‘That’s a true story’: Kieran Trippier shares what he told Fabian Schar seconds before scoring his free-kick for Newcastle

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Newcastle United full-back Kieran Trippier has shared what he told Fabian Schar just seconds before scoring his free-kick yesterday.

The Magpies put in a brilliant performance against Manchester City yesterday in the thrilling 3-3 draw at St James’ Park.

Trippier scored a wonderful free-kick early in the second-half to give Newcastle a 3-1 lead against the Premier League champions.

And while speaking to the club’s website after the game, Trippier revealed that Schar actually wanted to take the free-kick. 

What Trippier told Schar

The 31-year-old eventually stepped up and the rest is history, but it could have played out differently.

Trippier has said he was confident that he would score and told Schar that he would do exactly that.

“I always back myself on free-kicks, I’ve practised since I was such a young age,” he said.

“I’m delighted I could help the team. Fabian [Schar] wanted it and you can ask him yourself.

“I said to him ‘no, I’m going to score this one’. And that’s a true story.”

Later in the interview, the Englishman was asked if he would be on free-kick duties permanently from now on. But Trippier says he will let Schar take one, but only if he misses. 

He added: “If Fabian feels confident, he’s more than welcome to take them. But I think the next one I’ll take and if I don’t hit the target, or hit the wall, then Fabian can take the next one.”

Trippier nearly had his afternoon spoiled in the second-half after Jarred Gillett sent him off for a tackle on Kevin De Bruyne. But the referee reviewed his decision and overturned it.

Since making the switch from Atletico Madrid back in January, Trippier has already scored three times from set-piece situations.

The full-back is a brilliant set-piece taker and it will be difficult for Schar to claim the next one after what Trippier did yesterday.

Eddie Howe will be delighted to have a free-kick specialist in his team and it certainly helped Newcastle out yesterday.

The Magpies boss will be encouraged after what was an excellent performance against the best team in the league. Despite letting a 3-1 lead slip, Newcastle went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in Europe yesterday.