Alex Isak and Bruno Guimarães speak to the media ahead of Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium
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00:00Alex, Bruno, nice to see you. How are you feeling ahead of Sunday?
00:06Feeling good, feeling good. Feeling it's a good opportunity for ourselves.
00:11To be honest, we cannot wait to get there. Everyone is very excited.
00:15As a team, as a city, I think we have been working very hard.
00:20Since we are together here, a big opportunity and hopefully everything is going to be good.
00:26And we can finally get this trophy back to Newcastle.
00:30You mentioned there about being excited.
00:33When we heard you on Monday after West Ham, you were saying this is our World Cup final.
00:40And obviously it is. But how important is it that as players you don't get too excited?
00:45Of course. I think we are more relaxed than the fans, of course.
00:48But we know exactly what it means to them. It's a long time.
00:52For us, we have been together for three years and we have seen this opportunity as a big one.
00:59But from the point of view of the fans, we know for them it's a World Cup final because it's a long, long time.
01:06We want to make everyone in the city happy. We have our targets as well.
01:11It's going to be a good game with two teams. We have to play our game, nothing different.
01:17And hopefully everything is going to be good for us.
01:20If you don't mind casting your mind back two years ago to the final, if you can think back to that,
01:25as a player or as a team, what would you have done differently?
01:30It's tough to say now. I think it's another moment.
01:34Sometimes when you lose you don't remember many, many things about the game.
01:38But I think now we have more confidence, we have different players.
01:42So what I can say is our confidence is very high at the moment.
01:48Because it's a good opportunity to make history together.
01:52Alex, another thing that Bruno said on Monday night after the game was that
01:57in yourself we've got the best striker in the world at the moment.
02:01That must have been nice to hear.
02:04I didn't actually hear that.
02:06You said it very quickly.
02:12Nice to hear that?
02:14Yeah, of course. That's nice.
02:16And how are you feeling ahead of Sunday?
02:18Because obviously you've had a couple of injury concerns recently
02:22and it feels like you're fighting your way back.
02:24How is your level of fitness?
02:27No, I feel good.
02:30It's probably been put out a bit more dramatic than it's been.
02:36I haven't been injured, I've just had a little bit of tightness,
02:42which can be normal when you play a lot of games.
02:45But yeah, I feel good and really excited for the game.
02:49What has your training regime been like this week?
02:53What have you done to try and ensure that you're at 100% best come Sunday?
02:59Nothing.
03:01I think the best way to prepare is to train as normal.
03:07Be a part of the team and just train every day like you're fully fit, which I am.
03:14And when you look at who you face in the final, Liverpool,
03:18obviously they had a big night the other night against Paris Saint-Germain,
03:22exited the Champions League.
03:24Is there any chance that could have an effect on them come Sunday?
03:32Yeah, I think every game will affect you in some way.
03:36But yeah, we can't really know or speculate too much
03:40about if it's going to be positive or negative.
03:43It might as well be a positive reaction for them.
03:46So I think it will come down to what we do as a team.
03:51That's what we have to focus on, and that's what's going to be the difference.
03:55Finally for me, Bruno, when are you getting the cup final haircut?
03:58No, not this time!
04:00Not at all?
04:01No, not this time.
04:02You're just going with a...?
04:04Yeah, a normal one this time, if I get more lucky!
04:07Is that your decision or the manager's?
04:09No, my decision!
04:13Bruno, today there are schools and nurseries across the city,
04:17they've got Black and White Day,
04:19children going in their Newcastle kits rather than their uniforms,
04:23tens of thousands of fans travelling to London, watching in Newcastle.
04:26What's your message to them ahead of Sunday?
04:29Well, this is a good opportunity, like I said.
04:32We are feeling the same as them.
04:35We just want to make thousands and thousands of George happy.
04:38We know football sometimes can affect you in every way,
04:42but my message is to stay positive.
