Eddie Howe spoke ahead of another Champions League night at St James’ Park.
The next visitors will be Borussia Dortmund, with Newcastle United having a huge chance to progress for the knockout stages on Wednesday night.
The Newcastle United Head Coach was in fine form on Tuesday, looking forward to the challenge.
Eddie Howe speaking ahead of Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night:
“We’ve been meticulously preparing for this upcoming match ever since our last one. It’s undoubtedly going to be a challenging game. Looking back, what made the PSG game so special was the incredible atmosphere created by our supporters. We should take confidence from that game but not dwell on it. We need to recreate that energy, intensity, and the quality of our play to secure a victory.
Facing Borussia Dortmund is another formidable test. This group has always been stacked with top teams, from AC Milan to PSG and now Dortmund. We anticipated this challenging journey from the start of the group stage, and this match is a crucial juncture for us.
While we’ve had a positive start, we can’t get ahead of ourselves. Our focus should be solely on what’s ahead of us, and this upcoming game holds a pivotal role in our group’s progress.”
Eddie Howe on injuries and player availability
“Sandro Tonali is in good shape, and Joe Willock is gradually nearing full fitness. Unfortunately, Sven Botman remains sidelined. Aside from that, our player availability is quite similar to our previous match against Crystal Palace.”
Eddie Howe on Alexander Isak
“I’m really pleased with Alexander Isak’s progress. His last start against West Ham was outstanding, but he had a minor groin issue. Now, he’s back to full fitness and has been performing well in training. I can’t comment on his time at Dortmund, as I lack sufficient information, but I’m sure Alex is eager to perform well in our upcoming game.”
Eddie Howe on adapting to the challenges of playing in the Champions League
“It’s still early days to draw any concrete conclusions, and that’s why we need to maintain a level-headed approach to our self-assessment. In these early stages of the Champions League, we have to prove our worth and maintain the mindset that we need to start afresh in every game. We must assert ourselves against our opponents and strive for victory. Although we have a better understanding of the dynamics and what to expect, I’m cautious about making long-term judgments as this is only our third game. This upcoming match will be a significant test for us.”
On meeting former Newcastle United player and manager, Kevin Keegan
“I had a great time meeting Kevin Keegan at the Tyne Theatre event on Monday night. It was a fantastic opportunity to interact with him personally, spend time, and engage in a conversation. He has a wonderful personality and was in high spirits, filled with humor and laughter. I could sense his deep connection to Newcastle and the warmth he received from the people in the room.
I would love to have him back at St. James’ Park in some capacity so that our supporters can show their appreciation to him as well. He appeared relaxed and content with where he is in life. I enjoyed the time spent with him and hope to have more opportunities to engage with him and involve him with the football club.”
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