Mbemba Hails United Faithful

By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Chancel Mbemba hailed the Newcastle United faithful after helping the Magpies to a memorable 5-1 final-day victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

A crowd of over 52,000 roared Rafa Benitez's side on at St. James' Park, where a Georginio Wijnaldum brace and strikes from Aleksandar Mitrovic, Rolando Aarons and Daryl Janmaat saw United record one of their biggest wins of the campaign.

The result meant that the Magpies brought the curtain down on the season by extending their unbeaten run to six games but, with their fate having already been sealed in midweek, centre half Mbemba said the players owed it to supporters to give them something to cheer about on the last day of a difficult campaign.

"It was absolutely fantastic to hear the fans out there like that. It was the last game, and we wanted to say a massive thank you to all the supporters. They were brilliant - they were there from the beginning to the end, and helped us all the way," he told nufc.co.uk.

"We couldn't give up, even in the situation that we were in, and next season we're going to try really hard for them.

"We had to give them that present (on Sunday). For the fans, all the members of staff and everyone who was here, we needed to win. We had to go out there and do it for them."

Sunderland's win over Everton last Wednesday meant United went into the game with Mauricio Pochettino's side knowing they would be playing Championship football next season.

And 21-year-old Mbemba admitted that the emphatic win over Spurs was a bittersweet occasion, with nothing left to play for.

But the former Anderlecht man did express his satisfaction at keeping a prolific forward line - including England frontman Harry Kane - at bay, while Benitez's men excelled at the other end.

"It was a bit of a strange feeling to be honest, but we had to go out there, we are professional sportsmen and we have to play the 38 games," said Mbemba.

"We wanted to finish it as well as we could, and we were all happy with the performance today. We needed to finish well and it was a bit difficult for us, but it was nice to get that victory.

"It was great for us all round. We just let one goal in so it was a nice defensive display. We got forward a lot, had a lot of chances and we created them and scored a lot of goals, which was a really positive thing for us."