‘He radiated presence’ - the legend of Asprilla

Keith Gillespie believed he was heading to a restaurant.

However, his inner circle organized something else entirely—a surprise 50th birthday party earlier this year.

And a special guest flew in from South America to be there.

“As the doors swung open, the first person I saw Asprilla himself,” the winger stated. “There he was waiting on me. It was quite surreal because he's somebody you don't expect to see at a local golf club.”

“It was a lovely surprise,” he added. “It meant a lot that he’d go to such lengths to attend the event.”

It is now approaching thirty years after they wreaked havoc in black and white against the mighty Barcelona.

But some friendships remain unbroken.

“There was immediate chemistry,” Gillespie noted.

Now, as Newcastle prepare to face the Catalan giants anew, Tino is expected to be in attendance at St James' Park on Thursday night.

‘Asprilla possessed a certain gaze’

Really, every player connected during that autumn evening.

It may have been Newcastle's first-ever game in the Champions League proper, yet ex-player Philippe Albert felt “there was no pressure because Barcelona were the big favourites.”

Given himself, guarding the net, suggested that the opposition “thought they would only have to turn up and they would beat us.”

That did not prove to be the case in a electrified stadium.

“I’d never experienced such roaring support,” the keeper expressed. “Amazing.”

But it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that the hero Asprilla would take part – and certainly not bag a treble in that triumph.

Gillespie recalled how Asprilla “came back tardily after representing his country the previous weekend prompting rumors he might not be playing.”

But manager Dalglish lacked many alternatives up front.

Alan Shearer was sidelined due to an ankle issue with Les departed for London a short time earlier.

No wonder, ex-defender Warren stated “the manager allowing Asprilla the benefit of the doubt.”

This was far from the perfect preparation for a match of this magnitude, however, he noticed Tino seemed “ready” during the match.

“Asprilla tended to be silent ahead of kickoff,” he noted. “But he just had an aura about him a determined gaze. He belonged there.”

Soon the striker left his mark, earning a foul in the box and putting his side in front with the penalty in the first half.

It soon became clear that he felt inspired.

“Often you could tell after two or three minutes what Tino you were going to get,” Gillespie said. “Sometimes he could be terrible, but he was outstanding most of the time.”

Gillespie and Asprilla combine

It wasn’t solely the Colombian who delivered the game of his life.

The winger admitted to acknowledge being somewhat intimidated as he looked across the tunnel ahead of kickoff spotting Barça’s superstars focused.

Yet he was unfamiliar with Sergi, regarded as among the top defenders back then.

The winger sought to examine Sergi to see how quick he was.

After realizing he was faster, he constantly asked for the ball on the flank.

Without elaborate moves, he feinted since he believed he’d reach the ball earlier” and delivered a cross into the box.

The striker completed the move.

In addition to netting the advantage with a strong finish, he added a third with a similar effort amazing the club’s owner astonished.

“He was extraordinary that night,” Sir John said. “You could see him hang in the air when the ball came to him - and bang!”

Barça reduced the deficit, from Enrique and Figo, but Newcastle held on. Narrowly.

It is still among the greatest victories in the club's history.

In a way, it was rather fitting that he failed to add more strikes prior to his return to Italy shortly after.

How could it get any better?

Barton labeled it Asprilla’s peak.

The team dynamic alters

Those matches Asprilla came alive.

Indeed, it did not feel random that the striker scored as many goals (nine) on the continental stage versus domestic outings.

His first appearance was one to remember following his £6.7m move from Serie A.

Tino might not have played immediately after landing in the snow dressed unusually a few days previously.

He consumed to a glass of red wine ahead of kickoff before the game against Middlesbrough.

Yet the coach, who was Newcastle's manager at the time, felt moved to introduce Asprilla seeing the team go 1-0 down on the road.

Tino then assisted Watson’s strike with his unique style changed the match with the top team emerged victorious.

“Upon his introduction, he transformed the game,” the defender stated. “Elite performers are capable of this.”

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