Former Newcastle defender Philippe Albert says he did not expect the Magpies to be relegated from the Premier League last season once they had signed striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and Chancel Mbemba at the start of last season.
The ex Belgian international player had three seasons at Anderlecht in the early 90s and saw both players up close before they left for Tyneside whilst watching his old club. He told the Evening Chronicle that Newcastle had enough quality to stay up but made too many mistakes in matches and were too fragile mentally:
“They had quality players but they did a lot of things wrong last season. It just goes to show that quality is not enough now – you have to have the right mentality to go with it.”
“You have to adapt yourself to the club you are playing for. Honestly, when they bought Aleksandar Mitrovic and Chancel Mbemba from my old club Anderlecht I thought Newcastle would have a good season.”
Mitrovic has struggled for game time this season and has started just one match in the 6-0 thrashing of Queens Park Rangers back in mid September. Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has opted to play one up front more often than not, and with Dwight Gayle in red hot form, the Serbian hasn’t had a look in.
Meanwhile Mbemba has had more game time but has been displaced in the first team in recent weeks for Ciaran Clark after an unfortunate own goal in the 2-0 defeat to Wolves.
