Nick Pope previews Newcastle's Champions League game against Benfica

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Nick Pope previews Newcastle's Champions League game against Benfica  20/10/2025  uefa25 champions league Newcastle v Benfica

Transcript

00:00I've got about 15 minutes with Nick, so try and catch my eye as and when you want to speak.

00:14You've got the translation kit you'll use with the gaffer as well.

00:18So who wants to start?

00:20Keith?

00:21Nick, good to see you.

00:24The manager's just been in a moment ago and he said that the start of the season's been a bit frustrating.

00:30How do you guys see it as players?

00:34Pretty similar, I think we've had some really good moments and done some really good things.

00:39There's some things we'd like to tweak and make better.

00:43I think we're still evolving in certain parts of the game.

00:48That's kind of where we are, I'd say.

00:51You've been in great form so far this season, I think six clean sheets in the ten games that you've played.

00:57Would you say you're playing as good football as you have in your career?

01:03Tough to say in October, I think, but I feel in a really good space myself and my game.

01:10Body feels really good.

01:11So, yeah, I feel like I've built well off a good pre-season and happy with who I am.

01:17Have you done anything differently?

01:18Because obviously you had that serious injury, didn't you, just about a year or so ago.

01:21Have you done anything differently to get yourself back to the strong position that you're in right now?

01:27I think I've really concentrated on my training and the work I do with the goalkeeper coaches.

01:33And just day in, day out, really kind of focusing on myself and my game and just honing them skills.

01:42We'll go to Nisha, then to Lee Ryder.

01:44Hi, Nick.

01:45Just following on from what Keith was saying there, do you still have those England ambitions?

01:51Yeah, I think that's something that's always at the back of your mind.

01:53The team has struggled for consistency so far this season.

02:16What do you think has perhaps been a major factor in that?

02:20Is it the comings and goings?

02:21Is it the schedule?

02:22Why hasn't it quite come together just yet?

02:26Probably a mix of things, to be honest.

02:29Like I say, I think we're really small margins away from being in a better position in both competitions.

02:36And that is football.

02:37You've got to really kind of work hard to get on the right side of them small margins.

02:40So, yeah, I think we keep doing the right things and we'll get there eventually.

02:46And just finally, on the back of a defeat at Brighton,

02:50there's no better way to put things right than playing under the lights at St. James' in the Champions League on a Tuesday night.

02:57I guess you lot probably just can't wait to get back out there.

03:00Yeah, of course, something we speak about within the group is the atmospheres that the home Champions League games bring

03:07and, you know, the experiences we've had over the last couple of years.

03:11So, yeah, a real special night ahead and, yeah, a game that, you know, I always look forward to.

03:18Go to Lee Ryder, then to Jo Buck, please.

03:21Nick, you already said in the summer you wanted to finish your career here.

03:24It sounds like something's been triggering your contract.

03:26How happy are you about that situation?

03:30Tough to say because I signed that in July 2023.

03:34So I was really happy about it then.

03:37And, yeah, I'll say my contract's up in, what does that make it, July 27.

03:43But, yeah, of course, yeah, I look forward to, you know, spending as long as I can here.

03:47And obviously you've been here since the start of, you know, the takeover pretty much.

03:51How pleased are you with the progress made around the whole club

03:55and you've been right in the middle of all that?

03:57Yeah, of course, for, like, kind of ever evolving, every transfer window, every few months,

04:02whether that's, you know, players, new bits around the training ground, just ourselves as a team.

04:08I think we've evolved and evolved over that time.

04:11And, yeah, it's been great to be a part of it.

04:13And, you know, you want to be, you know, part of it moving forward, really.

04:16I feel like we've got that first trophy under our belt now.

04:19And we've qualified for the Champions League twice.

04:23And you're kind of looking to kind of do that back-to-back.

04:26And can you achieve more and get to knockout games and win knockout games?

04:29So, yeah, I think I've had some big moments in the last three years.

04:33And that's kind of, you know, you strive for more of that.

04:37Go to Joe Buck, then to Dom Shaw.

04:39Hi, Nick. Aaron Ramsdale came to the club, obviously, in the summer.

04:43How was the relationship between you two developing?

04:45You both obviously want to play, you know, football on a regular basis.

04:49Yeah, really good, really well.

04:50Obviously, no, Aaron for a few years and trained with him with England at different stages.

04:57So, yeah, I really enjoyed having him as part of the group.

05:01And definitely, you know, strengthens us as a squad and as a goalkeeping unit.

05:05So, yeah, it's been great to, you know, have him and his character in the group.

05:08And someone else who came to the club in the summer, Malik Chao, what have you made of his start to life?

05:12And how do you, as a goalkeeper, how confident are you with him ahead of you?

05:17Yeah, I really enjoyed playing with Malik.

05:20Obviously, you know, certain things you do in training together and certain things you can't do.

05:24So, you kind of learn on the job and you get used to experiences with each other when, you know,

05:30he's kind of a goalkeeper centre-half relationship.

05:32So, yeah, I really enjoyed playing with him.

05:36And you can definitely say he's, you know, hit the ground running.

05:38He looks like a top player.

05:40Don, then Craig Cog, after that, please.

05:42Can you just talk about the frustrations and difficulties of the injuries in the last couple of seasons?

05:47For myself?

05:48Yeah, yeah, of course.

05:50Something that no player wants.

05:51And, you know, if you could snap your fingers and say that your career will be full of, well,

05:57full of, you know, injury-free and full of health, you know, you'd bite someone's hands off.

06:02You know, that's just not the way it goes.

06:04There are setbacks and things you don't really plan for.

06:09But just really important how you kind of come through them difficult parts of your career.

