Eddie Howe reacts to Newcastle United Champions League win - after sloppy defensive display
Newcastle United qualified for the Champions League last 16 with a 9-3 aggregate win over Qarabag.
Job done, it was after the first leg, as we all knew anyway. However, it wasn’t plain sailing at St James’ Park, as the Magpies laboured to a 3-2 home victory that did little for momentum, but did improve the bank balance and the UEFA coefficient that little bit more.
Chelsea or Barcelona await in the next phase, with the first leg to be played at St James’ Park early next month. Newcastle will find out their opponents on Friday.
Goals from Sandro Tonali and Joelinton and one from Sven Botman saw United claim a 3-2 win.
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Here’s what Eddie Howe had to say about it, after what was a sloppy defensive display, but a win all the same.
Eddie Howe reacts to Newcastle United 3 Qarabag 2 in the Champions League
Howe said the Magpies were targeting a last 16 place at the start of the season. He said: “This was our target at the start of the season. We discussed various things and to get to the knockout stages was there for us and we felt we could achieve it with the players we have. It's been a really exciting phase of this competition. We've really enjoyed the different challenges.
“The knockout stage will be a different challenge for us at the sharp end against elite teams, so everything to look forward to. But at the back of my mind we have to get our Premier League form back to where we want it to be and that will give us the best chance to do well at this competition as well.”
Jacob Murphy admits NUFC will ‘take on anyone’ in Champions League last 16
Newcastle winger Jacob Murphy, speaking to Amazon Prime: “It was job done. We had to come in today with a professional head. You could see that the tie wasn't done until it was all over. We made hard work of it at times but we got off to a flying start and the damage was done then.”
On whether he wants Barcelona or Chelsea in the next round: “Anyone. Honestly with this group of players we'll take anyone on, especially with knockout football we back ourselves. Bring on whoever's to come.”