04:44We're going to do our best to get this trophy back to the city.
04:49How do you feel the team has changed and evolved from two years ago?
04:55Like I said before, I feel there's more confidence.
04:58Of course, when we made the final before, you get more experience as a team.
05:02Of course, we changed some players, but the base is still there.
05:06Feeling confident, I think we are in a better moment
05:11than we were the last time we faced Man U in the final.
05:15So, very confident, positive, hopeful we can go there,
05:21play our best football, because in our best day,
05:24I think we are really a great team.
05:27You're welcome.
05:28Alex, we've talked so many times with your manager, Eddie Howe,
05:32about your fantastic form this season.
05:35The last final, you actually were on the bench to start,
05:39but since then, your captain has referred to you
05:42as possibly the best player in the world.
05:44You've been talked as one of the best players,
05:46if not the best striker, in Europe currently.
05:48What's been the key to how much you've improved since then?
05:55I think hard work, training, and the mentality to wanting to get better,
06:05which I have.
06:08I have high ambitions to achieve things in my career
06:13and be the best version of myself.
06:16Then I have teammates that help me get better,
06:20many players that have been here since I came.
06:25I think with the time, you just get better connections
06:29and I think you all just benefit each other better and better.
06:33Thank you. Good luck.
06:36Bruno, what's it like to play against Liverpool?
06:39Good game, top teams.
06:41I think, in my opinion, nowadays they're the best team in the world.
06:45They are proving this in the Premier League, winning by 15 points.
06:48But to be honest, I always prefer to play with good teams
06:54because they play and we have a pass to play as well.
06:57So we have to be focused.
07:01Sometimes you don't have too much about them and think about us,
07:05what we can do as a team to surprise them and play our best football.
07:09Alex, you spoke to Bruno about the history and the excitement.
07:13What does that mean to you,
07:14the fact that Newcastle haven't won a trophy for so long?
07:20It means...
07:22Obviously, I don't wish that it was that way,
07:25but it means a lot that we have the chance to change that.
07:33As I said, I think we have to just be focused about the game
07:37and not let the fact that the club hasn't won anything in a long time
07:43get to us too much.
07:45I understand the excitement around the city and around the whole club.
07:52But personally, I just feel focused and quite relaxed for the game.
08:00Obviously excited, but focused on the job.
08:08Hi, Alex.
08:09How aware were you when you joined the club of the big-name strikers
08:12who have been here in the past,
08:13the Jackie Milburns, Malcolm McDonald, Alan Shearers,
08:16and how does it feel now to be compared to those players?
08:22How aware I was?
08:26I didn't have too much knowledge,
08:28but my football knowledge in general is pretty bad.
08:31True.
08:35No, but obviously, Alan Shearer, Papi Cissé, Demba,
08:40that's kind of where it stops, my knowledge.
08:46I think you find out quite quick about the greats
08:50and about the history of the club.
08:54I'm trying to create my own history.
08:58I'm happy with what I've done so far,
09:01but I'm always just looking forward.
09:04Bruno, given what you've experienced in your time at the club,
09:08how surprised are you that it's 70 years since this club won a domestic trophy?
09:14Like I said, I didn't wish them to go through this moment,
09:19but we are seeing this as a big opportunity
09:23to make history after a long time.
09:27At the moment, we are just seeing this as an opportunity.
09:32Like I said, we want to make history.
09:34We know they're excited about the fans,
09:36but we try to not get focused now about what the fans are thinking,
09:41because sometimes you cannot think too much about this time.
09:44We just want to be focused on the job,
09:46go there, play our best game,
09:48and after, if everything goes right, celebrate with them.
09:54Alex, when you talk about your ambitions,
09:57do you think you can achieve all those ambitions at this football club?
10:02That's why I came here.
10:05I've said many times I don't really look too much or think too much about my future.
10:12But, yeah, I've said I'm happy here and we are contenders for titles,
10:18which is what you want to win as a football player.