06:13And, you know, I've been lucky to, you know, have good people around me, good physios and sports scientists.

06:19And the lads as well have got great characters in the group.

06:21So, I think, although you kind of go through them things as an individual,

06:26I really feel everyone's, you know, helped me out.

06:30And obviously, Jose Mourinho in the opposition dug out tomorrow.

06:32What do you remember as a football fan of Jose's impact when he first came to England?

06:38Yeah, I remember his Chelsea team letting in about 15 goals in a season.

06:41So, I think as a goalie that always sticks out.

06:44And obviously, yeah, coming in and winning straight away, really.

06:50And, yeah, doing it with, you know, a certain style.

06:54And, yeah, it was a certain charisma.

06:58And, yeah, someone that, you know, as a football fan,

07:01you probably don't forget that sort of spell that he kind of had at Chelsea.

07:06Craig, then Martin, then Chris, please.

07:09Hi, Nick.

07:09There's a feeling as it stands at the moment that you probably are England's fourth-choice goalkeeper.

07:13Have you spoken to Thomas about that?

07:15And if so, what has he said?

07:18Spoke to him, I'm trying to be right here, when he took over or soon after he took over the job.

07:24And then I've been in kind of regular contact with Hilario.

07:30So, yeah, I feel like, you know, the communication's been really good.

07:34Really enjoyed kind of having the opportunity to speak to him and to kind of speak to Hilario on a pretty regular basis.

07:41So, yeah, I feel like, you know, I'm in the frame, if you like.

07:46And it's something that's not dead.

07:48So, that's always, yeah, nice to have in the back of your mind.

07:52During those conversations, do you present your case?

07:54Do you say, like, listen, I'm playing really well?

07:57Please pick me.

08:00No, you've got to...

08:02I think it's always best to let your football do the talking and try and keep the ball out of the net.

08:07I think that's always going to stand you in the best stead.

08:11Hopefully Dan Burns put in a good word as well.

08:14Martin?

08:15Hiya, Nick.

08:15Just on that theme there, is it still a dream to make that World Cup squad?

08:20Yeah, of course.

08:21I've been to two already.

08:22So, yeah, I think a third in America will be pretty special at my age.

08:28You know, there's not many opportunities to come.

08:30So, yeah, if I get to the World Cup, that would be something that, yeah, would be a good achievement for myself.

08:37And in terms of Newcastle, there's been good performances against the likes of Barcelona and AC Milan in the Champions League.

08:43But it's a run of results without victories.

08:46Is it essential to progress that you start winning these home games in this competition?

08:50Yeah, of course.

08:51I think, you know, something, you know, I think we wanted to take more advantage of a couple of years ago was the home games.

08:58After the Paris one.

09:00So, yeah, I think any team at St James' Park, you want to kind of take the game to them and have a positive result.

09:07So, yeah, that's something we'll look to continue with.

09:12Chris then.

09:12Kieran, please.

09:13Hi, Nick.

09:14You were kind of listing the achievements since the takeover before.

09:18Obviously, the trophy being a big one.

09:19regular sort of playing in the Champions League.

09:23As a group of players, to kind of kick the club on, how important is it that it's no longer just about taking part in the Champions League,

09:32that you kind of progress into the later stages?

09:34Of course, you know, it's something that this football club's not done in a long, long time.

09:38So, that's a big ambition for the group.

09:42You know, we've got a top team, top manager and top teams getting to the later stages of the Champions League.

09:48And, you know, everyone wants to be a part of that.

09:50So, yeah, although we've qualified for the Champions League and, you know, when we stood on the pitch last day against Everton and we'd been beat,

09:58you know, we'd have snapped your hand off for that, believe you me.

10:00So, yeah, now we're in it.

10:02You know, still got a top squad, a bit more experience than we were first time around.

10:06So, yeah, looking to take it to the next level.

10:10And is there a confidence there that you, kind of amongst the team, that you can do that?

10:14Yeah, definitely.

10:15I think, you know, first time around, like I say, we didn't have loads of Champions League appearances in the group, if you like.

10:21So, I think now we've kind of got that as a squad and as a team and, you know, as a city.

10:29I think that is something that can, you know, help us to progress this time around.

10:33Kieran?

10:34Hi, Nick.

10:35In the summer we saw the club, we were looking at bringing in an additional goalkeeper on a permanent basis.

10:39They obviously got Arne in on loan.

10:41Has that driven you on at all?

10:44Yeah, I think, you know, when you're a club like Newcastle now, you know, the squad is always going to evolve

10:48and look to get stronger in every position.

10:52And so, as a player, you know, you want to push yourself the absolute maximum you can to, you know, play,

11:00earn the right to play for the club, you know.

11:02So, yeah, it's something that I've tried to do my whole career, whether that's, you know, League Two, conference,

11:09you know, you always want to play at the next level.

11:11And then when you get to, you know, Champions League, England, you want to play more games to them.

11:17You want to play at a better level against better opponents.

11:19You want to, you know, be a big part of the team, if you like.

11:23So, that's something that has definitely always been a thing for me.

11:28Keith.

11:30Sorry, Nick, I didn't want to ask this as the first question.

11:32How does it feel to not be the only big Nick at the football club?

11:37Yeah, I'm enjoying it, to be fair.

11:38I think he carries it better than me.

11:41Yeah, I think he's been a joy to have at the club, you know, on the pitch.

11:46But Offit also, a great character within the dressing room.

11:50And, yeah, it's great to see him scoring goals.

11:53Who's taller?

11:54I think me and him are pretty close.

11:57And Big Dan edges it, I think.

12:00Come on, thank you.

12:01Cheers, guys.

12:03Cheers, guys.

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