'It needs' - Pep Guardiola sends frank warning to Newcastle United chiefs amid 2030 plans
Newcastle United have ambitions to challenge for the Premier League title.
Pep Guardiola has warned that it could take Newcastle United some time before becoming consistent Premier League title challengers.
CEO David Hopkinson has twice spoken on the record in recent months about establishing the Magpies as one of the top clubs in the world by 2030.
But with just four years to go, Newcastle are enduring arguably their toughest season since the Saudi Arabian takeover, with fears that the campaign is on the brink of fizzling out.
For Kitchens, Bedrooms & Joinery, visit HOWDENS BLYTH. Free Planning & Design Service, visit BLYTH DEPOT to get started.
Eddie Howe’s side have been dumped out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup by Manchester City and currently sit 12th in the Premier League table, nine points below the Champions League qualification places with nine games left to play.
Howe admitted that achieving something special this season hinges on the Champions League as Barcelona visit St James’ Park on Wednesday in the first leg of their last 16 tie.
Pep Guardiola on Newcastle United’s ambitious plans
Much has been made about Newcastle’s fixture schedule this campaign, with no English team playing more matches.
And Guardiola believes that dealing with the number of games is one of the biggest hurdles the Magpies must overcome in order to challenge teams like Man City for the title.
“For many years, with the new owners and especially with Eddie Howe, of course, they are a team to be there,” Guardiola said when asked if he saw Newcastle ever competing for the Premier League title. “They are a Champions League team. Look where they are.
"This season, they have had a lot of injuries and have played every three days or four days. Maybe they are not used to being there for 10 or 12 years like City right now, always being there.
“I remember Man City when they took over from our owners, never qualified in the Champions League, so it needs a process time.
“The only problem today in modern football, especially in the Premier League, is just for the fact that when you play a lot of competitions, you have to be players fit. When you don't have that, nobody can survive. It's impossible.
“The Premier League is tougher than ever, the FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Champions League, the Champions League is more games, every game is tougher.
“So when you have injuries, just pray and survive and arrive at the end in the position that we are in. But of course, we have the whole organisation to do it.”
Newcastle United ambitious 2030 plans
There are, of course, other hurdles, with the club’s revenue stream being the main one, but that hasn’t prevented Hopkinson from aiming big.
“By 2030, I see this club being in the debate about being the top club in the world,” Hopkinson said in December. “That’s where I see us by 2030 – and that kind of progress doesn’t take as long as you might think. What it takes is clarity of conviction.
“First off, we need to be totally aligned about the fact that that’s what we want to do. We have to have the courage to ignore those who doubt us, and even those who laugh at us. Because there will be some.
“I’ve been through this journey before. I’ve done it with a total underperformer, and that’s definitely not what Newcastle is. Newcastle is already good. I’ve worked at a club that was really bad, lost all the time. In 2014, we lost just about as bad as you can. In 2019, we were having a parade. So, it’s eminently doable, but it takes that clarity, conviction and commitment.
“I love the reference to 2030 because if it’s not time-bound, then it’s fantasy. Everything we’re talking about, as we have articulated the transformation plan, has to be time-bound. We can’t set a plan here and just think, ‘Well let’s wake up in 2030 and see where we got to’. No. It’s where do we need to get to by the end of 2025? Where by 2026? 2027? Where are we ahead, where are we behind? What’s our mitigation plan? How are we adjusting things?’
“What I will not tell you is that we have written the plan for every granular element that’s going to happen between now and 2030. But what we have got is a highly specific direction of travel and key milestones that need to be hit.”