10:23We've been in a final and now we're in another one,
10:26so I think the chances are there.
10:30You went up the goalscoring list, you've only got Alan Shearer ahead of you.
10:34Do you think one day you could catch Alan Shearer at the top of that list?
10:39I think that's...
10:41It's tough, huh?
10:42Yeah, that's a bit disrespectful towards him to even talk about that,
10:46because that's so far.
10:50No, I think my goalscoring record has been good so far.
10:57But, as I said, I'm not really looking too far forward.
11:02I just stay in the moment,
11:04and that's the best way for me to keep my form and keep scoring.
11:11A question for both players.
11:13It's perhaps a little bit unfair to Alex after what he recently said.
11:16If I said the names Vic Keeble and George Hanna to you,
11:20would you know who they were?
11:24Go on!
11:27They scored the last time Newcastle won a major honour, 70 years ago.
11:32How does it feel, your names, in 70 years' time,
11:36to still be talked about in the way that their names are today?
11:40It's tough to answer, no?
11:43To think 70 years is too much,
11:45but of course when you're going to see the club's history,
11:48everything, you're going to find this name there.
11:51And of course, when you see here after 70 years,
11:56we want to be there as well.
11:59For me, I'm not thinking about scoring,
12:01I'm just thinking about playing well and winning the trophy.
12:04It's nice to know some people who made history for this club.
12:08I'm talking club legends.
12:10Alex, has Alan Shearer been in touch with you personally?
12:14Bob Moncur, the last player to lift a trophy.
12:16Bruno, has he been in touch?
12:18I spoke with Rob Lee, I think he was the last player
12:22who scored in Wembley for Newcastle.
12:25So I thought his feet would give me a little bit of luck!
12:32Yeah, and hopefully I can do the same there.
12:35But it was a good time.
12:40Thanks, Ian. We'll go Martin, Gary and then Mark, please.
12:43Hi, Alex. What can this football club achieve,
12:46and does the speculation about your future unsettle you at all?
12:53I think this club can achieve great things.
12:58I think you should really look at one season at a time,
13:02and this season we can achieve winning a trophy,
13:06which would be amazing for everyone.
13:11Really, about my future, there's nothing really I think about.
13:16I've said many times during a season I just focus on the job,
13:20and now is probably the worst time to even think about anything else.
13:25All of our focus is just on Sunday,
13:28and doing good and hopefully bringing the trophy back to Newcastle.
13:33Thank you. And Bruno, have you visualised walking the stairs at Wembley
13:37and lifting the trophy on Sunday?
13:39Many times, probably since we got final, I've been thinking this a lot.
13:45But like I said, I don't want to get too excited about it,
13:49focus on the game first, and when we get there it's going to be...
13:52Wow, very good, very good.
13:55But, yeah, of course I imagine me there, in this place.
14:02Morning. Just a quick question to you, Alex.
14:05Every time you go on the pitch you look like you don't fear anybody,
14:08no matter who you come up against.
14:10Obviously you're up against Virgil van Dijk and Mane,
14:13considered the best defender in the world.
14:15Is it fair to say you are fearless every time you go out there on the pitch?
14:20Yeah, I wouldn't say I fear anyone, I think that's a strong word.
14:25I have a lot of respect for the players I come up against,
14:30I have a lot of respect for van Dijk and their whole defence.
14:34But, yeah, I'm a player who always just focuses on myself.
14:39If I do the right things, if I play my best game,
14:44then I think I'll benefit my team.
14:49But, yeah, it's not really a duel, me against one player,
14:53I think it's Newcastle against Liverpool,
14:56and if we play together, obviously I need my teammates as well
15:01to help me get better.
15:03It's a team sport, so it comes down to what we do as a team,
15:07and I'll obviously try to use my qualities to make us better.
15:13Alex, I know you mentioned about your future there,
15:15people have said they'd quite like to have an open contract talk to you in the summer,
15:18is that something you'd be open to?
