Kieran Trippier says that in the space of seven months, "everything has changed" at Newcastle United.
The England right back arrived in January when Newcastle only had one win all season and looked certainties for relegation. He was part of the fightback, with Eddie Howe and £90million of new signings, before injury hit. The club went on a run of 12 wins in 18 games.
What’s different? Tripper said: “I came from Atletico Madrid where the demands are so high. And the fitness levels at my previous clubs were much higher than when I first arrived here at Newcastle. But it was mainly confidence. The team needed to believe in themselves and that they could survive. Get that first win and bounce off that.
“Fitness, confidence, belief. That comes from the manager Eddie Howe. We had a great run, breeding confidence. You can feel it in the group in pre-season. Training is at a different level now. The difference is massive.
“We have new players as well. Everyone has gone up a gear and there is competition in every position."
Trippier grew up knowing the potential of Newcastle United - now he is trying to turn it into reality. He was an 11 year-old at Manchester City's academy when Sir Bobby Robson led the Geordies to the Champions League and third and fourth placed finishes in the Premier League.
When he drops his kids off at school and clubs, parents on Tyneside tell him of the enduring love for the Kevin Keegan side of the mid-90s.
Trippier, quit La Liga winning Atletico Madrid to help rescue Newcastle from relegation last season, and now he accepts the pressure and clamour to turn the Saudi funded club into contenders again.
“I remember Keegan’s era, going for the title against Man United in the mid ‘90s when I was very little. We want to get back to making Newcastle challenging again. When Shearer was playing, Ginola and Ferdinand. But it takes time.
“Historically Newcastle is massive. They were in the Champions League 20 years ago playing Inter in the San Siro and up there. Now it is a new era and generation.
“Everything has changed - owner, staff, manager, new players and everyone is excited. As players we need to deliver. Everyone is together, the city is together and that is great credit to the owners as well.
“We are a sleeping giant. The city is believing again.I knew all about Newcastle fans before I came and knew what to expect, but the fervour has definitely surprised me.”
There is an intensity to being in a one club football obsessed city like Newcastle. Two 52k sell out crowds will watch Newcastle play two friendly games in 24 hours against Atalanta and Bilbao on Friday and Saturday. Not long ago 10,000 free season tickets were being given away.
Tripper has had thousands watching training every day in Madrid and adds: “I am used to it. Pressure and expectation I can deal with.
“This club, for god knows how many years, has not had the success it could have. With the changes here there is a bright future but we need patience as well.
“It is a building project. Same with Man City years ago. They built the right way and we will too. It would be easy to take over a club like ours and go to top top players. That won’t happen. We have to be realistic. It will take a few years. But it is only upwards now.
Trippier played well in a Newcastle side that lost 3-2 in a friendly to Benfica on Tuesday night. So what is a realistic hope for this season, after £140m of spending this year including Bruno Guimaraes and Sven Botman?
“This is a funny question.” he says. “I understand what the fans expect and demand. People have to realise the takeover has just happened. We just stayed up, well, comfortably in the end, but the position we were in in January….
"As a player I don’t want to get too far ahead. We need to keep building gradually. We know how far the club can go, but we know how demanding this Premier League is. You can't take anything for granted.
“For sure we don’t want to be in a relegation fight. Every game is tough. You want to finish top half of course! Minimum? You always want to set the standards high. Europe and all that… sometimes you have to be realistic, because the league is so powerful. But step by step we will get there, we just need a bit of patience.
“Every team in this league has spending power and it is the best in the world. Look at the top half and how powerful they are. I understand the fans' expectations but patience and step by step.”
