It is the largest Premier League match of the weekend, and yet Eddie Howe spent very little of his press conference for the match about football. This was rather a debrief after the statement.
The statements in question are those of Alexander Isak and Newcastle United for a few hours on Tuesday evening when the earth moved under St James' park. The aftershocks were still felt on Friday morning.
Howe wears a cap during summer sessions on the training field. He exchanged that for a crash helmet when he is confronted with the media in recent weeks. Here too he stood for questions about the future of his star player. A player who does not want to be in the club and who, in the case of an accusing but opaque statement, some believed that he fell with Howe and lost confidence in his manager. That is not my understanding, but the fire tracks of Isak have exposed his manager.
It would then be easy to throw a grenade back in his direction – some of his predecessors would certainly have returned the fire. We would pick grenade shards from our dictaphones, Steve Bruce were still nearby.
Instead, Howe's weapons has been to open his arms. He wants Isak to return to the team, whether he is now or on 2 September after the transfer window is closed, now or on 2 September. It will of course not happen, of course. The closest to talking about the Liverpool match during the opening fairs of his press briefing was to confirm that Isak would not play.
But if Isak remains, as is now extremely likely, Howe knows the chances that he will be re -integrated that the Swede will be greatly reduced if he first has to apologize because he has focused on him in public. That is why events from Tuesday were not what he wanted or needed.
“My emotion was one of disappointment in respect that these things were made public,” he said. 'For me, all these things should ideally face -to -face, club on player. Yes, in public it is great for you, it is great news, but it does not reflect well on us or Alex.
'For me it is a sad moment that tries to deal with it. The situation is regrettable. From the perspective of the club they thought they had to act and answer. Needs. The club spoke, and rightly at that time. '
The club's answer was to reveal that a sale had been possible and that they had listened to the wishes of Isak.
“We have been clear that the terms and conditions of sale did not happen this summer,” they said. “We do not foresee those conditions that are met.”
Howe is both a pragmatist and an optimist – he will always look to get something good from the reality of the hand he is treated. It was a bit surprising when he admitted that Newcastle was in a 'loss loss' situation. Isak leaves in this or remains against his will. For mitigation, the question was a slower, ambling delivery that perhaps caught him where a box should have been. His helmet offered no protection on this occasion.
“I think it is a loss loss situation to a certain extent for us, because I don't think we can get out of this winning in every situation,” he said. “That's why I said all summer that it is a difficult situation for the club to manage.”
He was quickly touched with another, but adjusted his feet just in time. Did Isak told you that he wanted to leave two weeks before the end of the season?
“Me and Alex had conversations towards the end of the season,” he said. 'Yes, I'm not sitting here and denying that. I have always said that individual conversations are better private. But we had conversations at the end of the season. '
That should not be misinterpreted as promises made that he could leave. I understand that it never happened, but it is also the case that Newcastle was aware, in the summer, from Isak's because to go, that's why they pursue his replacement by Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko.
Those movements – indeed, all movements for a striker – have failed, and that leaves Isak as the only goal scorer at the club. That is why he is ready to stay. Does that mean an end to all this? No chance. The next chapter will determine whether he will play.
“If Alex has to play for Newcastle again, he must be fully dedicated,” said Howe. 'If you are going to select a team to play, those players must commit themselves to give their best performance.
'All other things around it, things can change. I have had this so often in my career, one day a player may not be in a great place, and a few days later they are there and are ready to play. That is the beauty of people, we can all change our emotions and feelings fairly quickly. I hope I can work with him again and get him at his best again. '
Keep that crash helmet the best, Eddie.