Press article:

Biggest derby of all - 24/04/2003

Nolberto Solano is in no doubt that Newcastle have rarely faced a bigger derby than Saturday's potentially pivotal showdown with Sunderland. The Magpies' Peruvian international insists the 124th League meeting between two of football's fiercest rivals is in no way devalued by the Wearsiders' imminent relegation. And Solano revealed he has never felt more pressure going into the season's traditional showpiece fixture with the Magpies' Champions League hopes hanging by a thread. "Those people who think this will be easy for us are wrong," explained the experienced South American. "Nobody within St James's Park feels like that. "I have never been involved in such an important derby because this is one game we cannot afford to lose. "If we want to guarantee the same level of European football again next season then we have to win each of our remaining three games. "Those matches might look like easy games on paper but they are not - and Sunderland at the Stadium of Light is the most difficult of them all."

Solano and his colleagues return to training today after two days' rest determined that a season which has promised so much does not descend into disaster with the finishing line in sight. That Newcastle have taken just one Premiership point from a possible 12 is hardly a statistic to be proud of going into a fixture where no quarter will be asked, and none given. However, Solano is confident United will emerge from their recent rut to take the points required to claim another bite at the Champions League cherry. "It's going to be very tough for us but we know what must be done," added the Magpies' winger. "The pressure is on but there is no way we want to finish the season on a low note. "We have a squad capable of covering for the injured players and a group of players who have performed well all season. You can look at the Sunderland game two ways and we are approaching it as the perfect opportunity to put our season back on track."

Solano claimed his seventh goal of the season against Aston Villa on Easter Monday but a mature display of midfield authority was not mirrored elsewhere. With the most important stage of their season to come, many of Newcastle's more consistent stars suddenly look jaded, nervous and a shadow of their brilliant best.

Solano, of course, has been dogged by inconsistency himself this season, but the former Boca Juniors midfielder looked back to his best during spells against Villa and he admitted: "I needed that goal. "It was a good feeling to see it hit the back of the net but I felt pretty low after the game. "We all knew we'd dropped two important points and we cannot afford a repeat at Sunderland. "It's such a huge game for the club and our fans. We know it is the match our supporters most want us to win but it is about more than beating Mick McCarthy's side. "A victory at the Stadium of Light will go a long way towards securing that Champions League place."

Simon Rushworth, The Journal

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