Eddie Howe says Newcastle will not ‘shrink’ in Barcelona last-16 second leg | Newcastle United

Per week in the past Eddie Howe referred to as it the “largest match within the membership’s historical past”, and that was in Newcastle; this time it’s Barcelona, however Howe has insisted his gamers won’t be overawed after they stroll out at Camp Nou for his or her Champions League last-16 second leg on Wednesday evening.

“You’ll be able to’t shrink on the dimension of the sport, and I don’t suppose we are going to,” the Newcastle supervisor stated. “We’ve got acquired many gamers who’ve performed in so many video games now; we have now change into accustomed to it.”

Howe additionally stated that, bolstered by their 1-0 win towards Chelsea on Sunday, his aspect are in “pretty much as good a spot as any time this season”, and strategy the second leg with confidence after it took a Lamine Yamal penalty in added time to disclaim them victory at St James’ Park within the first leg.

Requested if a victory could be the largest of his profession, Howe replied: “It most likely could be, yeah, but it surely’s irrelevant as a result of that’s the result and we’re within the preparatory section. We’ve got to ensure our sport plan, tactical supply and particular person performances are on the proper stage. We’ve got one other large, large sport on the weekend [against Sunderland]so I don’t need to heap an excessive amount of stress on the gamers. I simply need them to attempt to execute one of the best efficiency they’ll.

“We’ve got many, many internationals within the squad so I don’t see [shrinking] as a difficulty. We’ve got sufficient gamers who may cause them issues. We’ll benefit from the sport, however we’ll solely really take pleasure in it if we ship. I feel we’re in a superb place to do this, and the gamers are most likely as assured as they’ve been in any stage this season.

“Our latest performances have been actually sturdy. The people are acting at a extremely excessive stage – that hasn’t at all times been the case. We want every thing to go our means tomorrow. We all know how good Barcelona are, however we consider in ourselves.

“We’ll attempt to be ourselves. We want a little bit of every thing. A defensive mentality [like] towards Chelsea: blocking photographs, defending in numbers. But in addition a little bit of what we do greatest: our working capability, our athleticism. There was a extremely good battle between their midfield and ours in each video games. We’re going to must be superb in our duels. The battle in midfield will go an extended option to deciding the sport.”

Howe additionally backed Sandro Tonali after his agent advised that the Italian could be in search of a transfer in the summertime. “The individual that issues most is Sandro,” the 48-year-old stated. “All I’ve ever seen from him is somebody who is completely dedicated, selfless. He’s right here for all of the group not himself. He had a extremely tough second when he first joined and confirmed energy and character to get by means of. Overlook the noise, he’s totally dedicated.”

Kieran Trippier, in the meantime, stated that he might by no means have imagined a second like this when he joined Newcastle 4 years in the past and stated that if he does depart when his contract expires this summer time he’ll go feeling happy. “I acquired criticised once I left Atlético [Madrid]; I acquired loads of negativity for lots of various causes, however I had my causes and this [game] justifies it a bit,” stated the defender. “I’ve no regrets, I by no means have with any determination in soccer.

“I by no means thought we’d play within the Champions League, to be trustworthy, and now we have now been right here twice. There have been two cup finals. That is the place we need to be. There have been many particular moments. Ten thousand Geordies are popping out speaks volumes: they’ve backed us within the powerful moments.”