Gutierrez has no intention of leaving Newcastle

28 November 2009 10:58
JONAS GUTIERREZ has categorically ruled out leaving Newcastle United during the January transfer window.[LNB] The Argentina international has been one of the Magpies' most impressive performers in the opening four months of the season, with his left-wing displays helping the club claim top spot in the Championship table.[LNB] Those displays have alerted the attention of a number of clubs in both the Premier League and La Liga, and with a place at next summer's World Cup at stake, some observers have claimed that Gutierrez will seek a higher standard of football when the transfer window reopens on January 1.[LNB] However, the 26-year-old claims that is not the case, and insists he will remain at Newcastle no matter who declares an interest.[LNB] January does not mean anything to me, said Gutierrez, who will line up on the left of midfield when Newcastle entertain Swansea City this afternoon. Regardless of what happens in terms of other clubs, I'm not going anywhere.[LNB] I really enjoy playing for Newcastle and my family are happy here. All I am thinking about is getting Newcastle back into the Premier League.[LNB] At the start of the season, fears were expressed about Gutierrez's ability to handle the rough-and-tumble of life in the Championship.[LNB] The winger was deemed too soft to survive in English football's second tier, but instead he appears to have thrived.[LNB] He admits that, at times, the tackling has been intense. But having grown up playing for Velez Sarsfield in the Argentinian top-flight, Gutierrez claims that cynical tackling is nothing new.[LNB] Argentinian football isn't soft, he said. It's not all about flair and skill. The style might be different in South America, but it's still football and the defenders still do the same things in Argentina as they do here. It's more physical here perhaps, but we can adapt to it.[LNB] I don't think it's dirty I don't have a problem if defenders want to kick me. It's a contact game and you can't complain about it.[LNB] Gutierrez came in for some rough treatment at Preston on Monday night but, like the rest of his team-mates, he buckled down to help grind out a valuable 1-0 win.[LNB] Newcastle have proved adept at winning tight matches, helping them claim 11 victories from 17 league games.[LNB] Swansea, will provide another stiff test, as they travel to Gallowgate on the back of an 11-game unbeaten run.[LNB] But while the Swans have been making bullish noises in the run-up to today's game, Gutierrez claims Newcastle have grown used to opposition sides raising their game in matches against them.[LNB] All the games we play in this division are hard, he said. We are the big team and it is always a battle. I think we found it a little bit difficult to adjust at first. But we are better prepared for it now.[LNB]

Source: Northern_Echo