{"id":21321,"date":"2026-02-28T03:34:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T03:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/21321\/"},"modified":"2026-02-28T03:34:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T03:34:14","slug":"good-to-see-the-young-boys-get-oppurtunity-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/21321\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Good to see the young boys get oppurtunity’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Newcastle defender Alex Murphy says his Champions League debut was a “real special feeling” after starting against Qarabag on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

He told BBC Radio Newcastle: “When you’re a kid, that’s kind of what you dream of, just lining up and the anthem coming on. I did get goose bumps when the anthem came on, and it was a really special feeling just just knowing that your actually about to play in the Champions League. It was a really good feeling. And hopefully I get many more.<\/p>\n

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“I think the season obviously hasn’t been easy. I’ve wanted to go out and play more games and stuff like that, and I thought I would probably play more games.<\/p>\n

“Obviously, as a footballer, you’re not happy when you’re you’re not playing games. When you’re getting minutes and stuff, it kind of gives you hope. And I think tonight was a big opportunity to me, and I was really grateful to get in from the start.<\/p>\n

“I know every minute you get you have to show that you can do something and bring something to the team. I’ve totally done that tonight. So I was happy.”<\/p>\n

On starting his debut at left back and finishing the match at left centre-back: “I’ve played both them positions most of my life, to be honest. So it’s nothing new to me. I’m very familiar with it.<\/p>\n

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“I’d say my best position is as a left back. But I don’t really have a preference. I like playing the two positions. There’s this positive to both sides of the positions, so I don’t really mind. I probably, long term, see myself as a left back, but I don’t mind as long as I’m playing.<\/p>\n

“But obviously there’s a lot of chop and changing and trying to organise the lads that are coming on and get them to do their roles as well. So it’s not easy when it’s changing every 20 minutes. But no, I think all the lads that came on, especially Leo [Shahar] as well, when he came on, done well.”<\/p>\n

John Anderson said it was “good to see the young boys get opportunity” at full time on BBC Radio Newcastle<\/a>: “Murphy did OK. He was nice and safe. Didn’t take any chances. Went into centre-back. He looked more comfortable. He looked more assured in there.<\/p>\n

“It’s great for him, the fact that he’s played 90 minutes in the Champions League, Shahar came on too, for those two young boys, it’s a night that they will remember.”<\/p>\n

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Leo Shahar speaks about being part of the only Newcastle team to make it this far in the Champions League after making his debut:<\/a> “Obviously, getting into the round of 16 hasn’t been done before. So making history with this Newcastle United team, it’s massive.<\/p>\n

“I got called over by the coach, and I was just like, ‘OK, here’s my moment, so I’ve got to relish it and get on the pitch’.<\/p>\n

“I was always hoping, based on the score line, that this could be my day, but I fought that for the last couple games. So you’ve always got to stay ready, and that’s all it was tonight, and I wanted to get the minutes. So I’m happy.”<\/p>\n

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