew out to Spain to start his new chapter. However, there really was not a minute to spare when the Argentine finalised his latest last-minute switch to Elche less than five weeks ago. It was on deadline day, after all, that the defender joined Newcastle United in the first place after a helicopter was sent to Swansea to pick up some precious cargo in 2018. ![]() Eleventh-hour moves are nothing new for Federico Fernandez. ![]()
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