adminIan Wright outlines worrying Newcastle United Yoane Wissa issue – ‘If he was at Brentford’
Yoane Wissa endured a frustrating night as Newcastle United fell to a 2–0 defeat against Manchester City in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, missing several clear-cut chances that could have altered the course of the tie.
Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright believes the 29-year-old would have converted those opportunities had he still been playing for Brentford, suggesting the pressure of a high-stakes semi-final at St James’ Park got the better of him.
Newcastle now face a daunting task in the second leg away from home next month after conceding twice to City. However, the Magpies could have taken an early lead when Wissa squandered a gilt-edged chance within the opening five minutes. Jacob Murphy delivered a superb first-time cross from the right, which Wissa controlled before firing over the bar from close range with his left foot.
The DR Congo international was visibly frustrated and later missed another similar opportunity before the break. In the second half, he also saw a looping header brilliantly kept out by City goalkeeper James Trafford.
Wissa completed a £55 million move from Brentford in the summer but suffered a knee injury shortly after the transfer was confirmed, delaying his debut until December. Since returning, he has scored twice in 10 appearances, though he is still working his way back to peak fitness while adapting to his new surroundings.
Wright feels Wissa’s lack of composure was evident and insists he would have shown greater calm in a less demanding environment, pointing to the 20 goals he scored for Brentford last season.
Speaking on The Overlap, Wright said: “I think Wissa is trying very hard. As a striker, sometimes you just have to breathe. There was one chance where he should have hit it first time. If you do that and the keeper saves it, the crowd reacts. But instead, he overthought it.
“When the ball is coming at the right pace, you don’t need to take a touch. You just focus on the basics and strike through it. He tried to control it when he already knew where the ball was coming from. That’s overthinking.
“At St James’ Park, in a semi-final, with that atmosphere, everything adds to the pressure. He’s trying to be perfect when he just needs to do it naturally.
“He’s come from Brentford, and that’s no disrespect to them, but this is a different environment with huge expectations. He’s now thinking about finishing rather than just finishing. If he was still at Brentford, I guarantee he scores at least one of those chances — maybe even two.”
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