Howe taps into Newcastle nostalgia for ‘special game’ against Barcelona | Newcastle United

It’s only two years since Eddie Howe attended his first Champions League match however now Newcastle’s supervisor is on a mission to disrupt Europe’s elite.

As Barcelona arrived on Tyneside on Wednesday Hansi Flick’s La Liga champions definitely displayed no signal of complacency. Certainly Flick warned of the “depth” his gamers should be braced for at St James’ Park on Thursday evening.

Flick recollects Paris Saint-Germain being completely overwhelmed right here two years in the past after they surrendered 4-1 to formidable but nonetheless barely naive opponents whose inexperience would in the end spell group‑stage elimination. Again then Newcastle, at instances, seemed just a little bit like wide-eyed Champions League vacationers; now they need to be seen as contenders.

“There have been a number of unknowns final time,” Howe mentioned. “There was a sense we have been experiencing one thing new, we loved it however in the end we failed. So this time the resolve is stronger to progress. Not simply to benefit from the expertise however to attempt to make it a significant one. We’ve discovered issues and tried so as to add layers.”

If Newcastle’s supervisor has wised up significantly since he watched his first dwell Champions League recreation from San Siro’s away dugout, the creditable draw his gamers secured in opposition to Milan 24 months in the past emphasised that Howe was not as inexperienced as he might need appeared.

Now, as he prepares to counter the specter of Raphinha, Marcus Rashford, Frenkie de Jong and co, he has the additional advantage of familiarity. “All the things that goes right into a Champions League recreation is completely different from the Premier League,” Howe mentioned.

“It feels completely different, the buildup’s completely different. We hadn’t performed that earlier than however that have will assist us now. Our squad’s arguably stronger than it was two years in the past. We’re excited. I’m trying ahead to seeing how we match up in opposition to them. I’ll again our high quality.”

All of it prompts reminiscences of one other go to from Barcelona, again in mid-September 1997.

To mark its anniversary a really particular visitor is flying in from Colombia to sit within the administrators’ field. Faustino Asprilla’s unforgettable group‑stage hat-trick in opposition to Louis van Gaal’s facet at St James’ Park helped Kenny Dalglish’s Newcastle to safe a 3-2 win in opposition to the Catalans because the groups clashed within the Champions League for the primary time. On condition that Barcelona beginning XI included Luís Figo, Rivaldo and Luis Enrique, it was some achievement.

Now, as each units of supporters put together for his or her fifth assembly on this competitors, they will even keep in mind Sir Bobby Robson. The previous England supervisor’s son, Mark, will, like Asprilla, be trying on from the luxurious seats as two of the golf equipment his father coached with distinction face one another for the primary time since 2003.

Twenty-two years in the past Robson occupied Howe’s dugout however proved powerless to forestall Newcastle from succumbing 2-0 in opposition to his previous pals from Barcelona. If Newcastle’s newest supervisor hopes for a special outcome he’s not about to banish Robson’s reminiscence.

“There are connections with Sir Bobby that we absolutely embrace,” Howe mentioned. “That’s what makes this such a particular recreation. I’d faucet into the psychology of it.”

Again in September 1997 harm stored Pep Guardiola at house in Barcelona however the absence of the generational expertise in any other case often called Lamine Yamal on Thursday evening leaves an infinite gap in Flick’s beginning XI. If Howe – who mentioned he was disenchanted to not be dealing with the prodigy – senses alternative, he should be conscious of an opposing supervisor who shares his capability to change tactical techniques with uncommon fluency.

Like Howe, Flick is not any slave to philosophy and, throughout his time answerable for Bayern Munich the now 60-year-old former Germany coach was dubbed “Flicki-Flaka”. It was a reference to his capability to mix gegenpressing with managed possession and, at Barcelona, the apparently reborn Manchester United loanee Rashford is evidently relishing working for such a subtly versatile tactician.

The sensation is clearly mutual. “It’s an actual luxurious to have Marcus in my group,” Flick mentioned. “He has incredible, unbelievable qualities.” Barcelona may have them.

“I’ve by no means been right here earlier than,” Flick mentioned. “However my gamers inform me it’s possibly the perfect ambiance within the Premier League. I count on a tall, sturdy, Newcastle group with actual depth. Eddie Howe has performed a incredible job.”