Eddie Howe & Enzo Maresca in agreement as Premier League approve Newcastle United vs Chelsea decision

Newcastle United and Chelsea go head-to-head at St James’ Park in what could prove to be a Champions League qualification decider.

With the points tally and goal difference the same, only goals scored separate the two teams in the Premier League table. The Magpies are fourth and the Blues sit fifth with just three matches left to play.

A huge afternoon lies ahead, though the game gets underway earlier than most would prefer, with both managers asked about the 12pm kick-off time. And Eddie Howe and Enzo Maresca were both in agreement.

Eddie Howe & Enzo Maresca in agreement

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Howe said: “I don't think it would be the kick-off time that we would choose in preference, but it is there. We've had some good success with those kick-offs, I think. We have to be ready for the game.

“I think I've said before this week, sometimes with the early kick-offs, it can surprise you a little bit. You wake up, and it's just very unusual for the players. They have to adapt, and then the crowd have to adapt. We all have to adapt to be ready for the kick-off and to be in full voice.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea visit Tyneside less than 72 hours after securing their place in the Europa Conference League final with a 5-1 aggregate win over Swedish side Djurgardens.

The Blues were 4-1 up from the first leg, which saw Maresca name 10 changes for the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Thursday. He is expected to revert back to the starting XI that beat Premier League champions Liverpool last Sunday.

“We will see,” Maresca said. “The first result against Djurgarden gave us the chance to rotate and protect players for the second leg. But we still have today and Saturday to prepare the game, then we will see.

“It’s a 12pm kick-off and we played on Thursday night, so it’s not the ideal situation, but we need to play and we need to adapt immediately, prepare for the game in the best way, and hopefully continue our good moment.

“We have two days and the players need to be focused on the Newcastle game because it’s the next one. For us, we have to think like it’s the last game of the season, give everything, and then we see at the end [of the game].”

‘Biggest game of the season’

Aside from Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final win against Liverpool, Howe agrees that this is his side’s biggest game of the season.

Howe said: “I think every game we'll have between now and the end of the season probably becomes our biggest game of the season. Maybe you could debate the cup final there with it. But now that's gone and that's behind us, we know the importance of where we finish in the Premier League and we're doing everything we can to finish as high as we can.

“I think we've all said in this room, there's a possibility it will go to the last game. All we can do is take care of our next opponent and to try and give everything we can to win. It'll be a difficult game.

“I think Chelsea are a good team and we've played them twice already this season. So we know their qualities. I think Stamford Bridge was one of our hardest games of the season.”

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