15:23Yeah, I think, as I've said, I'm not really thinking about the summer.
15:28But, yeah, that'll probably be a talking point once the season's finished,
15:33which we will really see, because no talks have been held yet.
15:40Bruno, your tears at the end of the last final,
15:44which a lot of people remember,
15:46was that something that you used to motivate you this time as well?
15:50You were totally different, obviously.
15:52Yeah, I want a tea of happiness this time.
15:56Everyone knows how emotional I am.
15:59I always try to give everything that I have on the pitch,
16:03to play as a fan, because I know what it means for them.
16:07So, yeah, I still remember this moment.
16:11But, as I've said, this time I want a cry of happiness,
16:15and hopefully everything's going to be good for us on the day.
16:19Thank you. We just have a couple of minutes left,
16:21so if we could do one question each from Craig, Luke, Don and Scott, please.
16:26Alex, we call you the best striker in the world,
16:28your teammates call you the best striker in the world,
16:30no-one's ever asked you, are you the best striker in the world?
16:36No, I can't really answer that.
16:38I think I'm enjoying my football, I'm enjoying where I'm at.
16:44I would never really put that tag on myself.
16:50I think that's for others to judge.
16:54But, yeah, I'm certainly happy with where I'm at in my career right now.
17:00Alexander, you talked there about wanting to achieve things in the game.
17:05Is one of those things having a defining impact on a game of this magnitude,
17:09scoring goals on this sort of platform,
17:11to prove that you are that world-class player?
17:16Yeah, of course. I think as a striker you have to have that mindset,
17:20not just because it's a final,
17:23but I think that's the general mindset you have in the game,
17:26leading the line and being that threat and finishing off attacks.
17:32I think we all, in all positions, have our way to have a big impact on a game like this,
17:40it's not just about scoring, it's also about defending.
17:44As a midfielder he does pretty much everything on the field,
17:49so it's not just scoring the goals,
17:53even if that's probably the biggest talking point after a game.
17:58We've got Dom and Scott to wrap up, please.
18:00Morning, Alex. Just on Liverpool, you touched on them before,
18:03but you made your debut at Anfield, you scored your first goal for Newcastle
18:06against Liverpool, scored against them early in the season,
18:08how do you feel when you come up against this team who, as Bruno said,
18:11is possibly the best team in the world at the moment?
18:16I really enjoy the games against Liverpool,
18:19because I think they're not too different to ourselves.
18:24It's a high-pressing team and a direct team,
18:28which can lead to many counter-opportunities,
18:31and that's the game I like.
18:35I think I've had pretty good success before,
18:39and I feel good and enjoy playing against them.
18:45Alex, we've heard a lot of what Bruno's had to say about you,
18:48so let's flip the tables.
18:50What would you say about Bruno in terms of the way you've seen his game develop
18:54during your time as a Newcastle player,
18:56but also how he's taken to being captain this year,
18:59and what you feel he's offered the whole squad as a captain and a leader?
19:03Good question.
19:07It's not if he says, yeah, he's rubbish.
19:12No, really, I think he was an amazing player, even when I signed.
19:18But, yeah, he's taken steps as a player and also as a leader.
19:23You can see on the pitch the games he controls.
19:30We usually win and we usually play a good game,
19:33so he's really the heart of the team.
19:36It's really nice also to see him play as an eight,
19:39because then he's closer to me as well on the field.
19:43Yeah, and I really have high demands on Bruno on the pitch.
19:47I always tell him to pass me the ball all the time in difficult situations,
19:52and that's because I rate him really highly.
19:55So, yeah, I think his potential is really, really high,
20:01and I love to play with him.
20:03As a captain, I think his passion for the club and for football
20:10is probably something everyone can see,
20:13but, yeah, it's contagious and gives us also energy on the field.
20:20I think he's done really well.