With Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade, two German internationals seem to have really settled in at Newcastle in the final stretch of the year. The duo explains what makes the location so special.
At least nationally, things are not going well for Newcastle United this season. After Tuesday evening’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, the Magpies remain in 13th place in the Premier League. When there have been positive headlines in the recent past, two German internationals have usually been involved. Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade moved to Newcastle last summer and seem to have really settled in during the final stretch of the year.
Both are key players under coach Eddie Howe. Thiaw, who had not played a major role at AC Milan towards the end of last season, feels right at home with his new employer. This is also because it resembles a former club: “I have to say, the club reminds me a bit of Schalke 04. The city is also as football-crazy as Gelsenkirchen.
They love the club. It’s like a religion for them. Everyone is passionate about the club. Every game is sold out,” the center back enthused in an interview with Sky. Thiaw played for Schalke for a total of seven years, from 2015 to 2022, before moving to Milan.
“An evening I won’t forget anytime soon”
In the recent 4-1 win over Everton, Thiaw’s offensive strengths really came to the fore – two of Newcastle’s four goals were scored by the defensive specialist. “An incredible game for me,” he admits in retrospect: “I don’t think you score two goals every day as a defender. That’s why I think it’s an evening I won’t forget in a hurry.”
In Newcastle, they are currently celebrating him especially for his defensive qualities. But what makes it so difficult to play against Thiaw? “He’s fast, he’s robust, he’s very, very clever,” Woltemade lists: “He prepares well for his opponents and knows what to expect. You can see that he has now spent three years in the Italian school as a center back.”
Woltemade’s name has also long been celebrated in the northeast of England. “I think he’s very unique. It’s very difficult to describe him,” says Thiaw: “He has so many strengths. Above all, the type of player he is is very rare. He’s so big, but technically so good.”
Woltemade, who has proven his scoring instinct from the start and has already scored five Premier League goals, has “adapted and improved” his own game after just a few months. That also meant a lot to Julian Nagelsmann in the national team—I’ve improved, especially in terms of intensity.”
Newcastle still needs to turn a group of individuals who work well together into a functioning unit in order to keep alive its dream of another Champions League season.