Bruno Guimaraes admitted Newcastle United fell short of their best last season but is confident they will soon be back to their best.
In 2024-25, the Magpies ended their long wait for silverware with their EFL Cup success, while also clinching the final Champions League spot on a dramatic final day.
Whereas last season, Newcastle finished the Premier League season in 12th, missing out on qualification for any of the European competitions, and falling short of the high standards they set the previous campaign.
Newcastle suffered 17 Premier League defeats, last losing more matches across a single campaign in the competition in 2017-18 (18).
Indeed, only relegated pair Burnley (14) and Wolves (13) lost more away games than Newcastle in the Premier League (10). They last failed to win more matches on the road than their 15 this term (D5 L10) in 2015-16 (17).
Eddie Howe's side lost striker Alexander Isak in the transfer window as he made a British record move to Liverpool, and his replacements, Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, struggled to cement a place in the team.
But Guimaraes does not think there is one single reason for their underperformance.
"It has been a season in which we have not managed to reach our level, and that, without a doubt, will serve as a lesson for the future," he told AS.
"We haven't managed to maintain consistency, and that has had a big impact on our ranking in the Premier League and in the rest of the competitions.
"I see the process as a whole. I don't think that an isolated event has changed our course. We lacked a streak of good performances, consistency in the eleven, we suffered some injuries and all that had an influence."
Guimaraes' season was interrupted by injury, and as such, he managed only 29 appearances, though he still finished as Newcastle's top scorer in the Premier League with nine goals.
He also topped the assists chart (five), while no Magpies player could better his 45 chances created either.
Of the nine games that Guimaraes missed, Newcastle won just two (D1 L6), with their win percentage dropping from 41.4% with him in the team to 22.2% without him.
"I work very hard every day to be able to give my best during the matches," he added when asked about the comparisons between him and Manchester City's Rodri.
"I am very happy about the recognition. I always say that our goal should be to learn and evolve, and that's what I direct my work towards."