Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes believes Eddie Howe and Newcastle United are utilising his skillset better than his former club Lyon did. Since his arrival in January, Guimaraes has had a transformative effect upon Newcastle's performances on the pitch.
While true Howe and the rest of the Magpies squad deserve masses of credit for their 2022 calendar results, there's no doubt that Guimaraes is the player who makes Newcastle tick.
The Brazilian international is the heartbeat of Howe's Newcastle, serving as their chief creator. During his time in Ligue 1, Lyon utilised Guimaraes as more of a ball winner than a progressive passer.
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However, the Brazilian has flourished in a more advanced role, adding goals to his game as well. In 31 appearances for Newcastle, Guimaraes has found the back of the net eight times. He only managed to bag three goals in 71 appearances for Lyon.
And the all-action role is one the 25-year-old feels suits his game better than how he was deployed by his former side.
"I never doubted my quality," Guimaraes told L’Equipe. "When I arrived, we had to keep up. This season we’ve had a great run. But my role here is completely different from my role in Lyon, I play like a number 8. I often find myself on the edge of the box to pass or score.
"I think that among midfielders, only Kevin De Bruyne is more involved in goal actions in the Championship [Premier League]. That means I do some interesting things. I like this game, defending and attacking. I’m freer than at Lyon.
"There, I was considered as a retriever who doesn’t have to pass the midfield too much. At Newcastle, I’m a creator. And Tite also wants to use me like that."
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